Introduction to Swiss German

Name: Introduction to Swiss German
Rating: 4.7 (48 reviews)

Learn Swiss German Language to confidently tackle common situations in Switzerland

Created byMarkus Stalder

Last updated 7/2023

English

What you'll learn

Start building confidence in handling common situations in Swiss German
Saying Hello & Goodbye
Introducing yourself
Counting / Numbers
Navigating the supermarket
Ordering at a Restaurant
Taking Public Transportation
Asking for directions
Describing the weather

Course content

5 sections • 9 lectures • 1h 26m total length

Introduction to Swiss German5:13
Welcome to this introductory course to Swiss German. Whether you are a professional planning to work in Switzerland, an individual who is living in Switzerland, or simply someone who decided to pick up a few words of Swiss German - this course is for you.
The course is structured to be as simple as possible. Each lesson assumes a specific situation you may encounter during your stay in Switzerland and will teach you how to navigate the respective situation. We will learn phrases and words that are helpful and make you feel equipped to start engaging in daily life using Swiss German.

Hello & Goodbye9:09
Let's start simple! In this lesson you will learn how to say Hello & Goodbye. In the countryside it is often quite common for Swiss people to greet as they pass each other. This lesson will come in useful.
Introductions & Counting18:27
In this lesson you will learn 3 short sentences to introduce yourself to others. You will learn how to say your name and your age and you will learn how to count from 0 to 99.

Navigating the Supermarket11:38
In this lesson you will learn basic vocabulary for doing groceries, how you can ask for assistance, and what to expect at the cashier. Make sure to have completed Lesson 1: Hello & Goodbye - as you can use these words while checking out at the cashier.
Ordering at the Restaurant8:45
In this lesson you will learn how to order food and drinks at a restaurant, how you can compliment the food and how to ask for the bill.
Taking Public Transportation14:15
Switzerland is known for its excellent public transportation system. Do you take the train, the bus, the tram or the ferry? How about purchasing a ticket at the counter in Swiss German? Let's learn~

Requirements

No previous experience required. This is an introductory course to Swiss German and intended for beginners who may not have any prior knowledge in the Swiss German language.

Description

About this Course

This introductory course to Swiss German is aimed at beginners who want to feel equipped in handling common situations in Switzerland. Whether you are a professional planning to work in Switzerland, an individual who is living in Switzerland, or simply someone who decided to pick up a few words of Swiss German - this course is for you.

The course is structured to be as simple as possible. Each lesson assumes a specific situation you may encounter during your stay in Switzerland and will teach you how to navigate the respective situation. Instead of focusing on a long list of vocabulary or grammar, we will learn phrases and words that are helpful and make you feel equipped to start engaging in daily life using Swiss German.

Ensure to follow this course sequentially. As the content is built up on each other, later lessons may utilize words we learn in an earlier lesson.

What is Swiss German

Swiss German, known as "Schwizerdütsch", is spoken by 65-70% of Swiss people in their everyday lives. It differs from High German - the Standard German spoken in Germany. One notable characteristic of Swiss German is its pronunciation which features unique sounds and intonations. Due to its informal nature and cultural significance, Swiss German is an important part of Swiss identity and is used extensively in everyday conversations, including in families, social interactions, and informal writing.

Overall, Swiss German is a rich and diverse group of dialects spoken by the Swiss population, contributing to the cultural distinctiveness of Switzerland and playing a significant role in daily communication among its speakers.

Before you start

While this course is intended to provide you with helpful and relevant knowledge to speak Swiss German - practise is what makes all the difference. To get the most out of this course ensure to practise the lessons you'll learn. Listen, Practise and Repeat.

Who this course is for:

Professionals who are living or relocating to Switzerland in the Swiss German speaking part
Visitors or Tourists who are travelling to / through Switzerland and want to speak a few words in the Swiss German native tongue
Individuals who are living in Switzerland and want to feel equipped to tackle daily situations in basic Swiss German
Anyone who would like to learn Swiss German

Introduction to Swiss German

What you'll learn

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