From the classroom into the real world

It goes without saying that when students are allowed to be active participants rather than passive learners, the learning outcome is much more successful. Furthermore, if learning is extended beyond the boundaries of the school building and the content is made relevant to everyday life, students would find schooling much more useful and enjoyable.

This was the aim behind the organisation of the tourism studies weekends, organised by St Benedict College, Boys Secondary, Kirkop. Tourism was the topic chosen for a cross-curricular approach by the history, geography and social studies teachers. Three weekends were organised, two of which involved Form 2 students, and the third reserved for Form 3 students. These weekends served as a hands-on approach and students literally took on the role of a tourist.

Their first visit was to Malta International Airport, where they toured the arrivals and departures lounges, getting to know what normally goes on in these areas. They were also shown how suitcases are checked and how bombs and drugs are detected.

Students were also taken to the Meteorological Office where they heard all about the weather forecast. The boys came up with the conclusion that tourists prefer Malta to other destinations due to the lenient weather conditions.

A tourist cannot miss indulging in sightseeing and that is why the history teacher, Ms Charmaine Elshout, deemed it fit to take the students to a few historical sites. Wignacourt's Tower in St Paul's Bay increased the students' awareness of the work Din l-Art Helwa does.

Inside the tower there are primary sources, such as weapons which were used by guardians of the tower, and the tower looks as it used to look at the time of the Order of St John in Malta. The simulated kitchen utensils and the set-up of the guardian's room helped students understand what the guardian went through.

Other visited sites were St Thomas Tower in Marsascala and the Inquisitor's Palace in Vittoriosa. The boys focused on the restoration of the tower, also analysing the stones with which it was built.

During their history lessons the boys had already heard all about the Inquisition which was enforced during the stay of the Order of the Knights of St John in Malta. So visiting the Inquisitor's Palace (which is under the care of Heritage Malta), was the next stop. Seeing is believing, and the students could have a clearer picture of how harsh laws were in Malta in those days and what breaking the law entailed.

The boys' geography teacher, Ms L.T. Cassar, organised field work to put what students learnt during their lessons into practice. In Xemxija, the boys assessed the results of the human impact on Xemxija Bay and the way this has affected tourism.

The effects of air and noise pollution were discussed and comparisons were drawn between modern architecture and that of older buildings, finally coming up with the natural conclusion that the latter are less of an eye sore than the former.

The students also carried out field work in Vittoriosa. A particular street was chosen and the boys studied in detail the façades of eight houses in this street, determing what type of building material was used, the differences between old and new, also drawing sketches.

The boys developed their critical thinking skills when analysing the features of such houses, since they managed to identify what was inappropriate and which houses did not fit in with the rest of the landscape.

Further field work took place in Marsascala, where the boys walked along the coastline, pointing out deterring factors, looking at a place using the eyes of a person who had never been there.

It may sound like a lot of work and no fun, but the students enjoyed every minute of it, especially since they lodged in a few hotels as well. This was the social studies aspect of the weekend.

Room allocation was carried out by filling a form, just like tourists do. The boys were allowed to use all hotel facilities, including indoor and outdoor pool, games room, tennis courts, and a gym complete with the services of a gym instructor.

Their social studies teacher, Ms Ingrid Attard, together with the hotel's Human Resources manager, then took the boys for a tour of the hotel. They also visited parts of the hotel to which they would otherwise have been denied access. These included the plant room full of pipelines and boilers; the stores where food is kept, the laundry and the kitchen.

The boys then talked to various employees and filled in a handout on the different sections of the hotel. This helped them familiarise with the way a hotel is run.

The boys' stay in hotels also enriched their communicative and socialisation skills. They interviewed tourists in English, thus realising that a language is an important asset for the tourism industry.

A conclusive certificate awarding ceremony was organised on June 7. The event was attended by the director of education, Dr Cecilia Borg, who awarded the certificates. Ms M. Scortino, college co-ordinator, together with the head of school, Mr J. Micallef, members of the senior management team, teachers, parents and students, attended the ceremony.

The boys learnt a great deal through hands-on activities. These ensure that what they learn in class can be considered as part of a lifelong learning process. The experience helped the boys develop personally and was surely a memorable one.