Hello E,

High German is "standard" German as spoken in countries like Germany and Austria. Swiss German is a derivative and is quite specific to Switzerland.

So, if you learn Swiss German, it'll only be useful for speaking to Swiss people with. Germans won't understand it (unless they're from the border area) and you won't be able to read much, because Swiss German is a spoken language. Even in Switzerland, the written language is High German and it's different to Swiss German.

If you learn High German, you'll be understood by Swiss German speakers. They'll randonly respond either in Swiss German, High German or English. It's your job to get them speaking a language you can understand ;-)

German is useful not just in Germany and Austria, but many other eastern European Countries where the 40+ generation learned German at school. The younger ones of course, learn English now instead.

When will you be coming?

=DM=