Hi there,

My family and I are moving to Zurich in July and are looking to place our 4.5 year old into a bilingual school. There seems to be quite a few around Zurich, does anyone have experience of them that they would be willing to share with me? I would be grateful for any advice.

Gillian.

Someone recommanded Zweisprachige Tagesschule Zimmergerg located at Alte Landstrasse 33-34, 8810 Horgen.
I have brochures of this school.
I am going to see this school next week.
Did you find anyone ?

"Bilingual" means Standard German + English in Zurich.

My daughter went to the Lakeside Bilingual School in Küsnacht for 2 years but 10 years ago. She had some subjects taught in German and others in English, and because she was so happy there, she learned a lot and thrived - the best any parent could ask for.
I really liked the fact that there was a good mix of kids - many like us (bi-national and multi-cultural), some native Eng speakers, some native German speakers (and Swiss), w/ no one group dominating (as ex-pat kids seem to do in the internat'l schools).
When she was in 4th grade, we moved her to the local public school (in German only!), where she continued to thrive despite some bullying (which was not extreme or bad compared to what goes on in many public schools, a whole nother thread).
Good luck!

Does anyone have any information about Childrens world (bilingual) school? Any members with kids attending the school either in baden or Zurich?
Any recommendations for a preschool in Zurich. My son is 3y.o and speaks English.

My 4 year old started at the Baden place last month. Though ‘bilingual’ the Baden place is more German than English. The school has reorganized this and will be getting a native English speaker to take the English sessions (2 day a week) from May. Overall the people (both administrative and teaching) are very nice and accommodating and are able to speak English (important to me as I speak very little German), and I am happy with the place. If you need any other info please PM me.

Hi, my daughter currently goes to the WAC preschool in Uster once a week. www.wac.ch

It is a small English speaking preschool, and also offers reading and writing classes for older kids. She loves it there. The classes are currently 2 hours for her age group (she turned 3 in February), but from August will be 3 hours. They do singing, craft, reading, snack, etc etc.

From Stadelhofen it is a ten minute train trip, but to drive would take longer (not sure how long as we don't have a car). I usually hang around while she is there as it is not really worth coming home, but there is a great bunch of mums there, and I also get a bit of food shopping or other stuff done as well.

The WAC also offers other courses and activities for kids and adults. For example, I attend German classes there, with childcare provided.

Just on a side note, since January, my daughter has been attending a local swiss kinderkrippe two days a week, and is starting to understand the language and make some local friends. She will keep going to the WAC once a week, though, as I like the idea of her doing something in English, and we have both made some really good friends as a result of going there.


Kate

Hi,

Our children(boy 7, girl 4) attend the "D'Insle Montessori" school Signaustrasse in Zurich (2 stops from Stadelhofen with tram 11). The school is formally bilingual, although in Kindergarten years this means English + (mostly) Swiss German. In primary school it becomes High German + English. Our children have started in January 2008 but seem really happy with the school. It isn't cheap, but as far as private schools go somewher middle of the road.

Hello,

I am new here and very happy to have found this forum. I am Dutch and me and my family are planning to move to Zürich next year summer. As preparation, my kids (4 and 7) are already attending an international school in Amsterdam. Although our move is meant to be for long term, we will keep the possibility open to move to the US or elsewhere. The 7 year old speaks good English after 1 year international school here in Amsterdam and will only improve this coming year. The 4 year old will start on this school next week, so will also be able to speak English next year. They both speak Dutch as mothertongue (like me and my husband), and no German (me and my husband do speak some basic German and some English).

We would like to be part of the local Swiss community. Therefore I am looking at Bilingual schools (German/English). In the region between Horgen and Pfäffikon. I have found 3: Taz Horgen, Gemini and Obersee. I have some questions which I hope I can get some answers:
(I already have been looking at several threads, but besides someone named Landmark I think there was not much on the subject.)

- Does anyone know 1 of these 3 schools? Good and or bad stories please! Also what's the athmosphere/feeling on these schools? What type of people/kids are attending?

- Anymore schools besides these 3 in that nabourhood?

- Taz and Obersee are around SFR 23.000 per year, Gemini doesn't say on the website. This is alot of money and we have no company paying this for us, so I am very interested in price-quality. (it is still much cheaper then the ZIS - which is like 28.000..) Is it including lunch? Including extra language lessons, etc? What extra costs can we expect?

- Can we expect locals on those schools?

- What do the schools provide as extra-curriculum? Like sports activities, swimming and skiing. I read alot on those websites, but I would rather hear what they really do.

- In general: anyone on this forum who lives between Horgen and Pfäffikon? We are looking at Richterswil for housing, which seems to be a nice little village.

Your help is being appreciated!

Hi Maximum!
We, Dutch family with 3 children, currently living in London, will be moving to the same area as you are (not too far from Pfaeffikon), either early Summer or April). I am looking at the same schools as you are and will definitely go and visit the schools before making any decisions.

We might be able to exchange information before the move and even meet up in Swizerland!

Hi Maximum,

Friends of mine send their kids to the bilingual "Lakeside School". They are very happy with it. It is on the other side of the lake, however (Zollikon, I think).

Hi

My daughter will soon have to go to primary school and I'd like her to go to a bilingual school so she speaks both English and German. Does anyone have experience with/advice on bilingual schools on the Goldküste near Zurich?

My preference would go to the SIS in Männedorf, as it is the nearest to where we live, but the Lakeside School in Küsnacht is also an alternative location-wise.

Is there any other? Do you have experience with one of those?

Thanks in advance!

Hi mordae,

As you can see, lots of discussion on this topic already. I've merged your post to this thread as any responses to it might also be helpful for the next person to come along.

Here's another thread - not Zurich-specific let alone Zurich-Gold-Coast-specific - but recently active, and might have some good information. Do a forum search for 'bilingual school' and you'll find others.
Bilingual schools... But which one?!