The School Language Policy is based on the following four beliefs:
- Our aim is to educate all our students, who are a healthy mix of diverse talents and abilities, so nothing is to be done that will, in any way, keep back the education of any of them.
- We respect fully the primacy of Maltese as our national language and its importance as the first language of all our students except for a very few cases.
- We affirm the importance of French, Italian and German as languages taught in our school.
- We understand fully our duty as a school to pass on to our students good linguistic competence in English, which is the medium of education and examinations in the majority of subjects, and is fast becoming the principal international language of communication.
The Policy
- The various languages, i.e. Maltese, English, French, Italian and German are taught in their respective languages. During French, Italian and German lessons an explanation in English is given in order to ensure participation of all students in the class
- Religion, History, Social Studies, PSD are taught in Maltese. Certain topics in History and Social Studies may be taught in English. The choice will be in the teacher’s discretion – the justification for the use of English is the abundance of certain relevant research material in English and its relative lack in Maltese.
- The medium of instruction for all the other subjects including Maths, Science, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Accounts, Economics, Geography, Home Economics, Environmental Science, ICT and Computer Studies is English.
- Art, P.E. and Music are to be taught in English. An exception will be made during P.E. lessons in order not to compromise the students’ safety. Drama lessons may be carried out in English and/or Maltese.
- The school organizes a number of activities e.g. Language Days, Language Week, participation in projects such as the Comenius Project, exhibitions, etc. in order to encourage awareness and use of different languages.
- Teachers and students are encouraged to make proper use of English and/or Maltese in classroom communication, expression and interaction, according to the subject taught. (See above)
- In view of the fact that the basis of language learning takes place in the Primary in the younger classes, strong emphasis is placed on oracy, with constant opportunity being given to the children to listen to and express themselves in English. This is necessary in order to compensate for the lack of exposure to English in most of our students’ homes.
- Reading in the different languages is to be encouraged from the very first years in the Primary School. Good use of the library is to be fostered.
- Notes, memos, circulars sent to students’ homes are written in bilingual form – Maltese and English.
