La competenza degli alunni maltesi in italiano

Abstract

Research carried out in order to study whether Maltese pupils (from seven to eleven-year-olds) understand the Italian language after being exposed to it by means of television. Use of a questionnaire to identify the favourite television programme. of the pupils from the Luqa and Birkirkara primary state schools. From the text of this programme two tests were set up composed of vocabulary and phrases in Italian) and put ta the pupils of the above-mentioned schools. Consequently, the results obtained were analysed, taking into consideration the children's age, their level of scholastic attainment, and the area in which they reside urban or rural). Besides, by using a 'free-speaking' test, the ability of these pupil's ta express themselves in Italian was also examined. By means of this procedure we verified the direct influence that television has when it comes ta understanding a foreign language which is not taught formally within our primary schools.