Hi everyone,

I've been reading this website for a few weeks while my boyfriend and I made up our minds to accept jobs in Berne starting this summer. It's been really really handy and I'm sure I'll be posting lots of questions in the months to come (but only after dutifully searching to see what's already been said, of course). So thanks in advance for your help!

I'm a long-lost Australian, currently living in Denmark, which hopefully is good preparation for Switzerland in some ways: I won't be shocked by high prices, a seemingly inpenetrable spoken language, or having to follow lots of rules. Looking forward to learning some Swiss German, using the lowest gears on my bike for the first time and being known as the worst skiier in Switzerland.

Ciao,
W

Hello and welcome,
don't worry about the language barrier, half of the people who live here can't talk together, (and I am not talking about the expats). you'll like it here (after a few years of getting used to all the rules), but that makes it a clean and safe country. (more or less)

Hi, I'm an Irish student heading to Berne for 5 months for work experience from may til october. I'm also worried about the language barrier as I don't speak a word of German. I expect to be posting lots of questions in the next few months as well. I also would like to thank you all in advance.

Probably famous last words but I am actually looking forward to the language barrier ... on our (admittedly very brief) visit to check the place out it seemed like people were a little less comfortable speaking English than here in Denmark, which hopefully makes German/SwissG slightly easier to learn.
I'm not saying at all that there aren't heaps of people in Switzerland who can and will communicate well in English, I'm sure there are, but here in Copenhagen until you are intermediate level you basically have to trick the locals into not switching to English, for example by pretending to be Russian.

Thanks for the welcome!

I too am moving to the "Berne baby Berne" area this summer, to be with my Swiss partner. I have found some nice places to be in and around - in Thun - its much smaller than Berne and feels as though its going to be more of a "village" feeling there (which I shall enjoy). I have checked out some training centers and was pleased to be made felt welcome, regardless of my zero knowledge of German. Linguia have made a good impact on me - and I hope to study German there. They appear to be very professional - and are good at replying to my endless mails - which is a comfort.

My plans in the beginning are to get a part-time job, I´d do anythign as long as it involves integrating with people. I would not survive sitting in the house all day long doing my german homework. Am horribly independent and know that I feel best when I have "things" to do during the day.

Cheers for now.

Welcome to Bern. It's really a nice city and Thun is beautiful.

Spuds, are you referring to Inlingua? Do check www.vkhs.ch if time allows for an intensive German course in Summer.

Anyway, it's good to see that you and wednesday are very optimistic. Try and keep it that way, because once you get acquinted with the flaws and the negativity of the Swiss culture, you will be easily frustrated.

thanks - and yes I was referring to Inlingua´. I shall check out the other site - I see they have a course that starts 9 july - need to think about where I have my level of dedication - is it "full speed ahead" or "bit by bit, learning by doing".

cheers for now.

Hey Bern is a very special place. It's not as Germanic as Zurich - my old boss is French and he worked there for years without a word of german. He lived in Fribourg though. But you could almost get by with french in Bern too.

Bern is probably a difficult town to settle in at first. Simply because things happen in the little nooks and crannies all over town. Finding a good bar or club takes just the tad longer, so it's important to speak to the locals.

There are more english speakers there now than when I started working there in 2000 - 2003.

But the atmosphere and the people are just so much nicer than Zurich, I guess that comes with the "small town" atmosphere. Try to live in the good part of town (don't be taken in by the name of Bethlehem).

Oh yes, the Scandinavians speak a lot more english in general.

Bern is the type of town that just grows on you and when you leave, you will realise how much you actually love it.

(I don't feel the same way for Zurich, and I've been here longer).

So bring on the questions ...

In VKHS, it's a bit of both really and since it's a three months intensive course, you'll work on your book longer and understanding it better.

I find the course structure in Inlingua is very regimented.

Schwarzenburgstrasse 161
3003 Bern

The above address is where I will be working for 5 months. Does anyone know where this is or what kind of an area it is? I am told my accomodation is 5-10mins away. Any info on this area would be appreciated.

If you're looking for a map reference:
http://map.search.ch/3003/schwarzenburgstr.161

I don't know the actual area, but can infer from the areas close by which are quiet and residential. You're not quite a quick walk into town, but there are buses.

I'd say it was a nice part of Bern. The Gurten (the hill) is a much sought after area.

Berne, baby , Berne, no-disco-fer-you-now

Think on.
dave

Thanks for your advice - I have a big advantage of being able to take a direct train to Thun and literally throw myself at Inlingua - then have a nice coffee at a place called Manna (or similar) and then drag myself up to the TC training center which is located in the same house - if desired. Fribourg was going to be a bit more advanced to get to - and took 2 hours each way.

Not too shabby, you are around 5 mins from City Centre (Bahnhoffplatz)n from there. Are some resonable coffee & sandwich bars.

If you have post code for your accomodation, I can give you an idea on that. Bern aint that big & 10 mins can either send you somewhere nice or the entire opposite.

P