Questions and answers

FAQ: Organization

How can I register definitively?

  • You will receive a written offer from us. Once you agree to it, you are definitively registered for your course.

Are there any additional fees?

  • We do not charge any administrative or registration fees.
  • For credit card payments, we charge a 2% fee.
  • Weekend and holiday lessons cost an additional CHF 20 per 60 minutes.
  • For lessons outside the city of Zurich, we charge a maximum of CHF 48 for travel expenses.

How can I contact the language school if I have further questions?

FAQ: Course Offerings

Are there options for specialized courses (e.g., business language courses, exam preparation courses)?

  • Yes, we offer these as private lessons. The instruction is tailored entirely to your needs and goals. You have your own teacher who focuses entirely on you. You set your own pace, and the teacher has time for all your questions. This is the most effective way to make rapid progress.

How large are the classes in evening group courses?

  • Evening groups have a maximum of 7 participants. If the number of participants is exceeded, the students will be divided into two groups.

Is there a minimum number of participants for evening courses?

  • Yes, evening groups require at least 3 students. Courses with too few registrations will not be held.

What is the cancellation policy?

  • Private lessons can be canceled until 5:00 PM the day before. The day before is the last official working day before the lesson, usually Friday for Monday lessons. Official holidays are considered weekends. Later cancellations will be charged.
  • Evening groups are held regularly, and missed lessons are not made up. Groups can collectively arrange summer or Christmas vacations, if agreed with the school.
  • Intensive courses have special cancellation policies.

FAQ: Online Lessons

Can I also book online lessons?

  • Yes, private courses can also be held online. However, we recommend in-person instruction. We do not allow regular online participants in evening courses.

What are the differences between in-person instruction and online lessons?

  • In-person instruction offers direct interaction, immediate feedback, and a stronger sense of community, as social interactions and spontaneous communication are easier. Online lessons are location-independent. Both have specific advantages and disadvantages depending on the individual needs and goals of the learners.

FAQ: Teachers

Who are the teachers and what qualifications do they have?
  • Our teachers are all native speakers from Germany and/or Switzerland. They typically have an academic background or a university of applied sciences education. Many of them grew up in Switzerland, some in Germany.
Can I choose my teacher?
  • Private students and group course participants are assigned a fixed teacher based on availability before the course begins. If a student is dissatisfied with their teacher, they can request a new teacher.

FAQ: Materials

What materials are used in the lessons and are they included in the course fee?

  • For High German, we use a variety of teaching materials from well-known publishers, which we supplement with our own materials if necessary.
  • For Swiss German instruction, we have developed our own textbooks, which are continuously updated as Swiss German is a living and constantly evolving language.
  • The materials are included in the course fee for evening courses. For private students, the materials are billed separately.

FAQ: Duration of a Lesson & Lesson Times

How long is a lesson at Swissing?

  • The minimum duration of a lesson is 60 minutes. However, it is possible to arrange longer lessons if desired.

What are the regular lesson times?

  • Lessons can take place from Monday to Friday between 7:30 AM and 9:00 PM.

Are lessons possible on weekends?

  • Yes, lessons on weekends are possible for an additional weekend surcharge of CHF 20 per 60 minutes of instruction. The weekend surcharge covers the additional costs of providing lessons on weekends, including the availability of our teachers and operating costs during this time.

Can I flexibly adjust my regular lesson schedule?

  • Yes, we strive to adjust your lessons according to your individual schedules and requirements. Please contact us to make changes or discuss special requests.

FAQ: Levels and Level System

How do I choose the right course level?
  • If you are not a complete beginner but are unsure at which level to start, we offer a placement test. This test helps us determine your current language level and give you a recommendation for the appropriate course.
  • The placement test usually takes 20 minutes. It is important that you take the test without help from friends or dictionaries to ensure your results are as accurate as possible, allowing us to give you an appropriate recommendation.
  • You can find the test on our website under “Placement Test.“
What is our level system and how is it structured?
  • Our level system is based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), developed by the Council of Europe. This divides language competence into six levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2.
  • According to the CEFR, learners need approximately 100 hours to complete a level. However, at Swissing, we assume that students can achieve this in about 80 hours.
  • Therefore, we have organized our evening courses so that four consecutive courses need to be attended to reach a level. This structure allows students to work efficiently and purposefully towards their language level and achieve their goals within a reasonable timeframe.
Which levels are taught at Swissing?
  • We offer instruction at all levels of the CEFR.

