La comprensione della lingua italiana tramite la lettura e l'ascolto

Abstract

This dissertation analyses comprehension tests in the Italian language at form three level as well as SECE level, to verify their level of difficulty. The survey was carried out among form three students in church schools, while the SECE sample provided a vaster selection of schools. Only the comprehension skill has been analysed, and thus no attention has been given to the children's presentation of the written answer. The words used in the comprehension tests were checked against the Italian Language Usage Frequency List, De Mauro, 1993, which allows us to observe how basic the language presented in the texts, as it is used in everyday life by Italians. The aim of this dissertation is to observe the students' level of comprehension of the Italian language, also considering other factors besides schooling that can contribute in favour or against the learning of the language, thus seeing the Italian language and its comprehension in the context of Maltese schools. The result is that students often do understand the language, but difficulties may arise due to the fact that they are not able to express what they have understood when their active skills do not match their passive skills.