Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1436880
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 12 DECEMBER 2021 NEWS 11 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 With just 101 students fur- thering their studies in a mod- ern language apart from Maltese and English at A-level, the figure of 2% has shocked those who previously took the Maltese ap- titude for language-learning for granted. In 2016, this number was at 189. A further 230 students are studying a foreign language at Intermediate level, but it is only students who study a language at A-level who can continue their language studies at the University of Malta. In his study "Losing out on For- eign Languages. Can we afford it?", Dr Mario Pace called for ur- gent action, warning that Malta risks witnessing "a diminishing supply of young, home-grown linguists", available to interna- tionally-oriented businesses or as teachers who can train others. Pace thinks such a scenar- io would "in turn could create long-term difficulties for our country." His study suggests that the progressive decline in students studying foreign languages at A or Intermediate level is more linked to the way these subjects are thought and packaged in the fields of specialisation on offer, than with demand for these sub- jects. He notes that while adult learners enrolling in foreign lan- guage courses in Lifelong Learn- ing Centres (LLCs) is increasing – with their numbers reach- ing a staggering 1,873 in 2019 just before the outbreak of the pandemic – this same success is nowhere to be seen among 16-year-olds starting post-sec- ondary education. Pace highlights the stark con- trast between the increased interest in foreign languages among adults, which reflects labour market realities, and the decline of languages at "post-compulsory and tertiary levels". While recognising that schools are not the only venue where people can further their edu- cation in languages, he points out that language learning and teaching will flourish "if stu- dents are motivated by the pro- vision of the right opportunities at post-compulsory level", and if what is being learned in class is connected to the outside world and can be applied "to real life". Pace sad the "one-size-fits- all" model in language learning does not cater for that category of students which simply wants to "improve their proficiency in the basic foreign language skills, namely listening, speaking, reading." Instead, the only option avail- able to these students is to fol- low an "A" level or Intermediate course as part of the MATSEC certificate, which emphasises "grammatical accuracy, liter- ature and culture rather than proficiency in the target lan- guage." While underlining the "un- disputed value of literature", one also has to cater for young people currently "frustrated" at the absence of foreign language proficiency (FLP) courses at post-secondary level, with a spe- cial focus on "listening, speak- ing, reading and writing." So far, the only exception to this was the introduction of a foreign language proficiency course offered at the Higher Sec- ondary college in Naxxar, and on a voluntary basis at MCAST and the University of Malta. One way to address the situa- tion could be the introduction of university courses which in- clude combinations of foreign languages with other subjects. Pace notes that in British uni- versities, eight out of every ten students are opting to combine a language with another subject. And these combinations are not limited to the humanities and social sciences but also include business studies, maths, physics, engineering or natural sciences. The decline in Maltese stu- dents furthering their education in foreign languages at tertiary level is in marked contrast to the objectives set in the European Commission's Lisbon Strategy, which underlines the need to improve foreign language teach- ing at all levels of education throughout Europe. And while various initiatives enticing more students to study foreign languages at secondary level have been implemented during the past few years, Malta still lags behind when it comes at enticing students to do the same at tertiary level. Pace argues that if Malta truly recognises the need that gradu- ates and employees are also pro- ficient in one or more foreign languages, "we need to move away from a one-size-fits-all system at post-secondary and tertiary institutions." Concern at the low intake for courses in foreign languages at A-level was also expressed in the annual MATSEC reports. The latest report noted that while the popularity of the two national languages is generally increasing as A-level options, "the opposite effect is noted in foreign language examinations". And among those opting for the study area which includes languages, one finds the largest gender disparity with 69.5% of candidates being female. Statistics presented in Pace's study show that Spanish was the most popular option among adult education learners who chose a foreign language course: learners in Spanish represented 34% of the total number of stu- dents following adult education courses. But at secondary-education level, Italian remains the most popular choice, followed by French, German and Spanish. Only 18 students opted for Ara- bic while five opted for Chinese. jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt Waning interest in foreign languages prompts call for teaching overhaul Spanish Italian German French Russian Turkish Arabic Greek Chinese 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 637 573 225 199 40 37 37 35 30 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-21 2021-22 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 189 163 129 113 101 Italian French German Spanish Arabic Chinese 0 400 800 1,200 1,600 2,000 2,400 2,800 2,406 1,280 554 534 18 5 Students studying a foreign language at A level Students studying a foreign language in last year (year 11) of secondary school in 2020-21 Adult learners following courses in lifelong learning centres in 2019/2020 Dr Mario Pace called for urgent action, warning that Malta risks witnessing "a diminishing supply of young, home-grown linguists", available to internationally-oriented businesses or as teachers who can train others