Speaking the local language will help you greatly in managing life in Switzerland. You'll be treated differently if you speak at least some Swiss German, French or Italian - depending on where you'll live - and don't speak English all the time. It'll help you assimilate to Switzerland and will even make bureaucratic process easier.
I was born in Switzerland to Swiss parents which means that I've been speaking Swiss German all my life. However, I can imagine that the Swiss language is quite tricky to learn for someone who isn't Swiss. Even Germans who live close by sometimes struggle to understand a Swiss person speaking dialect.
So I started collecting resources for learners of Swiss German (and regular German) in Switzerland and online. Here is what I found so far:
More useful links for foreigners living in Switzerland or planning to move there can be found here:
Useful Links for Life in Switzerland
© 2013 IRENE WYRSCH "A HUMOROUS GUIDE TO SWITZERLAND" ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
I was born in Switzerland to Swiss parents which means that I've been speaking Swiss German all my life. However, I can imagine that the Swiss language is quite tricky to learn for someone who isn't Swiss. Even Germans who live close by sometimes struggle to understand a Swiss person speaking dialect.
So I started collecting resources for learners of Swiss German (and regular German) in Switzerland and online. Here is what I found so far:
- Swiss German Skype Lessons: Kathrin offers affordable one-on-one lessons per Skype. There is a ton of free material on her website as well!
- Züri Slängikon: provides a great overview over Zurich slang words and expressions in Swiss German
- Berndeutsch.ch: Online glossary for the Bernese dialect of Swiss German, explains the words and expressions in German
- Migros Klubschule: offers language courses for German (and many other subjects)
- Schweizer-Deutsch.ch: website that sells study materials for Swiss German students
- Espace-allemand.ch: small language school that offers courses for Swiss German and German, located in the French part of Switzerland
- Schweizerdeutsch Lernen: smart phone app for Swiss German learners
- Leo: great online German-English dictionary
- Swiss German Dictionary: my own little collection of Swiss German words and phrases
- Swiss German Phrasebook: great resource from wikitravel with phrases and words in Swiss German, great for travelers!
- Idiotikon: great collection of Swiss German words from all the different dialects of Switzerland
- Eldrid's Advanced Guide to Swiss German: exactly what you think it is. Includes a guide to pronunciation! One of my favorite resources!
- speaksli.com: a series of language learning videos for Swiss German and other languages, based on the principle: watch, listen, speak.
Do you know of any other online resources for learners of Swiss German? Please Share!
Learn Swiss German, ok?! - Thommy Weiss / pixelio.de |
More useful links for foreigners living in Switzerland or planning to move there can be found here:
Useful Links for Life in Switzerland
© 2013 IRENE WYRSCH "A HUMOROUS GUIDE TO SWITZERLAND" ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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