University film club criticises decision to prohibit use of Maltese in exams

Neil Blonstein

Feb 28th 2010, 05:05

Many countries dwell in some sort of language conflict (Canada, Belgium, and South Africa are among the better known). I don't have all the answers, despite speaking 5 languages well.
One group with perhaps a million people believes in the the right of all to be educated in the native tongue: Esperanto Speakers and its largest organization Universal Esperanto Association. While Malta is a small country, I have read about it all my life because I knew that Maltese activists for Esperanto were proud of their local heritage.
My English blog on Esperanto www.EsperantoFriends.blogspot.com
New York/UN representive for UEA at the UN

James Rezende Piton (Brazil)

Feb 27th 2010, 14:42

Such a decision is a shame for University of Malta! That goes against
the country's rich culture represented by your national language.

Quoting Patrick Grixti: "Maltese accepted in Brussels and rejected at
home!!!!!!!!!!". Really an absurd proposition! I hope Maltese won't be
silent about this violence against their interests.

(I had a pen pal in Għaxaq and I have learned
a lot about your country and culture, thanks to Esperanto).

Stefano Keller

Feb 27th 2010, 12:19

Sorry for writing in English, please translate in Maltese! (Esperanto: Pardonu ke mi skribas en la angla, bonvolu traduki en la maltan!)

If you think that your linguistic rights are being actively suppressed or in any case not respected, Universala Esperanto-Asocio (UEA) can bring your situation to the attention of the United Nations in Geneva.

Defend your linguistic rights, we will help you! Contact us:

http://www.lingvaj-rajtoj.org/en/interventions-en.html

(If you would like to translate that page (or others of that website) into Maltese, you are the most welcome! Dankon!)

Michael Spiteri

Feb 27th 2010, 03:02

Will write in english so that everyone will understand.

This is just stupid.

There is no plausible reason what so ever other than that the decision in itself was carried by self glorifiying individuals who for some particular reason, abhor the Maltese culture in Malta...dawk ta Ganni tal haxix biex niftehmu.

During exams one should have the liberty to answer in whatever language is permissible and understandable. If in MALTA our national language is Maltese..then it should be permissible to do so. The Professors and Administration are all trained..."supposedly" in both languages.

This is another stupid blow in order to create some commotion in this country of ours.

Thanks.

Steve Borg

Feb 26th 2010, 22:33

Vera li qegħdin inmissu l-qiegħ f'kollox f'dan il-pajjiż. Mela l-ewwel niftaħru li l-Malti huwa ilsien uffiċjali fl-Unjoni Ewropea u issa l-istess ilsien jingħata bis-sieq fl-Universita' ta' Malta. Qatt ma titgħallmu.

Araw waħda l-Iżlanda - pajjiż iżgħar minn Malta fejn jitkellmu b'Ingliż aħjar minn tagħna u li l-poplu ilu mitejn sena b'rata għolja ferm ta' nies li jafu jaqraw u jiktbu:

http://www.hi.is/is/forsida

Miskin Mikiel Anton Vassalli. Nistħajjel li wara ħajja jiġġieled biex dan il-ġens jinfatam, qatt ma basar li se jgħaddu mitejn sena u l-Malti se jsib għadu ġdid li din id-darba mhux frustier imma minn ta' ġewwa.

Biex tgħaxxaqha, smajt ukoll li hawn skola privata fejn it-tfal qed ikantaw l-Innu Malti bl-Ingliż.

Is-sens ta' kburija li inti Malti jew Maltija sar għandu valur daqs ta' karawetta.

Kieku kelli l-enerġija nagħmel l-eżami bil-Malti, neħel u wara niftaħ kawża kostituzzjonali li ma nistgħax nuża l-ilsien nativ fl-alma mater tal-pajjiż. Student Ingliż li twieled Liverpool u li jistudja f'Malta għandu vantaġġ fuq dak Malti li trabba fi djul Tal-Qroqq.

Jidhirli li huwa wieħed mid-dmirijiet tal-President tar-Repubblika li jiddefendi l-Ilsien Malti. Nistennew u naraw. Sadanitant għal darb' oħra urewna x'faqar u medjokrita' ta' pajjiż qed ngħixu fih. Mhemmx li jqum ir-riħ.

M Borg

Feb 26th 2010, 22:29

X'iqaqu Tal-Qroqq!!! Dawn affarijiet tat-tiġieġ! Jekk jiskarsa l-bajd morru s'hemm! Ara biex togħlielhom il-paga għamlu ħoss!
Iżżebilhux il-Malti jekk jogħġobkom

T Camilleri

Feb 26th 2010, 21:44

Joseph E Briffa Mela tahseb li kotba bl-Ingliz biss jezistu? Dan huwa biss attakk mill-profissuri li qatt ma hamlu l-ilsien Malti u mohhom biss biex jilghaqu lil dak kollu li huwa barrani. Anki kien hemm ghalliem imniehru mxammar ghax studja l-Ingliterra ghax tat-tajjeb li meta l-istudenti tkellmu bil-Malti hatafhom u qallhom biex l-Universita' jitkellmu biss bl-Ingliz. Dawn huma dawk li hemm l-Universita' fejn suppost hemm il-krema!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ta' Malta.

wally vella-zarb

Feb 26th 2010, 20:22

The sad irony is that the level of English on this island is abysmal, both in syntax and in pronunciation. Even a cursory glance at the local newspapers, the comments on this site, all forms of local media, AS WELL AS AT THE UNIVERSITY ITSELF will demonstrate this fact. Tune in to Campus FM, an otherwise excellent station, whenever there is a guest who is supposedly an academic. Many of them seem to be incapable of stringing words into a correct sentence. Pronunciation is enough to make one cringe!

