From correspondence to your newspaper in recent days, it is clear that there are several foreigners who live in Malta and Gozo who are making an effort to learn the Maltese language.

This is good to note, and I do appreciate the fact that they understand that “when in Rome, you must do as the Romans do”.

It is also positive to see that Maltese living abroad have offered their assistance to help these foreigners learn our language.

On the other hand, there are many other foreigners who insist that it is not necessary for them to learn Maltese because the Maltese know how to communicate in English, and this is therefore enough for them.

This is, in my opinion, not the way they should go about settling down in our country. I urge them to take the example of their counterparts who have at least shown a willingness to learn Maltese. I know that it is a difficult language to learn, and I do not expect them to speak it as fluently as do the Maltese. But at least they should make the effort.

JOSEPH ZAMMIT

Paola