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Resources for Learners of Swiss German

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:
  • 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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