And yet, these same persons are presumptuous enough to desire the relegation of our NATIONAL language to a second division!

Note for Mr Briffa: As far back as the first decade of the last century, my grandfather, Tumas Vella, published a hefty tome 'Aritmetika bil-Malti u bl-Ingliz. This was in line with the philosophy of the Xirka Ta' l-Imdawwlin (of which he was Secretary) to bring knowledge to the masses in a form that could be understood. It was a beginning. Sadly, following the persecution and exile of Manwel Dimech the project was discontinued. It could easily have been followed up to ANY desired level.

Joseph E Briffa

Feb 26th 2010, 19:22

Minhix qed nghid li minn jitkellem u jikteb bil Malti BISS huwa illitterat, imm huwa limitat ferm fil-taghrif. Bil-fors ikollu orizzonti limitatissimi. L-anqas biss jaf littratura Ingliza, jew Taljani, jew Franciza. Il-litteratura Maltija hija limitata; mhux bhall-Ingliza, Taljana jew Franciza. Jekk ma jafx l-Ingliz, tajjeb jew it-Taljan, jew Fanciz, jew Russu, jew Germaniz, ma jistax ikun kapaci jitkellem jew jikteb fuq l-ebda suggett hlif il-Malti, sempliciment ghax ma hawnx kotba bil-Malti fuq l-ebda suggett. Jien mhux qed nghid ghal-Ladybird books tradotti bil-Malti ghat-tfal ta' sitt snin. Jien qed nghid fuq volumi ghal-livell terzjarju, fix-Xjenzi naturali, xjenxi socjali, arti, storja, filosofia, Arkitettura. Musika, Inginerija, IT ecc Fejn tista' ssib ktieb wiehed fuq xi wiehed minn dawn is-suggetti bil-Malti, f'liema website tista' tidhol u ssib informazjoni bil-Malti? Invece, hemm ghexieren ta' eluf fuq dawn is-suggetti bit-Taljan, Franciz, Germaniz, Spanjol, Ingliz. Terga il-lingwa Ingliza, barra li hi wahda mill-aktar ilsna rikki, tihdok kullimkin. As they say English opens doors. Ghal min irid jaqla' hobzu Malta, il-Malti forsi bizejjed, imma jekk trid tghix fl-Ewropa jew l-Amerika, jekk tkun taf l-Ingliz tajjeb tista' tghix ta' sinjur kullimkin Ma ninsewx li tlett kwarti tal-populazjoni tad-dinja, qatt ma semghu b'Malta

M Buhagiar

Feb 26th 2010, 18:48

@ Joseph E Briffa

L-argument mhux jekk il-lingwa Maltija hix addattata biex tintuza fl-ezamijiet jew le. L-argument huwa jekk studenti Maltin f'Malta jithallewx juzaw il-Malti fl-ezamijiet jew le.

Nifhem li hafna suggetti kwazi impossibbli tistudjhom bil-Malti. Izda l-anqas ma tista' tmur fl-estrem redikolu li tghid li min jaf jaqra bil-Malti biss ma jistax jaqra ktieb jew juza l-internet! Hekk qed tghid li min jaf bil-Malti biss huwa illitterat! Jekk int Malti, ma nistax nifhem kif tasal tghid xi haga bhal din.

L-istess meta tqabbel l-uzu tal-lingwa f'Wales ma' l-uzu tal-lingwa f'Malta. Wales taghmel parti mir-Renju Unit, li ghandu l-Ingliz bhala l-lingwa nazzjonali tieghu. Malta hija pajjiz indipendenti u ghandha l-Malti bhala l-lingwa nazzjonali, stabbilita fil-Kostituzzjoni.

Billi niddefendu principju ma naqghux ghar-redikolu, kif indikajt inti. Naqghu verament fir-redikolu jekk incedu li l-oghla istituzzjoni edukattiva tal-pajjiz ma tippermettix l-uzu tal-lingwa nazzjonali taghna fl-ezamijiet.

