Dr Julia Sallabank and Yan Marquis, who are putting the teaching material together, invited islanders with no knowledge of the language to join them at a free taster session at the Styx centre.
‘We’re designing a course to take people from absolutely no knowledge of Guernesiais to competence in the language,’ said Mr Marquis.
‘We are very much in the early stages, rather than produce maybe 50 or so units, we thought we’d produce a couple and then trial them and get some feedback.’
Dr Sallabank and Mr Marquis are using a course book for teaching Cornish to help.
‘Obviously, the languages are completely different, but we’re using it as inspiration for producing journals,’ said Mr Marquis, who has been teaching the language for 20 years.
‘I think people are beginning to really be interested in our language and further afield we are seeing more and more people look to their local languages, cultures, and heritage.’
Among some 10 islanders taking part was Dave Bartram.
He is not originally from Guernsey but has the local credentials of previously being in charge of La Societe’s conservation herd.
He was keen to try and learn a few words and phrases.
‘I work as a tour guide and people ask me about the Guernsey language, and I know very little,’ he said.
‘It would be great to share a few sentences and knowledge with people who visit the island.’
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