Topic: Discover Switzerland
Switzerland: Bienvenue, Willkommen, Benvenuto, Bainvegni!
Did you know? There are only 2 countries in Central and Western Europe with 4 national languages, and Switzerland is one of them. To add further confusion, all 4 languages are not spoken equally across the country, which means you may find yourself on a train that starts out in French and ends up in German.
So how did this come about? Rather than using a common language to unify the nation, Switzerland was founded as a federation, technically called a Willesnation (a nation of the will). Within Switzerland there are 26 distinct cantons, and they acted according to their own will, functioning as 26 fully sovereign states. They had their own borders, armies, customs and languages.
As the 26 cantons united, they were allowed to retain their language(s) of choice. Naturally language selection was highly influenced by their geographical location. Western Switzerland retained French, the South kept Italian, and Central and Eastern Switzerland speak a German dialect.
(source: https://twitter.com/TheBigDataStats)
What is Romansh? Currently spoken primarily in the canton of Grisons, it is a Latin-based dialect dating back to the Romanization of Switzerland in the 1st to 3rd centuries AD. Over the years, there have been several revival movements to ensure the language and associated history are preserved. It was finally voted (at 91.6% majority) as an official Swiss language in 1938, for use within the canton of Grisons.
How do people in Switzerland communicate? All students following the Swiss curriculum are taught in their canton’s language with a second language added from 4th grade upwards. The second language is usually French or German, and English is also sometimes taught as a general “communication” language. There is also a large population of non-Swiss workers in Switzerland, making up 20% of the workforce and many multinationals choose to locate their Headquarters in Switzerland. This means English spoken, at least casually, throughout the country, with many companies choosing to provide customer services in English in addition to the official languages.
Is Switzerland a good place to learn a language? The Swiss melting pot makes Switzerland an excellent destination for language learning. With a country so accustomed to teaching multiple languages, there are plenty of options available, from private tutors to intensive language camps. We work with 3 language schools based in Montreux (French-speaking Switzerland) and Zurich (German-speaking Switzerland) who offer qualitative, personalized teaching.
Alternatively, one of the best ways for children to learn and practice another language is to be surrounded by their friends. We’ve partnered with 38 summer camps offering French classes, 17 camps offering German studies, and 42 summer camps in English. Not only are children learning over an intensive period of time, but the focus remains on having a good time, with the day often split between classes in the morning and outdoor activities in the afternoon. Discover our interview with Beau Soleil Summer Camp to read more about a day in the life of a camper.
Visiting or living in a multilingual country may come with a few challenges, but it’s also an excellent way to practice your vocabulary. You’ll be greeted by a welcoming population used to language learners and keen to help. And by joining a language school or camp, you will be exposed to local cultures and customs as well as meet people from all around the world working towards the same goal.