Sean Grech

Feb 26th 2010, 17:57

@ Joseph E. Briffa
Hux fuq il-lingwi qed nitkellmu? U milli jidher la nifhmu bil-Malti u lanqas bl-Ingliż!
Min qed jgħidlek li għandna nistudjaw il-Fiżika, il-Patoloġija, eċċ bil-Malti????? Fejn qrajtha?
Min qallek li xi ħadd qed jitlob biex il-karti ma jibqgħux isiru bl-Ingliż?
Min qed ikasbar l-Ingliż?
Dan il-pajjiż hu bilingwali suppost u la għandna nkasbru lingwa u lanqas oħra - kif qed jagħmlu l-awtoritajiet tal-Universita!
Il-punt hu li student ma jistax jiċċaħħad milli juża l-ilsien Malti jekk ikun irid - u jekk min se jikkoreġi jkun Malti! Int semmejt ħafna suġġetti li ma tarax il-Malti f'loku fihom! Taf li l-Malti tneħħa wkoll mill-possibilita li jintuża minn studenti li qed isegwu kors fl-ISTUDJI MALTIN??? Naħseb ħadd mhu qed jipprotesta għax ma jistax iwieġeb il-Fiżika bil-Malti!!
Taf min jaqa' għaż-żufjett? Min qed ikasbar il-Malti fl-istess ħin li kulħadd (inkluż il-Maltin ħutna fi Brussell) qegħdin jaraw kif jagħmlu biex jippromwovuh, lilu u lill-Kultura Maltija. Mela għandhom nuċċali kbir dawk! Immaturaw ħbieb.
U jekk mingħalik li min jagħżel li jikteb bil-Malti jagħmel dan għax mhux tajjeb fl-Ingliż għandek żball ieħor sieħbi! Aktar naf bil-maqlub jien - jiktbu bl-Ingliż għax mhumiex t ajbin fil-Malti!!! Għandna nkunu tajbin fit-tnejn!!!! Il-punt mhux dak!

Alan Joseph Adami

Feb 26th 2010, 17:35

Imissu jistħi min biss ħareġ biha din l-ideja. Mela sewwa wara li tant ħdimna għall- Malti issa rridu nneħħuh. Filwaqt li nifhem li t-tnejn huma importanti insostni li l- Malti hija l- lingwa omm tagħna lkoll ma għadniex għalfejn inħallu dawn l-erba' suppost "professuri", taċ-ċertifikati biss, jkasbruna b'dan il- mod. Imisshom jistħu. Qum Vassalli u riegħdhom! Ara tmurx l-Italja u jagħmlu xi lecture bl- Ingliż jew xi eżami bl- Ingliż, għax ma għadniex inkunu, kburin bħalhom aħna? L- Amerka jixxenqu li għandom lingwa għalihom, jippruvaw joħolqu vokabularju għalihom biex iħossuhom bl-lingwa differenti u aħna rridu neħħuha, u le!

O Fsadni

Feb 26th 2010, 16:25

1. In my experience there, lectures are not carried out in English unless there are foreign students or lecturers. As one gentleman remarked, Maltese can be used to discuss and argue anything including technical subjects. In the meantime, try going to a German/French/Italian university and expect to be lectured in Maltese or English.

2. It is up to the students to insist on their perceived right to answer questions in Maltese.

3. I am worried that at this level some students are finding it difficult to handle the English language which, in my opinion, is easier to master than Maltese.

K. Pullicino

Feb 26th 2010, 15:58

@Anne Cassar: Some students go out of their way to know the required words both in English and in Maltese (a simple lookup). In fact, that is the whole point of a bilingual country.

Philip Borg

Feb 26th 2010, 15:37

Nifhem li l-Ingliz hu mehtieg ghal relazzjonijiet internazzjonali. Nifhem ukoll li hemm studenti barranin fl-universita' TAGHNA! Imma naf, kif jaf kulhadd li mill-Malti stajna lkoll nitghallmu ilsna u suggetti ohra... anki biex uhud saru professuri ta' elf haga!!!
Fhiex se naslu??? Ahna stess narmu lsienna? Ahna stess ninsew in-nisel taghna? Ahna stess INBARRU l-kelma li ghamlitna nies??? Fejn hi s-sinsla li ahna Maltin??? Ukoll jekk tghallimna u lhaqna u kbirna u sirna professuri... ghala qed nippreferu nilghaqu flok nahsbu???

..and for the benefit of all snobs: Whoever took this shameful and humiliating decision:, dose he/they realise what type of alienated professionals OUR university will be producing? How can future professionals relate to Maltese citizens?

Please think wisely before letting out your tongues... it can only suffocate OUR national language - which is also yours, whether you like it or not!

