Hi, I have explained our case here before: we are a Swiss couple (left 20 yrs ago) who had their children in the UK - they are in yr 2 and yr 4 in a fab state school now, but we'll return to Switzerland in February. The kids are bilingual, but stronger in formal English (as in reading and writing) than in German, so, we decided to go to a state school in Zurich-Heuried - the very good headmistress closed the deal. The plan is to maintain their English privately, so, we are looking to find an English teacher to help us with that. This will be part of our English speaking strategy over and above the usual books and films: we plan to continue their cricket careers as well as finding other ways to socialise with English expat families in Zurich, whilst going back to England at least once if not twice a year. But the big question for the time being is: how do you find a good English teacher? I should say that I have a strong accent preference, which is: UK - English, SA or Australian, and only if there is no alternative US. It's depressing to see how quickly children pick up / mimick an accent: good if you move into a language, undermining the very essence of their ability when you move out of it. So Fruehenglisch is one to be avoided at all cost... Many thanks for help and advice, Fred

Sorry I can't help you, live in a wrong area and apparently have the wrong accent. But anyways, your kids are 2 and 4? Hire somebody they will like. I'd worry about accents later. It's not like you will be chosing the accent of their regular English teacher in the school once they start English as their normal curriculum..I'd say accent is a detail right now, our kiddo who is growing up in a mix yank/cz family has a slight brit accent from her nanny, I don't think I am going to pull my hair about it (and, a secret from a teacher, when kids grow older, they might actually prefer yank accent themselves, you'd have to ban mtv).

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yr2 and yr4 - that is 7 and 9 year olds. Sorry about the accent thing: you are of course right about the priorities: get the English teacher and worry about accent later. Listening to my kids mimicking US accents, I don't think MTV will be the problem to be honest, so perhaps this suggests that I have overrated the accent thing in the first place. So, let me rephrase - any English teacher will do ;-)

We sent our 5 yr old son to the WAC in Uster last year for Wednesday afternoon English reading & writing lessons. He loved the lessons and did brilliantly.. as far as I know, most of the teachers are UK trained.

Give them a shout, Ida is the head of the WAC's Learning Tree School - she also taught my son.

To the OP. Please PM me if you need a contact for Zurich. I know an English teacher, she is a qualified primary school teacher and speaks with a beautiful standard British English accent. We also have a friend qualified to teach English as a foreign language for Young Learners.

How about a part time babysitter - a once a week afternoon or evening with a senior high school student ( check the International School , for native English speakers, or possibly a uni student) Your children are already fluent English speakers I presume,so they don't really need formal lessons as well at this stage - just to be hearing and using English correctly so that their vocabulary and comprehension continues to increase. The grammer knowledge they will come across in German will cross into their English concepts as well ( including the differences between the two)

After-School English Reading, Writing & Spelling in Zürich

Hi Fred

A to Z English offers lessons for English-speaking primary school children (as well as beginning reading) in the Zürich area. Both British and American English are taught.

Although I understand your interest in maintaining their accent, these days, with English as the international language spoken throughout the "world", there are so many variations that it really doesn't matter any more. By having the children maintain contacts with their friends, making visits, etc., the accent of a teacher they see once per week is not likely to make a tremendous difference to the children.

From my experience, if the children come to weekly lessons, do the homework, and most importantly read in English on their own, they can continue to develop their English skills at a level comparable to their peers attending school in English. As for the accent - watch dvds, talk to friends on Skype, visit, go to camp, etc. It's possible to have it all, although perhaps not all from one person!

Elise
For more information - either reply via that personal messaging, or look on the internet under A to Z English (currently under construction) or
A B C ... Englich or else contact me at 043 411 88 07.