Project Proposal

As we conclude the first phase of this module, The first deliverable was to draft a proposal of our project and outline what we intend to do and why do we want to do it. As explained in previous posts, my idea revolves around the Maltese language and Culture, and how I can make expatriates engage more actively with it. Below you can read through my proposal as submitted and awaiting feedback.

How can Design be used to get Expatriates to Engage more with the Maltese Culture?

Aim

The aim of this project is to get foreigners, particularly expatriates, to engage more with the Maltese language, and encourage them to learn it. Although Maltese is not an endangered language at present, it still poses an underlying risk of diminishing as it is spoken by a very small population. This project, will also serve as a new take on promoting the Maltese culture too. The Maltese language has stems from numerous languages, making up for a large part of the country’s history.

Objective

The objective is to find innovative ways to promote the Maltese language in innovative ways, based on research, and apply the research to create a marketing campaign to promote language learning and make expatriates engage more with the native side of Malta. From preliminary research, I have found that there are numerous resources where one can learn Maltese, however, people may not be engaging with them as much as the providers would like them to be.

Audience

The target audience is expatriates of all ages moving to Malta. That said, for the research, I will be, I will be looking at expatriates over the age of 18 and that are working. This would include expatriates who are parents. Retirees and tourists can also benefit from this project, however, I will not be targetting them in this project.

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to make the Maltese language more popular amongst the expatriate community in Malta. Also, I want to highlight the benefits of knowing the basics of the native language, as it makes it easier to adapt to the new country that they had just moved to.

Logistics

PHASE 1: RESEARCH & DISCOVER

DRAFTING THE PROPOSAL

• Deciding on the research question: In the first phase of this project, I am focusing on having a clear and understandable research question that is focused, yet broad enough to allow in-depth exploration of the subject.
• Creating a contact list: In conjunction to drafting the proposal, I am collating a list of potential contacts from various entities as well as different professions. I have posted my thoughts on a couple of Facebbok groups that are related to my thesis subject and collect some feedback. So far, I got to know that there are a lot of resources were people can learn Maltese. This should help me in deciding which creative path I will take for this project.

PHASE 2: DEFINE, TEST & PREPARE

PREPARING FOR THE TESTING PHASE

• Establishing a contact base: Following the submission, I am planning to go through the contact list that I have gathered and split them in “categories (entitiy representatives, teachers, expatrieates, etc.) and draft some questions that I would like to ask them. When it comes to entity representatives, firstly I would like to learn better what is their role within the entitity and what are the entity’s goals. When it comes to government entities, contacting them can give me better insight on what is the state doing and whether there are issues and how are they being addressed.
• Question bank: Following the submission, I am planning to go through the contact list that I have gathered and split them in “categories (entitiy representatives, teachers, expatrieates, etc.) and draft some questions that I would like to ask them.

LITERATURE REVIEW

• Desk research: When it comes to desk research, I am intending to look at what are other countries with diminishing languages experiencing, whether they considering an issue, and how they are addressing it. As part of this desk research, I will be looking also at general benefits of language learning, language teaching methods and also different people how people engage with a foreign culture. This will help in building the literature review that is to be submitted at the end of this phase of the module.
• Statistical research: I am considering looking at statistics to see how the numbers have cahnged over the course of the years when it comes to data relating to the Maltese language. This should give a clear picture when it comes how Maltese is recognised in Europe, considering Maltese was made one of the official languages of the European Union.
• Survey / Interviews: At some point during this phase (aiming towards weeks 6 and 7), I will be sending out a survey. I still need to decide on what sort of information I would like to aqcuire from the survey, and I would like to dedicate some time in formulating it so that it yields good and useful results. The survey will be targetted towards expatriates. So far I have some points that I can shed light on, however I want to consolidate them. Looking at the statistical information will also help in guiding me better towards the kind of information I should be after.

CASE STUDY

• Presentation: A case study presentation is required as part of the deliverables for this phase. My plan is to compile the information needed over the course of the four weeks of this phase. As it requires to present the project in a clear and concise manner, I want to allow enough time for revision.

PHASE 3: DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

DELIVERABLE

• Choosing a Deliverable: Following the research and knowledge acquired, during this phase I will be deciding on a potential delivarable for this project. I have done some brainstorming already for a potential outcome to help me in choosing the direction which I would be taking for this project, but for the time being, the outcome is still a very rough idea. That said, as time will progress, an outcome should be consolidated. I will be allowing some time for proper brainstorming, and ideally, the feedback collected in the previous weeks will be very helpful in deciding on the best outcome for this project.
• Action Plan: Following on the above point, upon deciding on the outcome, I will be putting together a project frameowrk to explain better my intentions, and also help me with the process of designing the outcome. This action plan is to also be reviewed by peers as well as a panel.

CRITICAL REPORT

• Framework: Part of the final submission is a critical report. Fleshing it out, the structure as well as the content in point form is to be ready by the time we arrive in this phase. This step will make it easier to compile the information needed as well as draft my report over time.
• First draft: The draft of the critical report will also need to be complete and submitted for preliminary review. I will start off with a fleshing out of what the report will include and the how it will be planned. This is decided following a tutorial discussion with the module leaders.

PHASE 4: DELIVER

PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

• Finalising the Action Plan: After the panel and peer review, I will be revising the action plan of the final deliverable to maximise the project’s potential, as suggested also by the module guide. In this final phase, the deliverable will be in full devleopment as well as promotion will be in the works. In this final phase, the final deliverable will be close to completeion.
• Developing the Final Devilerable: At this point in time, there is not concrete deliverable for this project. It depends a lot on the initial research. That said, the idea is to follow the action plan as much as possible. Should it be the case where I need to collaborate with external people, such as a UI developer or someone outside the creative industry, I will have it settled in the beginning of the phase. A backup plan will also be listed in the action plan should there be any issues with the collaboration.
• Documentation PDF:  As part of the submission, a PDF explaining the development of the project needs to be handed in. I will be building this document in the beginning of this phase and compile it over the course of the 12 weeks.

CRITICAL REPORT

Finalising the Critical Report: Also following the peer and panel review, I will be working on finaling the report that is set to be handed in before the final deadline. In ideal circumstances, the peer and panel review will be positive, meaning that it will allow time for revising the report prior hand-in.