Joseph E Briffa

Feb 26th 2010, 15:32

Jekk taghmel ezami fl-Ingliz, tikteb bl-Ingliz; jekk taghmel ezami fil-Franciz, tikteb bil-Franciz. L-istess fit-Taljan, fil-Germaniz, u ukoll fil-Malti Issa fejn jidhlu ezamijiet fix-xjenzi naturali ma jghaddilix minn rashi li l-karta ma tkunx bl-Ingliz - nahseb li ftit huma dawk l-istudenti li kapaci jirrispondu bit-Taljan, jew bil-Franciz. Wara kollox il-kotba u l-lectures isiru bl-Ingliz. Bil-Malti m'ghandnix kotba fil-Fizika, Kimika, Biologija, Anatomija, Fizjologija, Patologija Kirurgija etc etc. Alluri fejn jidhol il-Malti f'dawn is-suggetti? Mill-banda l-ohra, il-karti tal- ezamijiet fil- Ligi Maltija ghandhom jigu issettjati bil-Malti u wiehed ghandu jirrispondi bil-Malti. Izda fil-kaz ta' xjenzi socjali, filosofija, arti inkluza l-arkitettura, inginerija etc la ahna nistudjaw dawn is-suggetti bl-ingliz, kollox ghandu jsir bl-Ingliz Ma ghandnx kotba bil-Malti f'dawn is-suggetti. Allura fejn jidhol il-Malti? Din m'hix kustjoni ta' pika jew snobbishness; hija kustjoni ta' pratticita' L-anqas fl-universitajiet ta' Wales ma taghmel ezamijiet u tirrispondi bil-Welsh; kollox isir bl-Ingliz. Issa Wales hemm 5 miljun ruh, mhux 400 000. Ma narawx b'nuccali kbir, ghax naqghu ghaz-zuffjett. Inzommu sens ta' proporzjon ghax naqghu fir-redikoli.. Ma nkasbrux l-Ingliz jekk ma rridux insiru aktar insulari milli ahna .Min jaf bil-Malti BISS u ma jafx l-Ingliz TAJJEB, ma jistax jaqra ktieb fuq l-ebda suggett u l-anqas jaghmel uzu mill-internet.

T Camlleri

Feb 26th 2010, 15:18

ISTHU.

Victor Laiviera

Feb 26th 2010, 15:04

@ Ms Ann Cassar

If you take the time and trouble to learn your native language properly, you can use it to write about ANY subject.

Jesmond Micallef

Feb 26th 2010, 14:53

Anne Cassar

You do have a current and valid point. But I am still of the opinion that Maltese, as a language should be further promoted and developed in order to accomodate the changes which EVERY LANGUAGE undergoes with the passage of time. The teaching of Latin in German schools is still very popular and still is a very significant language too.

Maybe not the subject matter here, but relevant. The International Language of "Esperanto". It is completely independent and neutral as far as "Emotions" are concerned. I think it should also pave the way as the only official language used in International Diplomacy. His Excellency EU President Mr. Herman Van Rompuy should maybe take note here.

The University of Malta does have its own Department for International Diplomatic studies and tend to think that Esperanto should also form part of the University's curriculum.

With my very best wishes to the Maltese Language.

M Buhagiar

Feb 26th 2010, 14:44

Kurzita: Fl-ezamijiet fil-Malti innifisu ma jistax jintuza l-Malti?

K. Zahra

Feb 26th 2010, 14:36

@ Anne Cassar

Have you ever heard of the Kullana Kulturali PIN? It treats all kind of subjects and it is beautifully written in MALTESE!!!

I ask what is the use of such efforts and publications in Maltese when the highest educational institution is behaving so strangely and is insulting our native language by these undemocratic decisions!

M.Farrugia

Feb 26th 2010, 14:35

Fl-1878 ġew mibgħuta f’Malta żewġ Kummissarji Rjali fosthom dik ta’ Patrick J Keenan li ried li s-sistema edukattiva Maltija tiġi Ingliżizzata. Il-pożizzjoni ta’ Sir Patrick Keenan kienet “Ingliż…. U Ingliż biss”. Il-kwistjoni tal-lingwa kompliet u għadha tkompli. Sigismondo Savona kien daħħal diversi punt mir-rapport Keenen. Fl-1934 fiż-żmien Strickland, il-Malti u l-Ingliż saru l-lingwi uffiċjali u l-kostituzzjoni ta' l-Indipendenza tal-1964 iddikjarat il-Malti bħala l-Ilsien Nazzjonali. Iżda llum, wara 130 sena minn żmien Keenan u 45 sena wara l-Indipendenza għadna nirraġunaw bis-sistema kolonjali fl-Universita fejn għandek mentalita’ ta’ ‘Ingliż u Ingliż biss’. Sur Rettur ara tergax tithajjar tohrog ghall-politika biex ‘forsi’ c-cittadin Malti jeleggik fil-Parlament imbaghad int trid iccahhadlu l-ilsien nattiv tieghu. Kieku jiena ninsab fl-istess kariga tieghek nisthi nidher quddiem min huwa veru Malti.

C Grixti

Feb 26th 2010, 14:26

@ Paul Barrett : this decision was taken even for cases where no external examiners are involved. I understand your valid point but NOT when who will be correcting the paper is fluent in Maltese and is a Maltese him/herself! This is unexplainable!

@ Anne Cassar : no one is saying that Economics / Computer essays should be answered in Maltese from now on! You can keep writing them in English - that's not a problem at all! But are you implying that the Maltese language is inferior and that one cannot express himself in Maltese when it comes to certain topics? What a pity if you are of this idea! You are labelling Maltese as the "kitchen" language ... the language of no standard at all.

THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE BRINGING ENGLISH VS MALTESE! This is an issue where both languages are to be treated equally. Students who want to express themselves in English will continue to do so, while those who want to write in Maltese will still have the RIGHT to use their native language - which is as official as much as English is. If the examiner understands Maltese, where is the problem???? Answer please

A. Grech

Feb 26th 2010, 14:17

@Paul Barrett
I think that to enter in other universities across Europe one has to speak the language of that country. I can only speak about what i know, that is, in Spain not only you need to have the traditional spanish (castellano) at ordinary level but also the official dialect of the region, which were i lived was Valenciano, to enter their University. I would prefer if special classes were organised for those who do not understand Maltese than prohibiting the use of our Mother tongue in exams. How will the students be fluent in writing in Maltese once out of University? How will they learn the Maltese terminology used in the field they chose for a career?
I see your point, but i would prefer employing translators for such recognition of qualifications, which can be later certified by the University of Malta itself, than closing the doors to those who would want to study in Maltese, this will help satisfy the demand abroad for qualified people fluent in maltese and specialised in a particular field.

A.Gatt

Feb 26th 2010, 14:07

U leeeee ara f'xiex waqajna !!!

Jennifer Cosaitis

Feb 26th 2010, 14:06

@ Ms A Cassar - Refusing to write in Maltese in an exam out of your free will is one thing; not being allowed to do so by the university itself is another, which in my humble opinion is totally unacceptable.

A Anderson

Feb 26th 2010, 13:58

"... Hobb jekk jiswielek l-ilsna barranija, izda le tbarri lil min hu ta gewwa' - quoting from a poem I had to study for my Matrikola tal-Malti years and years ago... I think it was Dun Karm.

A. Grech

Feb 26th 2010, 13:30

Jien ghadni qed nistenna r-reazzjoni tal-Kunsill Nazzjonali tal-Ilsien Malti, qieghed mistghageb kif din d-decizjoni giet ikkritikata biss minn klub tal-film.
Wahda mill problemi li jiffaccjaw il-Maltin fuq ix-xoghol hu li l-Malti ma baqax jevolvi u jintegra l-kliem tekniku tal-llum. Ghad m'ghandniex dokumenti ufficjali ta kif ghandhom jinkitbu certu kliem bhal per ezempju l-ghodda fl-isptarijiet, kimici, etc. Ma nixtieqx nonqos lejn dawk li jahdmu u jistinkaw biex l-ilsien taghna dejjem jitjieb, per ezempju naf bl-ezistenza tal farmakopea li giet tradotta ghal Malti imma ghalfejn m'ghandiex access ghalih, minn fejn nista nixtrih?
Ga la li l-Malti huwa lingwa ufficjali tal-Unjoni Ewropea qed isiru hafna traduzzjonijiet ta kliem ghal Malti mill agenziji u ufficji tal-UE, nahseb tkun ideja tajba jekk dan l-gherf kollu jingabar u mhux jithalla jtir mar-rih. Jew ghadna nemmnu li l-aktar haga importanti hi li Awwissu ma tiqbax tinkiteb Awissu?

Anne Cassar

Feb 26th 2010, 13:24

If lectures are mostly given in English and text books are in English How can one expect the candidate to write in Maltese and give the proper terminology . Try answering economics or computer essays in Maltese!!!!

Michael Brass

Feb 26th 2010, 12:43

How is the University permitted by the government to change its regulations to be in violation of the country's Constitution? Malta has only two official languages and, like it or not, there are some students whose grasp of English is not that great. Maltese citizens have the right to answer their papers in their mother tongue.

C Grixti

Feb 26th 2010, 12:39

@ Paul P Borg - ma titwemminx vera???

Can someone explain this situation more please? Can someone speak out? Is everyone passive at university? How come a Maltese student is prohibited to use his native language in written exams if he feels like (and when the examiner understands Maltese)? Someone who writes in Maltese is not being sinful but is only practising one of the two official languages of the country!

It is sinful if the authorities let these decisions go by without taking a stand. We deserve an explanation I guess. Yes please, what is the opinion of our politicians regarding this matter? Both sides should be against this stand if they really practice what they preach when elections are near ... don't forget that Malta's political parties have emerged from the 1880s Language Question hot issue! Or are we back to the old times then?

What a pity for a country who is enjoying full membership in the E.U. to be still debating over such matters! What a pity my friends! Who knows what would be Dun Karm's opinion? And Mikiel Anton Vassalli's? And Manwel Dimech's? And all the rest ... what a shame for our University!

M Buhagiar

Feb 26th 2010, 12:36

X'inhu??!!! L-Universita' ta' Malta ma tippermettix l-uzu tal-Malti fl-ezamijiet??!!!

