The fastest way to learn Maltese is to spend your time on something you can understand and then use. Maltese you can mostly understand is called comprehensible input. Prepare an exchange for a family visit, read a scene, hear it again, and try a reply. If every line is unclear, use a shorter passage before adding more study time.
The plans below are suggested ways to divide an hour. They are not promises that a certain number of hours will take you to the next level. You can split an hour across shorter sessions, and give class time its own place in your week.
What Should You Do at Each Reading Level?
Choose the description that sounds like you. These are Bubblegum's Maltese reading levels; a speaking skill or a course result may develop at a different pace.
- Level 1
I'm just starting out or know only a few words.
Read and listen 35 min. Review 15 min. Practice replies 10 min.
Use a few lines about greetings, food, or a visit. Match the words with their sound, including ċ, ġ, ħ, and ż. Practice a question and an answer together.
- Level 2
I can read simple sentences.
Read and listen 40 min. Review 10 min. Practice replies 10 min.
Read one short Duostories scene. Check an unclear line, then hear it again. Change the place or item in one useful sentence, and ask someone to check your reply.
- Level 3
I can read short stories and messages.
Read and listen 40 min. Review 5 min. Discuss the scene 15 min.
Read a short story or message without checking every word. Explain what happened. Ask Poppy for a lesson about the same situation, and try a conversation with a friend or teacher.
- Level 4
I can read longer texts about everyday life.
Read and listen 45 min. Review 5 min. Discuss the topic 10 min.
Try a short TVM news report about an event you already know. Read the text first. If there is a video, replay a brief part and summarize what you heard; the text is not necessarily a transcript.
- Level 5
I can follow complex topics, but miss some details.
Read and watch 45 min. Check details 5 min. Explain your view 10 min.
Choose a report or programme about a topic you care about. Note the claim, the reason, and a detail you missed. Discuss it with someone who can help with the phrasing.
- Level 6
I can follow detailed arguments and different writing styles.
Read and listen 45 min. Discuss and write 15 min.
Read two writers on the same subject. Compare their wording and tone, then write or say your own response. Use a teacher or a willing reader for feedback on the parts you want to improve.
Tokis needs a GO TV subscription; check location eligibility outside Malta and each programme’s subtitle options.
In Bubblegum, Poppy, your AI tutor, writes lessons for your level and goals. She can explain the passage as you read. Maltese dictionary coverage is still limited, so use a teacher to check a word when accuracy matters. Our app comparison covers recorded phrases, stories, and practice with people.
How Long Does It Take to Learn Maltese?
Malta University Language School's first beginner module has 30 teaching hours. Its next published course uses fifteen two-hour online sessions. Those are class hours for that module, not a measured time to become fluent, and the school does not map them to Bubblegum's reading levels.
Check the current course dates before planning around a class. Its full-hours schedule depends on a minimum group size. Your own reading, listening, and speaking practice needs time alongside the class.
For personal study, use a budget you can keep. This table adds hours; it does not predict your result.
| Personal Study Each Week | After Four Weeks | After Twelve Weeks |
|---|---|---|
| 3 hours | 12 hours | 36 hours |
| 5 hours | 20 hours | 60 hours |
| 7 hours | 28 hours | 84 hours |
| 10 hours | 40 hours | 120 hours |
Choose a small outcome to check at the end of that time: arrange a visit, understand a short story, or follow a familiar news report. Try it again without rehearsing the exact wording. A teacher or partner can change the question so you can see what you understand.
How Can You Make Each Session Useful?
- Keep the Next Passage ReadyChoose the next story, lesson, or report before you finish. Your next session can begin with Maltese instead of a search for material.
- Hear the Line You UnderstandReplay a complete phrase after checking its meaning. Then listen without the text and check whether you can still follow it.
- Practice the Reply TooFor an appointment, practice giving a time and answering a changed question. Learning only your opening line leaves you unprepared for the answer.
When a word changes, keep the whole form in its sentence. The National Council’s spelling guide shows ġimgħa (a week) and ġimagħtejn (two weeks). Read and hear each form as you meet it; this pair is not a rule for every Maltese plural.
Learn common words through these passages. An isolated top-500 word list gives meanings, but leaves out how the words work and sound together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Learn Maltese in Three Months?
Set a specific goal for those months, such as a short family conversation or reading a simple story. Five hours a week gives you 60 personal-study hours over twelve weeks. That budget alone cannot tell you which reading level you will reach.
How Much Should I Study Maltese Each Week?
Three to five hours is a useful starting budget if it fits your week. Use sessions of 15–30 minutes or longer so you have time to follow a scene and hear it again. Add a class or speaking appointment when its schedule works for you.
Which Maltese App Should a Beginner Choose?
If you are serious about learning Maltese, start with Bubblegum. Poppy writes lessons at your level about things you like. Or use uTalk for recorded phrases and Duostories for short free reading. Our guide to choosing a study plan explains how to combine them.
Is Bubblegum Free?
Yes. The lesson library is free for everyone, because we believe everyone should be able to learn. It holds lessons that other learners asked Poppy for. A new custom lesson costs us real money to make, so your first one is free, and Bubblegum Pro gives you unlimited custom lessons.
Sources
- National Council for the Maltese Language: Question 53, ġimgħa and ġimagħtejn
- Malta University Language School: Maltese for Beginners, Module 1 hours and current schedule
- Duostories: Maltese stories for English-speaking learners
- uTalk: Maltese course and recorded phrase samples
- Malta education resource: Maltese alphabet and recordings
- TVM News: Maltese news from Malta's public broadcaster
- Tokis: Maltese television and on-demand programmes