FAQ: Should I Learn High German or Swiss German?

Should I learn High German or Swiss German first?

  • We recommend focusing on one of the two language forms first. This makes the learning process easier and prevents overload.
  • The decision whether to learn High German or Swiss German first depends on your personal preferences and goals. If you choose High German, you will lay a solid foundation that will make it easier for you to learn Swiss German later. Alternatively, you can focus on Swiss German first to integrate directly into everyday life and later learn High German more quickly.

What are the advantages of learning High German first?

  • Learning High German first offers the advantage of mastering the written language, which is used in most official and formal contexts. With a solid foundation in High German, you will make rapid progress in Swiss German, as much of the High German knowledge is also useful when learning Swiss German.

What are the advantages of learning Swiss German first?

  • Choosing to learn Swiss German first enables more direct communication in everyday life and promotes integration into the local community. With this foundation, you can learn High German more quickly later, as many basic structures and vocabulary are similar in both language forms.

I am a native German speaker. Will I learn Swiss German faster?

  • As a native German speaker, you already have a solid understanding of grammatical structures and vocabulary. This can certainly help you learn Swiss German faster, especially regarding the basic structures of the language.
  • However, there are some differences between Swiss German and High German, such as the pronunciation of certain sounds, the use of specific vocabulary, and grammatical nuances. These differences may initially pose a challenge, but with your existing knowledge of German as a native speaker, you will likely make faster progress than someone learning German as a foreign language.
  • Nevertheless, learning a new variant of a language requires time, practice, and patience. With your motivation and existing understanding of German, you are well-equipped to learn Swiss German effectively and integrate linguistically in Switzerland.

FAQ: Time for Homework

How much time should I allocate for homework?

  • The time spent on homework varies depending on individual learning styles, language level, and course requirements. As a general guideline, we recommend allocating about 1 hour for homework per lesson in addition to the lesson time.

What typically constitutes homework?

  • Homework can include various tasks such as practicing vocabulary, reading texts, writing essays, or listening to comprehension exercises. Your teacher will assign appropriate tasks based on the lesson content and your learning goals.

FAQ: Exam Preparation Courses at Swissing

Can I take a certification exam at Swissing?

  • No, you cannot take certification exams at Swissing. However, we offer targeted preparation courses to optimally prepare our students for various certification exams.

For which certificates does Swissing offer preparation courses?

  • At Swissing, we offer preparation courses for fide, Telc, and the Goethe Certificate.

What is the SDS test?

  • The Swiss Digital Language Test (SDS) is a digital, cross-level test on a tablet and includes the CEFR levels from pre-A1 up to and including B2.
  • Please note that the SDS certificate will no longer be accepted as an official language document by the Swiss authorities from July 1, 2025.

What is the fide test?

  • The fide test is a Swiss language test developed on behalf of the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) and recognized for immigration and citizenship procedures. It assesses participants’ language skills based on everyday situations in Switzerland, focusing on Swiss linguistic features and daily life vocabulary. It is recognized within Switzerland.

What is Telc?

  • TELC stands for “The European Language Certificates” and is an organization that offers language exams and certificates. TELC language certificates are internationally recognized and based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), which divides language competence into various levels from A1 to C2.

What is the Goethe Certificate?

  • The Goethe Certificate is an internationally recognized language certificate awarded by the Goethe-Institut. The Goethe-Institut is a German cultural institution that operates worldwide and promotes the German language and culture. The Goethe Certificates are standardized exams that assess the German language skills of non-native speakers according to the CEFR. The certificates cover the different language levels from A1 (beginner) to C2 (near-native proficiency).

FAQ: Naturalization

What will I learn in a naturalization course at Swissing?

  • In our naturalization course, you will be optimally prepared for the knowledge test and the naturalization interview required for Swiss citizenship.

What materials are used?

  • We use the official materials provided by the federal government, the canton of Zurich, and your local municipality. These materials are in German.

Do you have any questions?

Contact us