Fl-opinjoni tieghi, din hija decizjoni offensiva u ingusta ghall-ahhar. Hija offiza kbira lejn l-ilsien Malti, lejn dak li jaghmilna Maltin, kif ukoll offiza harxa lejn il-Maltin li juzaw il-Malti. Hi wkoll decizjoni li ma tirrispettax il-Kostituzzjoni ta' Malta, li tistabbilixxi l-lingwa Maltija bhala l-lingwa nazzjonali ta' Malta.

Decizjoni li ma thallix lill-istudenti Maltin juzaw il-Malti waqt l-ezamijiet f'pajjizhom stess hija decizjoni ingusta u diskriminatorja ghall-ahhar. Huwa minnu li l-livell tal-Ingliz ghandu jkun wiehed gholi kemm jista' jkun, ghax hija verita li l-lingwa Maltija hija limitata ghal komunikazzjoni ta' popolazzjoni zghira hafna, u ghalhekk huwa essenzjali li l-livell tal-Ingliz ikun tajjeb hafna. Madanakollu, hija diskriminazzjoni qawwija hafna jekk il-Malti ma jithalliex jintuza fl-ezamijiet. Dan semplicement ghaliex hemm hafna studenti li jipreferu jesprimu ruhhom bil-Malti milli bl-Ingliz. Wara kollox dwar ilsien art twelidna qeghdin nitkellmu, u nahseb huwa dritt fundamentali li wiehed ghandu jkun liberu li jaghzel li jitkellem u jikteb bil-Malti f'pajjizu stess!

Ma nistax nifhem kif l-oghla istituzzjoni edukattiva ta' Malta tista' tasal biex taghti daqqa ta' sieq daqshekk goffa lil-lingwa nazzjonali Maltija! Ghalija hija decizjoni li tmur kontra kull raguni u kull principju li jirrispetta lin-Nazzjon Malti.

Paul Barrett

Feb 26th 2010, 12:30

The Maltese Language is important and should be retained and taught properly.
Having said that, there may well be a reason for the University decision; one possibility is that for international recognition of the exam results, the exam may need to be overseen by none Maltese examiners. The choice therefore may be actually out of the hands of the University but if the students want international recognition then they have to comply with the international rules.
If this is the case, perhaps the University failed to explain the reason for the decision or if they did, the explanation was not understood.
There may well be other explanations - like lack of instructors and or examiners able to adequately instruct/mark in Maltese.
Sad as it may be, not everyone is able to speak Maltese and even fewer at the level required.

S.Debono

Feb 26th 2010, 12:26

Min jixtieq ineħħi l-Malti mill-Universita' ta' Malta qed iżebblah dak li ħadmu għalih tant bi sħiħ fil-kwistjoni tal-lingwa...sa fejn naf jien fin-1934 kien ġie deċiż li għalkemm il-Malti ul-Ingliż huma iż-żewġ lingwi uffiċjali ta' Malta, l-MALTI huwa l-ilsien nazzjonali....ma nistax nemmen kif flok nippromwovu l-ilsien Malti li rnexxielu jibqa' jgħix fost dawn il ftit mijiet ta' eluf ta' nies qed nippruvaw noqtluh!!
Prosit lil min bħal dan il-club jiehu l-inizjattiva li jiġġieled ghall-ilsien Malti...

Frans Attard

Feb 26th 2010, 12:24

Din hi kwistjoni fejn id-demokrazija qed tigi maghfga taht is-saqajn. Hu fatt maghruf li hawn nies ikellmu lill uliedhom bl-ingliz minn twelidhom u dawn it-tfal qed jispiccaw li lanqas ikunu jafu jitkellmu bil-Malti ahseb w ara jiktbuh. Jiena nahseb li uhud minn dawn in-nies li huma ta' certa influwenza jispiccaw jimponu fuq l-universita biex jakkomodaw lill uliedhom. U wisq nahseb li fost dawn in-nies hemm minnhom li jahsbu li huma xi 'champions' tad-demokrazija u xi 'xempji' tal-patrijottizmu.

Miriam Cassar

Feb 26th 2010, 12:20

TAL-MISTHIJA! If there are any foreigners reading this Blog/article, please note that these things can ONLY happen in Malta where our children ARE Made to STUDY ALL school subjets in English ONLY (from age 5) - irrespective if you've NEVER heard your parents speak a word English, let alone understand IT.
And this IMPOSITION- THANKS to the University of Malta- has become the NORM because our Academics refuse to TRANSLATE- as is done in other countries- all CORE subjects, at least till the Primary Level, into Maltese.
RIP Maltese. U Grazzi Professuri tal-Malti!! Miriam Cassar VersAghtini Il-Kelma Maltija

Donald Cachia

Feb 26th 2010, 12:02

Jiena nhoss li l-istudenti ghandhom jinjoraw din l-ORDNI, u jirrispondu bil-Malti, ghax finalment ahna Maltin. Dejjem jekk jafu jiktbu bil-Malti ghax l-istudenti universitarji taghna mohhom fil-condom machines u mhux fil-lingwi. Il-Malti nuzawh, imma biex inkunu vulgari u oxxeni bhal Mark Camilleri u siehbu li hemm fi Brussels.

