I think Joseph Zammit (TMID, 18 October) is a little unfair in expecting immigrants to learn Maltese and accusing them of being “arrogant” in not succeeding. The great majority doubtless came here in the first place (as, presumably, many thousands of tourists still come) on the basis that people here are believed to speak English – which is, lest we forget, a “national language” in Malta. It is, in fact, one of Malta’s biggest selling points to foreigners, whether tourists, students or potential investors.

Most foreign residents of my acquaintance have made at least an attempt to learn words and phrases in Maltese; certainly, they know the word for “thank-you”, while “please” doesn’t appear to be part of the vocabulary. Most can ask “kif int?” (probably in the hope of getting a better price), even if they don’t understand the reply.

Far more importantly, though, is the reality of the situation, which is that most of the commercial, academic, medical, political, internet and tourist world understands (and uses) English.

If the world spoke Chinese, the English would have had to learn it, and so would the Maltese. Fifty years ago, when French was the “international language”, all English schoolchildren were taught it – albeit with varying degrees of success.

If the Maltese want to benefit from EU membership, if they want to enjoy freedom of movement and better communications with the rest of the world, they need to improve their understanding and use of English. The outside world is not going to learn Maltese, beautiful though it may be. It’s as simple as that. It’s also as serious as that.

An English language radio service, with local news in English, would not only be a service for the majority of tourists and for incomers who have chosen to live, and to pay taxes, in this “bilingual” nation – it would (hopefully) also encourage greater and better use of the language that this nation actually needs, in order to flourish, and possibly even to survive.

Revel Barker

Ghajnsielem, Gozo.