Approaching Malta, its history and culture in Italian is a micro-language course leading to the Italian language competence test to be held in June 2007, for tourist guides wishing to start their MTA-licensed activity with Italian-speaking visitors. The course is organised by the Società Dante Alighieri.

The course is divided into two distinct modules dealing with special language terminology and general language abilities and cultural annotations respectively. In the first part, the tourist guides will be provided with material regarding artistic terminology useful for the proper description of places and objects. On location visits will be held in Valletta, Mdina, Rabat and Vittoriosa.

In the second module, lectures will tackle topics on various aspects of Maltese and Italian civilisation and society of particular interest for tourist guides in continuous contact with Italian tourists. These include art, music, traditions, history, literature, cinema, etc. Tourist guides will thus be able to enhance their knowledge and vocabulary.

Particular emphasis will be laid on certain structures of the Italian language and words and idiomatic phrases that might give rise to ambiguities will also be discussed during the course.

The 12-hour course will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays (6pm-8pm) starting 10 April including on location visits.

Bookings are open and places are limited to 15 participants. Further details may be obtained by phoning on tel:. 2123-8408 (evenings) or from website: www.dantemalta.org.