Philip Borg

Feb 26th 2010, 11:55

Nifhem li l-Ingliz hu mehtieg ghal relazzjonijiet internazzjonali. Nifhem ukoll li hemm studenti barranin fl-universita' TAGHNA! Imma naf kif jaf kulhadd li mill-Malti stajna lkoll nitghallmu ilsna u suggetti ohra... anki biex uhud saru professuri ta' elf haga!!!

F'hiex se naslu??? AHNA stess narmu lsienna??? AHNA stess ninsew in-nisel taghna??? AHNA stess INBARRU l-kelma li ghamlitna nies??? Fejn hi s-sinsla li ahna Maltin??? Ukoll jekk ilhaqna u kbirna u sirna professuri... ghala qed nippreferu nilghaqu flok nahsbu???

..and for the benefit of all snobs: Whoever took this shameful and humiliating decision:, dose he/they realise what type of alienated professionals OUR university will be producing???

Please THINK before using your tongues to suffocate OUR national language!

Catherine Aquilina

Feb 26th 2010, 11:54

Għamilna snin sħaħ nitħabtu biex ikollna grammatika u ortografija tal-Malti u biex ilsien pajjiżna ma jibqgħax meqjus bħala lingwa tal-kċina. Saru l-arranġamenti meħtieġa biex il-Malti jkun lingwa uffiċċjali tal-Unjoni Ewropea. Niftaħru li l-Malti huwa l-unika lsien t'oriġini semitika li jinkiteb b'alfabett latin ... u issa? ... Waħda mill-iktar istituzzjoni għolja tal-pajjiż qed iċċaħħadna milli nesprimu lilna nfusna bil-lingwa nazzjonali tagħna, li fuq kollox tagħmilna differenti min-nazzjonijiet oħra!

Darba minnhom xi ħadd kien qal li qiegħdin "f'pajjiż tal-Mickey Mouse ... "

m farrugia

Feb 26th 2010, 11:49

Il-Prim Ministru jaf b'din id-decizzjoni? qed nistaqsi ghax kien għamel kampanja shiha biex jiftahar li l-linqwa Maltija hija rikonoxxuta go brussels. Nies bhal David Casa, Simon Busutill, John Attard Montaldo, u Louis Grech li jitkellmu bil-Malti go Brussels, u kultant anki fl-aħbarijiet igibuhom jitkellmu bil-Malti se iħalluwa ghaddejja din, jew jitkellmu bil-Malti go Brussels għal ghajn in-nies biss. ? Evarist Bartolo li dejjem ihambaq dwar l-edukazzjoni u huwa lecturer fl-Universita x'inhuma il-hsiebijiet tieghu dwar dan il-pass tal-misthija li hadet l-universita.

philip pace

Feb 26th 2010, 11:45

Inkasbru dak li hu taghna u nghollu dak tal-barrani ghal erba minn nies li ma jafux jitkellmu bil Malti.
Misthija fuq minn hareg b'din.

Sean Grech

Feb 26th 2010, 11:36

@ Paul P. Borg

Emmen Paul - tagħmilx bħal San Tumas! :-) Ara u emmen għax din hi r-realta!!!! Ma titwemminx hux?????? Dan x'pajjiż hu??????

Jesmond Micallef

Feb 26th 2010, 11:34

University of Malta, you should reconsider this decision. You are "THE UNIVERSITY" afterall, the one and only university in Malta. Can't you handle the challenge ? I may well appreciate the problems that may be the background to this decision, but Maltese should be promoted and not PROHIBITED. This may well lead to the suppression of the Maltese language in education on the long run,........... marking its downfall really !!

Its not fair.

Steph Grima

Feb 26th 2010, 11:31

Ta' l-inqas xi hadd tkellem fuq din id-decizjoni. Jien naqbel mal-club. Ahna Maltin, ma taghmilx sens illi il-lingwa Maltija tigi maqtugha mill-universita`. Vera li rridu nsiru internazzjonali, imma l-Maltin ghandhom dritt jiktbu b'liema lingwa ihossuhom komdi l-iktar. Pajjizi barranin huma kburin bil-lingwa taghhom, ghalfejn ahna le?

J. Mamo

Feb 26th 2010, 11:21

Prosit ħafna ta' din l-inizzjattiva.

Paul P. Borg

Feb 26th 2010, 11:13

Ma nemminx li mill-Universita ta' Malta issa hemm din ir-regola stramba, stupida u vili kontra l-Ilsien Malti meta l-barranin stess li hemm Brussell iriduna nirrispettawh lill-Ilsien Malti! L-Universita' mimlija nies serji u li jirrispettaw lil Malta u lill-Identita' Maltija - suppost!!

I do not believe that this strange and stupid rule now exists at our own university! The University is (supposed to be) full of serious people who respect Malta and the Maltese identity!

Frans Sammut

Feb 26th 2010, 11:09

Does the Department of Maltese still exist up at Tal-Qroqq? And the Department of Linguistics? And the Kunsill Nazzjonali tal-Malti? And...? And....?

