Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/84479
Title: Italian nationals in Maltese schools : a case of ‘so near but yet so far’?
Authors: Caruana, Sandro
Pace, Mario
Keywords: Italian students -- Malta
Language maintenance -- Malta
Multilingualism -- Malta
Language and languages -- Study and teaching -- Malta
Issue Date: 2021-12
Publisher: University of Malta. Faculty of Education
Citation: Caruana, S., & Pace, M. (2021). Italian nationals in Maltese schools : a case of ‘so near but yet so far’? Malta Review of Educational Research, 15(2), 145-164.
Abstract: Italians represent the largest community of foreign learners in our schools. In this paper we provide some background regarding the recent migration of Italians to Malta and we present and discuss language-related issues which affect the inclusion of learners in local schools. We refer to data provided by educators who responded to a questionnaire and to semi-structured interviews included in a Master in Teaching and Learning dissertation (Palazzo, 2020). Our analysis reveals that the inclusion of Italian learners is conditioned by their levels of competence in Maltese and English, and that this could determine their active participation in class, even during lessons of Italian itself. Although their experience in Maltese schools is generally positive, there are instances where adapting to a new educational system is the cause of demotivation which leads to absenteeism, as well as other cases where they are victims of bullying. Furthermore, some Italian learners show signs of distancing from their mother tongue, although many of them reveal a sense of pride towards their cultural heritage.
URI: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/84479
Appears in Collections:MRER, Volume 15, Issue 2
MRER, Volume 15, Issue 2

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