There are between
6000 and 7000 languages in the world and at least half of the world’s
population is bilingual or plurilingual, which means that people speak two or more
languages.
Malta has always
had a multilingual nature and foreign language learning is a strength in our
local system which needs to be sustained. The wish to foster plurilingual and intercultural competences
in the Maltese educational system is a response to European linguistic and
cultural diversity and an increasing need for mobility and
employability. Europeans come across foreign languages on a daily basis in the
various aspects of their lives. Bilingualism and plurilingualism entail
economic advantages too: jobs are more easily available to those who speak
several languages, and multilingual companies have a better competitive edge
than monolingual ones.
The Ministry for
Education and Employment recognises the importance of linguistic diversity
and supports language learning as a lifelong task, essential for economic
competitiveness and inclusive societies.