Since 2005 the department has been entrusted with teaching Maltese as a foreign language.
Learning Maltese is more than just a boost to your CV, more than a means of communicating with your Maltese partner, relatives, friends, and work mates! It brings you closer to the Maltese way of thinking. It helps you venture beyond popular tourist areas, making your own linguistic way around an island rich in history and folklore. Learning Maltese helps you belong to a living culture, literature, and society. It will also reveal surprising links between Maltese and other languages - perhaps, even a shared history with your own mother tongue.
The study-units offered each semester are determined at the discretion of the Department. Places are available on a first come, first served basis. The study-units will only be offered if there is an adequate number of participants. Applications for certain units may close earlier should the maximum number of applications be reached.
Unless it is indicated otherwise, applications towards the Maltese as a Foreign Language study-units MAL0011, MAL0012 and MAL0013 may be submitted up to 31 January 2025. Applications may be submitted through the online application portal.
In case of queries concerning the study-unit application form, kindly contact Admissions on admissions@um.edu.mt.
This unit is intended for complete beginners in Maltese. Participants will learn how to pronounce, read, understand and write basic words, short sentences, and the most common expressions used in everyday language, such as introducing oneself, one’s family and friends, and one’s neighbourhood. Teaching is set against the Maltese socio-cultural background so that the unit serves as an introduction to both the Maltese language and the community that speaks it.
This unit is pegged at MQF Level 1.
This unit is designed for students who already have some knowledge of Maltese. Participants will learn how to communicate in Maltese in various situations in daily life, such as expressing basic needs and preferences, booking a table at a restaurant and making an appointment, asking for directions, communicating in shops and other public spaces, and talking about themselves, their family and their daily activities.
This unit is pegged at MQF Level 1.
MAL0013 Pre-Intermediate Level
This unit is geared toward students who have followed MAL0011 and MAL0012 and/or already have basic knowledge of Maltese. Participants will learn how to communicate in Maltese about general topics, such as the natural environment, clothing, and hobbies, as well as about situations from the past and plans for the future. In addition to mastering more advanced grammar, students will develop conversation and listening skills based on longer dialogues, interactive conversation, role-playing, and listening comprehension.
This unit is pegged at MQF Level 1.
This unit is designed for students who have successfully followed the first three levels and/or already have knowledge of Maltese as a Foreign Language. Participants will learn how to communicate in Maltese about general topics such as health, career, and culture in more detail, as well as about situations requiring further lexical knowledge such as appearances and personality description.
This unit is pegged at MQF Level 2.
This unit is designed for students who have successfully followed the first four levels and/or already have knowledge of Maltese as a Foreign Language. Participants will enhance their communicative abilities in Maltese by exploring a wider range of topics including current events, social issues and general media. The unit will focus on developing a deeper understanding of these subjects and providing the necessary grammar to express ideas and opinions more effectively. By the end of the unit, learners will be better equipped to engage in more detailed conversations and express themselves confidently in various contexts.
This unit is pegged at MQF Level 2.
Each study-unit has 28 hours of lectures, that is two hours a week over 14 weeks. Some study-units may include additional tutorial sessions.
Study-units usually run in Semester 1 (October - February) and/or in Semester 2 (February - May). The UM academic calendar can be accessed here.
All study-units are delivered online through Zoom or a similar platform. Lectures are not recorded.
A registration fee of Eur 180 per study-unit is applicable for both EU and non-EU citizens.
For UM students currently following an undergraduate / postgraduate course, study-units are free of charge. However, such students would first need to ask for their respective Board of Studies' permission to allow them to take the study-unit of their choice as an extra study-unit. Once the Board gives its approval, their home Faculty may proceed in registering them directly for the study-unit of their choice. This study-unit will be included in their Diploma supplement upon completion of their studies.
The Department of Maltese will take note of your interest, and send you all relevant information when application submissions for the units starting in the next available intake will be accepted.
Please send your expression of interest to malti.arts@um.edu.mt
An official detailed transcript (free of charge) is issued and presented to students who successfully complete a study-unit. Students will be duly informed when to collect this document.
Certificates of Attendance cannot be issued.
