Multilingual Kids Spark a Jersey Language Revival Adventure!

Beatrice is a twelve-year-old student from a Portuguese family living in Jersey. She attends Le Rocquier School, where she wears a black blazer, white shirt, and red tie as part of her school uniform. Beatrice is learning Jèrriais, the native language of Jersey, during lunchtime sessions with other students. In her classroom, she is often seen smiling and working with her classmates, surrounded by bookshelves and learning materials.

Ben Spink is the head of L'Office du Jèrriais, an organization dedicated to teaching and preserving the Jèrriais language. He travels to different schools across Jersey to teach students about the language. Ben has noticed that children who already speak more than one language, especially those from different community groups, tend to pick up Jèrriais more quickly. He finds it especially encouraging when students who speak Latin-based languages, like Portuguese, can make connections between their own language and Jèrriais. Ben says it gives him a lot of hope to see children from various backgrounds learning Jèrriais, as it helps them connect with the island's culture and identity.

Beatrice enjoys learning Jèrriais because she finds it similar to Portuguese, which makes it easier for her to understand. She thinks it's exciting to speak a language that not many people know and feels proud of her progress. Beatrice believes that more Portuguese students could learn Jèrriais because of the similarities between the two languages. Ben Spink is optimistic about the future of Jèrriais, especially as more multilingual children are getting involved. He believes that Jèrriais is an inclusive language that belongs to everyone on the island. By encouraging young people, especially those who already speak more than one language, to learn Jèrriais, Ben hopes the language will continue to grow and remain an important part of Jersey's culture. Lunchtime clubs at schools like Le Rocquier offer students the chance to learn Jèrriais through games and activities, making the process fun and engaging for everyone.