Do you need to know Swiss German to move to Switzerland?

Moving to a country where you don't speak the language can be a 'chicken and egg' situation: which one comes first, the local language or the move? It's challenging for anyone relocating abroad, and for newcomers to German-speaking Switzerland in particular, this is a big issue. Not only is it hard to get hold of resources to learn the dialect outside of the country, but once here, there are many regional variations to get to grips with, and the differences between Swiss German and high German can feel overwhelming. In this episode we talk about how to get ready to live in a Swiss German-speaking area and what to expect when you first arrive.

Did you know we have a Facebook group? Switzerland for English Speakers is a great place to ask questions and share experiences. Take a look!

Notes on this episode of Swiss and Chips: Your British Guide to Switzerland

• My personal experience of getting to grips with the dialect
• The first words or phrases I picked up
• How I started to understand Swiss German
• Recommendation for newcomers, including learning high German first

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