UM academics deliver training to Church School teachers of French

On Friday 23rd January 2026, academics from the University of Malta delivered an interactive COPE training session for Church School teachers of French, focusing on the development of writing skills in French as a foreign language. The training addressed learners’ documented difficulties in written production, including challenges related to writing techniques, register and genre adaptation, coherence and text organisation, as well as the implications of the recent MATSEC decision requiring a minimum mark in the writing component to obtain a pass in the Secondary Education Certificate in foreign languages.

The session emphasised the importance of strengthening learners’ confidence and performance in writing in order to better prepare them for post-secondary language studies. Prof. Anne-Marie Bezzina Busuttil, Head of the Department of French at the University of Malta, led a presentation and workshop on constructing effective writing instructions and evaluation grids. Ms Anna Scicluna, Coordinator of the French subject area within the Faculty of Education, presented practical strategies to enhance students’ motivation and confidence in written production, while Ms Maria Vella, B.A. (Hons) in French graduate and MTL student, explored the use of AI platforms which help in creating musical video clips for educational purposes.

Organised by the Coordinator for French at the Secretariat for Catholic Education, Ms Prascovia Deidun, the seminar provided teachers with the opportunity to exchange experiences and discuss effective unit planning and lesson design. Participants were highly engaged and expressed strong appreciation for the relevance and practical value of the training.