Guugu Yimithirr Current Language Activities

Both spoken and written Guugu Yimithirr language is taught at Hope Vale Primary School by Guugu Yimidhirr Language Expert Lillian Bowen. Course materials, including lesson scripts, posters and workbooks are produced by Pama Language Centre (Lillian Bowen, Karin Calley, Jan Goetesson, Nikki Ward). Some of these materials are now available in the Guugu Yimidhirr Living Library. Further materials will be added soon.

Pamamooves animated teaching resources are currently being developed and trialed with Lillian Bowen’s class. Examples of developed Guugu Yimidhirr assets are available in the Guugu Yimidhirr Living Library.

Pama Language Centre has published illustrated children’s books in Guugu Yimidhirr (both print and ebook editions) by authors Irene Hammett and Lillian Bowen. Print books and ebooks will soon be available for purchase from the Pama Language Centre Webstore.

Hope Vale Primary students have taken part in many Pama Language Centre Songs on Country workshops and activities, including a recording workshop in Canberra. Children’s songs in Guugu Yimidhirr composed during workshops are now part of Lillian Bowen’s lessons and Hope Vale school has a new school song in Guugu Yimidhirr that the children are learning to sing for assemblies and presentations. Songs on Country video clips are available in the Guugu Yimidhirr Living Library.

Online Guugu Yimidhirr lessons for adult learners have been conducted regularly for the past year. If you are interested in taking part please contact us. Lesson materials are now being developed and added to the Guugu Yimidhirr Living Library.

Language documentation is an ongoing aspect of all activities.