I am a visiting scholar from Shanghai, CHINA. I will have my research work in ETH in 2011. My stipend is 1800chf. My son(9 years old) will go with me because nobody can care him in my motherland. But he and I can not speak German. And he must go to public school or international school in 2011. But the tuition fee of international school is very high. I can not afford it well. Can somebody introduce something about public primary school in Zurich? Fee, school bus, curriculum, location, school time(about after class time), language(English or not) and so on. If the main language is German. Can my son understand all curriculum and how can he keep up with other student? Can somebody help me to find a good public school without any force or discriminate. I worry that my son will feel lonely at the beginning of his school life because he can not speak german.
And how about teacher, can he speak english well to communicate with me bacause I can not speak German, too!
Thank you for your any advices, I am looking forward to somebody's reply.

Hi Cyjin,

I unfortunately can not help you in giving you a name of a school. But if you're starting to work at the ETH I would advise you to contact your future employer about this. Our experience has been wonderful with the ETH, they can either give you answers or direct you in the right way.

The only thing that I do know about the schools is that you're bound to a school near where you live. Depending on where you're living the city will link you to a school and you have no choice in this. I have met parents that came here first to find a school and than decide where to live...

And on a last note, I have heard several (foreign) parents say they first had the same worries as you have but most of the children fitted in just fine and picked up German really fast.

Good luck with everything,
Kerstin

N hau, In Baselland, the nonGerman speakers begin in a mixed age class where they have Geman lessons to bring them up to a standard considered good enough to them merge into the main classrooms. I am presuming that othe rregions also have such a scheme in place by now.

Yes, it will be strange for yor son. But generally children settle down fast - faster than their parents in many cases. Good luck. Is the ETH providing you with accomodation?

it really depends... in zurich, i believe that at his age, he will have to go to a special class for no-german speaking students. Then after a year, based on accessment, he can go to regular class. If you only stay here for one year, i don't know if it is a best decision for your son.

as for good school, teachers, you don't have to worry about that. I believe it has good school system, and all the students should be treated equally. But for sure, the lanugage barrier will be here, and it also depends on your son's personality. No one knows your son better than you.

I know someone in this board just send the kids to public school even they are here temporary.