I refer to the letter by Norman E. Grech, Learn Maltese (June 16).

It may surprise Mr Grech and many other people to know that English is an official language of the Republic of Malta. It is not a foreign language. One wonders why Mr Grech chose to air his complaint on what he would consider a foreign language newspaper.

When are these ridiculous arguments against the world's lingua franca going to end? It's time people wake up: English, whether one likes it or not, is a more important language than Maltese, even in Malta.

I am Maltese but I consider English to be my mother tongue and so it shall be with my children. I do think it is important to be able to speak Maltese well, but not at the expense of English.