Ready, steady, debate for teachers

An English expert in public debating will be coming to Malta to pass on his skills to teachers who would then relay them to students.

James Probert will be in Malta in about three weeks' time as part of the English Speaking Union's efforts to improve public speaking among Maltese children.

World union chairman Lord David Hunt said he was "very impressed" at the plans that the Maltese steering committee of the ESU had come up with to promote English speaking in Malta.

The steering committee, set up in December, is working on joining the ESU, present in over 54 countries, at the next international council meeting in Munich in October.

The ESU's Malta branch will work to improve what is perceived as falling standards in written and spoken English by holding educational events.

During the visit of Lord Hunt, who was in Malta for the day as part of a Mediterranean cruise, the steering committee discussed their plans that include fund raising to ensure that the Malta branch is sustainable once set up officially.

Committee chairman Martin Scicluna stressed that the ESU was not about choosing between Maltese and English but aimed to help locals be fluent in both languages.