Spanish speakers schooling in Bern

chiriuy · #1 11.02.2011, 03:33

Hi all,

First sorry If my question has been answered many times, I've looked around and found none well suited to my situation.

I have a job opportunity in Bern but I have 2 daughters (4 and 6) and they only speak spanish.

Are there schools that speak spanish? Would they have to start school without being able to communicate at all?

I am open to all kinds of answers, I am not looking for anyone to solve my own problems but instead ask for a brainstorm so I have better information to sort in order to make a good decision whether or not to move there.

In regards to financial situation, the salary would be between 6000 and 7000 francs monthly and I might have some bonuses per each underage child plus 50% coverage of medical costs. Would this be enough to live if I had to pay private schooling?

Again thanks for your answers and patience!

simplon · #2 11.02.2011, 06:20

Hi
There are no Spanish schools in Berne, at least as far as I know. But your daughters wouldn't have any major problems in the local schools. Bern offers additional German lessons for foreign children within the normal school scheme. You can send them also in addition in a weekly course organised by the Spanish embassy, where they can keep in touch with Spanish traditions and the language. You'll find further information here:
http://www.erz.be.ch/erz/de/index/ki...ch_spanien.pdf

gflorezv · #3 24.02.2011, 02:09

Hi, just check this site: http://www.colorin.ch/ my son goes there and is very happy.

HollidayG · #4 24.02.2011, 06:47

Your daughters are at an age where they would be fluent in German in no time.

As the other poster said, the schools usually offer extra tutoring at no additional cost for students to learn German( or French or Italian if that
be the case ).

olympe · #5 24.02.2011, 08:08

Hi

Your 4 year old will go to Kindergarten and will in to time learn the local language. The 6 year old will probably start primary school and will be given extra German classes. My daughter , a French speaker had no German and is now ( After 18 months) talking German and Bern deustch as well. In her class there are 2 spanish-speaking brothers ( from Peru) , they had no German, only speak Spanish at home and with the aupair, and yet they've had no problem. They are fully integrated and have many friends.

If you are here for a while, enroll them in the local school, they will have more friends and more opportunities to socialize, take part in sport activities etc..

mojado · #6 24.02.2011, 09:24

IMO the salary is enough to comfortably live, but not enough to pay private schooling for both girls, unless you make a great effort.

For instance, I've checked the quotes for Minervaschule in Basel: 9900 a semester for primary school and 5750 for kindergarten.

#7 24.02.2011, 11:36

Mojado u r right! Anyways what you are quoting here is that for s Spanish school in Basel?

Thanks!

A

mojado · #8 24.02.2011, 11:38

	Quote:	Angela-74
	Mojado u r right! Anyways what you are quoting here is that for s Spanish school in Basel? Thanks! A

The quote is from a regular private German speaking school in Basel. I'm not aware of any Spanish school in Basel besides the Guardería Infantil Española (Spanish nursery).

#9 24.02.2011, 11:52

I just called them and they were very nice, it seems there is also one in Zurich. Every last Thursday of the month (so today!) they have an Opn House. I won't make it today but I think I'll go next month! Great info Mojado!

chiriuy · #10 25.02.2011, 10:07

Wow! I hadn't logged in for a while, thank you all for your help!

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Detect language » English

Longbyt · #11 25.02.2011, 10:59

As the languages are in alphabetical order that sure didn't take long. As spelling in English is so 'odd', kids learn to look up words (alphabetically ordered) in a dictionary from a very early age!