The Language Policy at Chiswick House School and St Martin's College
Given our bilingual national setting, pupils of Chiswick House School who are Maltese citizens learn Maltese and English during their Early Years, and go on to perfect their speaking, listening, writing and communication skills throughout their Primary and Secondary years. By the time they leave Fifth Form, we expect our Maltese students to become competent and enthusiastic users of both languages. While we feel that it is crucial for all students to attain high standards in both, we are well aware of the fact that pupils'/students' needs, competence and proficiency levels depend upon their ability to acquire language.
International students at the schools may choose whether or not to take up Maltese. Many have done so with resounding success. Others have chosen to join other lessons during the time devoted to learning Maltese. International students who possess a mother tongue which is not offered by the school may wish to request lessons in the language - a practice which may be planned as an extracurricular activity.
The Common European Framework (Council of Europe 2001) promotes the need for multilingual capability. Chiswick House School and St Martin's College have always believed in approaching multilingualism through informal yet enjoyable activity. This starts at Junior 5 level. Pupils turning 10 enjoy sessions in Italian, French and German. Pupils participate in a 45-minute lesson a week in one of the languages. During the Autumn Term they learn Italian, French in Spring Term and German during the Summer Term (the order may vary from year to year). This has allowed children to broaden their understanding and knowledge of other European countries, acquire new ways of looking at the world at large and also attain new insights into their own languages.
In the Middle school, at Junior 6 level, students attend a lesson of Italian, French and German every week. This formal programme of study introduces students to a rigorous language-learning programme which gives them a good basis and a taste of what is to come during the next five years. At the end of Junior 6 students are expected to select one of these International languages. They will study this chosen language until Form 5 when they are expected to sit and pass SEC exams.
At the end of Form 2 students may opt for a further International language if they decide to follow a predominantly linguistic programme. They would therefore learn Maltese, English, the international language chosen at Form 1 level and the new language chosen at Form 3 level.
Students who are linguistically challenged are encouraged to focus on improving their skills in Maltese and English. The time usually devoted to an L3 (third language) is taken up by individual learning sessions run by the ALP Department.
Students wishing to acquire a European qualification may also sit for PLIDA (Italian), DELF (French) and Fit in Deutch (German) at various levels. PLIDA - Societa' Dante Alighieri Malta
Apart from the obvious language components our Language classes also include a strong literature component which is compulsory and which continues to support language learning by firing the pupils'/students' imagination through a myriad of stories and poems that the children experience.
An innovative Bilingual and Bicultural Programme for Italian students has also been successfully running for a number of years. For further details please see the link on the schools' website.