The 20 March annually marks la Journée de la francophonie, an occasion to celebrate French cultural and linguistic heritage. On 18 March 2025, UM’s French Department within the Faculty of Arts and the Department of Languages and Humanities within the Faculty of Education (DLHE) joined this global happening through an outreach event at the Msida campus. Around 300 Year 10 students with their educators from 12 State, Church and Independent schools were welcomed at the Sir Temi Zammit Hall, where they were addressed by Dr Anne-Marie Bezzina Busuttil, Head of the Department of French, who spoke about the attention given to individual students’ academic progress and career prospects within the Department, as well as the importance of pursuing foreign language education beyond secondary school.
Her Excellency Madame Sandrine Lelong-Motta, French Ambassador, emphasized the added value of knowing French for employment and travel reasons in today’s world. Ms Anna Scicluna, Coordinator of the French Subject Area at the Faculty of Education, engaged with the learners to underline the personal fulfilment and practical usefulness associated with learning French at post-secondary level. A cooking competition was organised in relation to this event; the four first-placed videos of budding chefs at work were screened and winners received book prizes as well as a French conversation course in the summer break. Students present then engaged in a memory game related to French culture and winning schools were awarded books.
All students present received a special token in the form of a notebook carrying a message encouraging them to study French at the UM. All schools present received books in simple French for their libraries. The event was organised by Dr Anne-Marie Bezzina Busuttil and Ms Anna Scicluna, supported by academic members and students of the Department of French and the DLHE.
All students present received a special token in the form of a notebook carrying a message encouraging them to study French at the UM. All schools present received books in simple French for their libraries. The event was organised by Dr Anne-Marie Bezzina Busuttil and Ms Anna Scicluna, supported by academic members and students of the Department of French and the DLHE.
