Song Circle

We're getting down to the final few lectures in our classes at the University of Malta. In a couple of weeks, the semester will be all over except for the minor details of the term papers and/or final exams.

In the European model, most university classes do not have regular assignments -- only a general reading list and one big evaluation at the end of the term. Generally the assessment is a big exam or a major paper. Our students aren't used to this sort of model, so feelings of panic are setting in for some.

One change of pace was today's lecture by Prof. Godfrey Baldacchino on the changing demographic trends in Malta. Dr. Baldacchino is a professor of sociology, who will be moving up next year to the position of "pro-rector" (what most U.S. universities would call a vice president). Not only was he a dynamic lecturer in presenting the material, but he got the class warmed up in a rather unusual way.

Prof. Baldacchino brought his "song circle" to class. This is an informal group, none of whom are professional musicians, who simply like to sing. They get together at least once a week to do just that. They came prepared with pop songs (David Bowie's "Space Oddity," which they said hit the charts in 1969 when Bowie was performing in Malta), as well as several folk songs about life on the island. We were invited to sing along, though a couple of the songs were in Maltese, which made it a challenge.

It was an interesting way to begin a lecture. Class discussion was much more lively than usual. That may have been the presentation, or it may have been the music.