Practical Information

Learning the Language: Where to start?

It may help to begin learning the language you will be speaking in Switzerland before you leave your native country. You can take classes near you or buy books/CDs to give you a decent jump-start in the language. The Pimsleur method has a well-respected reputation for those wishing to pick up the basics of a foreign language quickly, especially with Swiss-German, which is for the most part only a spoken language.

Nevertheless, being such a multi-lingual country, there are literally thousands of language schools throughout Switzerland. Inquire at your canton or community’s integration office to see if they recommend a particular school in your area, and they also sometimes sponsor courses for new immigrants and their children. Following are some tips for aiding in your learning experience:

Make friends with speakers of the local language | While it can make you feel more at home speaking with others who share your native tongue, it will help your language learning immeasurably to make some friends who speak the language you’re learning. They will also be able to act as a backup when you are trying to deal with local people like the plumber, phone company, etc.

Join an interest group | Activities that include both native speakers and bilingual speakers can help you learn the vocabulary of activities you are interested in. Clubs for various sports exist, such as hiking, cycling, skiing, horseback riding, etc. Volunteer groups and churches are usually happy to welcome foreign members.

Take a class | Classes on local crafts, art, cooking, etc. are useful in being activity-oriented rather than word-oriented, and will enable you to learn something different while making new native-speaking friends.

Arrange a language exchange | You can put up notices at the local university or in coffee shops around town to find someone interested in exchanging conversation. You can meet for an hour each week over coffee, and speak for thirty minutes in each language. Many local newspapers and city magazines list ads for private or group language exchanges. It is usually free or carries a nominal fee, and is a good way to get more comfortable with speaking the language.

Be patient with yourself | When you first begin speaking a foreign language it’s easy to become shy about speaking it to natives. Nobody wants to feel embarrassed when they make mistakes, but most native speakers are happy that you are making an attempt to learn their language and will usually be helpful when you make a mistake or get stuck. Learning takes time, but the more you practice speaking the more quickly you will improve, and before you know it, you’ll be able to give directions in the native tongue like a pro.