French comes alive: a day of film, games and discovery at UM

On Tuesday February 3, the Department of French within the Faculty of Arts, together with the French Subject Area within the Department of Languages and Humanities of the Faculty of Education, organised a large-scale, dynamic and highly successful educational event for around 130 Year 10 students from ten Maltese and Gozitan schools.

The activity took place at the Sir Temi Zammit Theatre on the University of Malta’s Msida Campus and was very well attended and enthusiastically received.

The event was organised by Prof. Anne-Marie Bezzina Busuttil, Head of the Department of French, and Ms Anna Scicluna, Coordinator of the French Subject Area within the DLHE. It combined film, games and movement-based learning to engage students in French in an enjoyable and meaningful way. The programme opened with the screening of two short films, followed by competitive activities linked to their content.

One of the highlights of the day was an exciting treasure hunt across the central part of the Msida campus, organised by Maria Vella and Katryna Zahra, B.A. (Hons) graduates currently following the MTL teacher training course. The treasure hunt was won by St Joseph School, Sliema. Meanwhile, students who remained in the Sir Temi Zammit Theatre took part in ten rotating game stations animated by Bachelor of Arts students and members of staff from the Department of French, including Prof. Anne-Marie Bezzina Busuttil, Dr Anabel Said, Prof. Dominique Lanni, Prof. Richard Spiteri and Dr Marilyn Mallia, as well as Ms Lysa Gaudin, French intern working within the Department of French.

Books and other prizes were kindly donated by the French Embassy in Malta, represented by M. Renaud Lallement, Counsellor for Cooperation and Cultural and Scientific Cooperation, who addressed the students and interacted with them during the different activities. A significant number of book prizes were donated by the French Inspector, Ms Doreen Farrugia, who also addressed the students and promoted Bongu, the school magazine for learners of French.

Dr Jean-Claude Cachia, outreach coordinator at the Institute of European Studies, also spoke about the many opportunities that arise from combining French with studies preparing students for work in French-speaking European and international fora, and industry.

All participants received a welcome pack containing attractive freebies linked to French language and culture. The event was greatly enjoyed by students and widely appreciated by accompanying teachers and all those present.