German Lessons, Zurich [Schools and Classes - No private Ads] - Page 3

miss_bean · #41 16.02.2011, 16:12

Any feedback on
www.bzd.ch ?

thnx

saffolter · #42 04.03.2011, 17:37

	Quote:	Uncle Max
	Hey Nicky, I used to manage a Language School so I hope the following may be of help. Firstly, as with wine, it's quality not quantity which counts. 10 hours of quality teaching can be worth 50 hours of group time-wasting. My experiences both privately and professionally show it's great to be in a small group of adults who are paying for the course themselves. This means you have dedicated students who are mature enough to want to learn and respect you're there to learn as well. Dare I suggest you avoid the classes which include the disinterested and the young: on the whole they pull you back. Large groups (10 students or so) are usually a mixed bag of personalities: the hopeless and the brainy together do not a conducive atmosphere make. Should there be someone who has no idea about their own language structure - and you HAVE to have a basic understanding to learn a new language - this will pull everyone back. And it's your cash their squandering. It may well seem less intimidating but ultimately the large group classes are outdated. They're not effective and you'll waste time. Small group classes (2-5 people) are ideal. - you use your language in a social setting just as you will be doing - being in a small group creates camaraderie and lessens the 'work' factor - you'll assist the others and they'll assist you - it'll be more fun for the teacher and thus be a better atmosphere - there's the social element, which is desirable! I've met some wonderful friends via German classes. Chosing your teacher is important. I suggest you steer clear of the big schools, really. I know them all and wouldn't recommend them. You will learn there, just not effectively. They're not totally bad... Go small, discuss with the contact person your needs and learning styles. Not everyone likes small groups; not everyone likes large. I can testify the Swiss LOVE private classes - there's a tremendous fear of failure here, great to see a UBS Director cacking his pants because he can't remember one bloody word Ha! - but these are expensive and you miss a lot of the learning experience on your own. Remember, communication is about communicating and not getting it 100% right. Kids learn, make mistakes, but have no fear of sounding inelegant. (Also, Kids correct you without making you feel an idiot. They don't care if your grammar is wonky. But don't spend too much time at the play area or you'll get a reputation ) Good Luck, make the effort: the rewards are priceless. So many people here suffer because of language limitations and this has negative effects on ones quality of life. It's difficult though, eh?

Quite helpful for me, i did the Migros class, seems the classmates have different background, and paying different attention as well

Devonshire Dumpling · #43 13.03.2011, 16:04

Having lived here for 10 year and have had German lessons for nearly all that time, I have deceided that I really must be a bit more intentional.
Having read other posts I have learnt that mini group or individual lessons would be best for me.
I want a class where the other particpants are serious about learning and therefore I'm want to do a diploma course.
I've looked at some of the ones suggested but I also found another one called Sprachschule Schnider in Wollishofen Zürich, does anybody have any opinions about this school?
Thank you

aureola77 · #44 21.04.2011, 15:33

Hi All,

Could anyone recommend a good intensive German course in /around Zurich?
I`ve heard of Migros schule,Alemania and Ecap,but which school is the best?

Lejoker · #45 21.04.2011, 15:42

I think migrosschule is the best...

HollidayG · #46 21.04.2011, 16:21

	Quote:	Lejoker
	I think migrosschule is the best...

If you company is paying Berlitz, otherwise go for Klubschule Migros.

Carrie F · #47 21.04.2011, 16:27

I've completed 5 semi-intensive German courses at Migros Klubschule and was pretty happy with them. But I think a lot of it depends on the teacher you get. I've had one bad teacher and one VERY good one.
In hindsight, though, I do wish I had taken German courses for native English speakers because I think that would have really helped (the teachers at Migros aren't supposed to speak any language during class other than German, so it's easy to feel pretty lost in the first few courses, when you can barely even understand the teacher.)
I wish you much luck!

Zayana · #48 21.04.2011, 16:46

I went through ECAP 1 month intensive course, the teacher's name was Beata (a funny old lady with red hair). It took me 4 weeks 3.5 hours Mon-Fri. The whole course is in German from the 1st day so at the beginnig I could not catch some explanations. The course was according Schritte 1 coursebook by Hueber but for me the way it was delivered did not seem systematic and structured. The teacher did not follow the text book all the time, talked about her life, told funny stories and gave grammar explanations when needed. So there were quite many things I was unpleased with.
But at the end my husband was amazed by the progress I have made. I found myself able to read and understand, and to discuss home things with my hubby (like what to buy, where to go tomorrow). I learnt many new words and I liked the way I did it - at ECAP they explain u the meaning of the word in German, show it with faces or gestures but never say in English.

The price is 780 CHF for 4 weeks and as far as I know is reasonably priced comparing to other schools. ECAP is full of students, its very popular. To my mind, only highly qualified teachers work there. So I would really recommend to try it for 1 month (and then u see if u want to go on with them) but probably with another teacher

Devonshire Dumpling · #49 27.04.2011, 17:42

I did a 4 week course with Almania. It was cheap. And now I know why.
The class was big, maybe 12 to 15. They didn't all come everyday and didn't seem to take it to seriously. I hated the fact that because they hadn't done their homework or not been for a couple of days we had to repeat a lot of things.
But if you are young, there seemed to be lot of social activity going on afterwards, which I imagine was in German, the common language.

Manzana · #50 19.06.2011, 12:30

I have been taking lessons at Rosasprachen for the last few months.
Whilst not the cheapest of schools, classes don't usually get much bigger than 5 students and we were constantly asked what we wanted to work on and do in future lessons so I found it very student-focussed.

newtoswitz · #51 19.07.2011, 17:25

My wife did the A1 course at Migros Clubschule and found it was OK but the class was big and the range of abilities too great, particularly with people who could speak German fairly well asking the teacher questions in German!

Now she's spending a couple of hours a week talking with a Swiss friend in return for helping with her English, and finds it much more useful as the topics are relevant and it's more fun.

Wollishofener · #52 20.07.2011, 13:53

	Quote:	DaveA
	Migrosschule. 3 mornings or afternoons per week. Cheap as chips, and quite fun. I think they're the school is next to oerlikon bahnhof. dave

The place beside Bhf Oerlikon is one of the two places they have, the other one is at Wengihof at Engelstrasse (beside Badenerstrasse)

MarkH · #53 29.07.2011, 16:51

Anyone been to EB Zürich?
Any comments?

http://www.eb-zuerich.ch

MelissaD · #54 02.08.2011, 11:10

which small language schools in Zurich do you recommend?

MelissaD · #55 04.08.2011, 10:51

Can Anyone recommend a small school or a good place for private lessons?

ekta.sh · #56 27.09.2011, 16:30

	Quote:	gooner
	I will ask my teacher if she is interested. She is based in ZH, a university student, but very good. She works for a teaching school here, but I'll ask if she interested in a bit of moonlighting...

Hello, Can you let me know if your teacher is still interested in giving lessons and tuition charges.

Thanks!
Ekta

IrisFlower · #57 17.10.2011, 23:40

So, it seems Berlitz doesn't get positive reviews here... What about eBerlitz - has anyone done the online self-study or online tutoring with them? What was your experience with it? I have a small child and going to classes seems more time-consuming than I'd like, while I can't afford private lessons at this point...

Faltrad · #58 18.10.2011, 00:05

Berlitz is a method. Nothing wrong if it doesn't suit someone in particular.
For zero-grammar people with an excellent hearing-memory though, it can be a good kick in the right place to get going. But it can also be the frustration of your life time if you like to understand the mechanics and are very visual.

People are different.