M Farrugia

Feb 26th 2010, 11:06

Sal-bidu tas-snin tletin tas-seklu l-ieħor l-Universita ta Malta u l-mexxejja taghha ħaduwa kontra Strickland għax ried jaghti importanza aktar lil-lingwa Ingliza minn dik Taljana. Strickland dak iz-zmien beda jinqeda bil-lingwa Maltija biex jaghti aktar importanza lil-Ingliz. Kien f'dan iz-zmien li twieldet ghaqda favur il-Malti. Illum il-gurnata l-istess Universita qed tiehu passi sabiex l-Ingliz jiehu post il-Malti. Shame !Shame! Shame!. Filwaqt li ninsab cert li l-Ingliz illum sar lingwa internazzjonali, nippretendi li hadd ma ghandu jċahhad lil-istudent Malti li juza l-lingwa tieghu fl-ezamijiet. Nixtieq li kieku l-membri parlamentari taz-zewg nahat tal-kamra li huma ghalliema fl-Universita mod specjali jghidulna kif jahsbuwa dwar din il-kwistjoni. Nistaqsi ukoll jekk il-Ministru Cristina hux lesta li taccetta din id-diskriminazzjoni kontra l-istudent Malti. Forsi li kieku kien hemm it-Taljan involut kienet tkun storja oħra. Il-pampaluni tal-Malti li jghallmu l-Universita kif jahsbu dwar dan il-punt ?Nistaqsi jekk l-Universita ta' Malta hux se tkun hija li tibda teqred il-linqwa taghna minn wiċċ id-dinja ? Jekk se jippruvaw jaghmlu hekk shame għal min huwa responsabbli fit-tmexxija ta din l-istituzzjoni edukattiva ta' pajjizna.

John Azzopardi

Feb 26th 2010, 11:05

By using maltese in media you have made children stupid. Let me tell you how. In my days we used to watch Italian english and maltese channels. Now you get the xarabanks, angli, evangelisti and what not so children are not watching Italian and English channels and not learning those languages at a crucial age. That is how we learned 3 languages with the TV.

Sean Grech

Feb 26th 2010, 10:57

Shouldn't the Ministry of Education explain what is happening?

This country is BILINGUAL! We have English and Maltese as our official languages. Moreover Maltese is also an official language of the E.U. nowadays! They have been telling us so much about the status the Maltese language would be having when Malta would be joining the E.U.!!! Oh yes, I forgot - did we join already??? So what is happening in this country? Or is it a country which protests only about monetary issues????

This decision from whoever is responsible is really a contradiction. Only in Malta! You should be an example - you are going against our same Constitution !

People out there - don't let this issue pass by!

Patrick Sacco

Feb 26th 2010, 10:54

The University's decision goes directly against and is in violation of the Constitution. Unbelievable!

We the people of Malta should take to the streets and protest against this irresponsible decision and not for that 'ziblata', that obscene article!

Malta is bilingual but Maltese is the national language of Malta!

patrick grixti

Feb 26th 2010, 10:37

Maltese accepted in Brussels and rejected at home!!!!!!!!!!

Frans Attard

Feb 26th 2010, 10:27

The writing of Maltese is, unforunately, already in a shameful situation in our country, this decision will worsen it even further.

Justin Azzopardi

Feb 26th 2010, 10:23

gharukaza gharukaza gharukaza

a abela

Feb 26th 2010, 10:22

Shame on the university. Altough English should be on our educational curriculum, maltese remains our mother language. Shame on you rector!!!!!!!

K Zahra

Feb 26th 2010, 10:18

Well done to the University film club! Where are the others?
We should be proud of our native language. The University is the highest educational system in our country - we expect much better! We want our country to live what it preaches and if we love our country, our heritage, our language, our identity ... we should all protest against such mediocre decisions!
Maltese students should be fluent in both English and Maltese. I cannot see why a Maltese person cannot use his/her native language when the examiner understands that language. How come the authorities let these decisions take place? Where are our EU parliamentaries??? What is happening in our educational system? Answer please - we have the right to know - we love our language - we should be so proud of it and its long history - these things are unbelievable!!!

C. Schembri

Feb 26th 2010, 10:10

Grazzi Universita` talli qed taghti bis-sieq lill-Ilsien Malti!
Tal-misthija!

Mark-Anthony Falzon

Feb 26th 2010, 10:10

Ghaqda tal-films tal-Universita (GHFU), for consistency's sake. And, while we're at it, let's dub Tarantino's "Klieb il-Gibjun".

S Tonna

Feb 26th 2010, 10:03

Studying English is important but why remove Maltese? Its what makes us us.
Although I have to say that in my uni days there were more than half the lecturers who had no idea about Maltese grammar!

GF Cortini

Feb 26th 2010, 09:59

Prosit!

A Anderson

Feb 26th 2010, 09:56

Well done to the University Film Club!
Are there any other other clubs/organisations from the University who have done/said something about this?

Christian Sciberras

Feb 26th 2010, 09:53

Hey, anyone feels like another public protest?