OKAY, HERE’S THE STORY

Set the scene.

In April 1825, Mikiel Anton Vassalli opened the first School of Maltese at the University of Malta, in the building now known as the Valletta Campus.

Here’s the twist.

Teaching a language at university gives it a different public status. It becomes something to study, describe and debate, as well as something to speak.

Why it still matters.

Vassalli’s legacy connects education with identity. The everyday words around us also have a history of scholarship and determined advocacy.

🧠 One to think about +

What does this story change about the way you see Malta today? Pick one detail you’d tell a friend — then check its source below.