With the onset of globalisation in world trade, it has become a necessity for businesses that export their goods and services on a global level to become proficient in communicating in different languages. While the English language continues to be the lingua franca on a global level, its predominance is being challenged by other languages, especially Chinese.

China has the second largest global economy. Many economists are predicting that, in the next few decades, the Chinese economy will overtake the US. This will bring about major changes in the way business communication is conducted as both Chinese and Western businesses will have to adapt to this fast-changing economic scenario.

News that both private as well as public schools in Malta are taking stock of this communication evolution and considering introducing the teaching of Chinese in our educational system is therefore important. Few could argue against the merits of promoting the gift of tongues among our younger generations. But we simply cannot insist on staying within our comfort zone by arguing that a good command of English is all we need to get by in today’s complex global economy.

There are, however, a number of caveats that our educational authorities should heed when defining the strategy for teaching languages in our schools. We need to avoid certain mistakes of the past that have not helped in promoting the love for foreign languages.

As the Education Minister rightly pointed out: “We must ensure that our children are competent in Maltese and English.” This may seem an obvious statement that hardly needs to be repeated. But a sad reality is that today so many local people cannot communicate well in either Maltese or English. This is a great handicap in attracting investment as entrepreneurs who come with their business projects will be looking for employees who are able to communicate well with their foreign clients.

It is also socially unacceptable that so many people who have grown up in Malta have a poor command of Maltese. Schools need to make the improvement in students’ communication skills in both Maltese and English a top priority.

But we also need to be more ambitious. The teaching of Chinese, Arabic and some modern European languages remains a desirable, if not also a necessary, educational objective. As long as the teaching of these languages remains optional, it would be a definite step in the right direction.

Some languages are intrinsically more difficult to learn than others, especially for Western learners. Chinese is one such language. But there will always be ambitious students who like the challenge of learning an exotic language. The introduction of regular Chinese teaching programmes will be of great benefit for them.

Another issue that needs to be addressed also relates to communication. Education Department officials need to sing from the same hymn book.

The Education Minister was right to kill the rumour that Mandarin Chinese would be taught in primary schools. It would have been better if this reassurance came before the alleged statement by an Education Ministry spokesman who said that Chinese would indeed be taught in primary schools.

Many southern Europeans envy us for our ability to speak two or more languages quite fluently. This fact has also endeared us to tourists and also to foreign entrepreneurs who set up shop here.

All very valid reasons why we should continue to value the gift of tongues in a sensible and pragmatic way.