Hi,
I am at C1 level in High German. I understand a lot of it (speak a bit worse than I understand, but I can communicate). I have a big problem with Swiss German. I really don't understand it and when I hear it I just BLOCK and feel like I am listening to Swedish or something. Most people that I meet during everyday activities probably think I don't speak German at all because I have to switch to English very often (it is still better than my High German and I feel better when speaking English...).
So....
What is the best and fastest way to learn Swiss German? I am very interested in learning it. But I don't have much time and I can't afford another course beside High G. How did you learn Swiss and how long did it take you to learn it?

Swiss mistress

Work in an environment where no one speaks anything else, but .....



...... and then your only problem is dialect differences.

if you use youtube

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTwjB8_DO2g

look up
Maryangel24

she has made over 30 videos covering different topics for Swiss German

Actively seek the company of Swiss-German speakers only as much as possible in all your everyday activities such as at work, hobbies and other extra curricular activities. Also watch Swiss TV channels, especially the news.

IIRC, there are also courses you can take. I know someone who primarily learnt it this way and it didn't cost that much at the time albeit some years ago.

I also know a British guy who, on coming here, totally immersed himself in an environment where only Swiss-German was spoken and went from zero understanding to speaking it fluently in 6 months.

Good luck and stick at it. I love Swiss-German!

__________________
" The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible. " ~ Arthur C Clarke

listen to the local radio/tv. you're taxed 460CHF per annum for it, may as well get some use out of it.

Unfortunately, TV News on Swiss TV tends to be broadcast in High(ish) German, with just a twinge of Zuri dialect.



Understanding dialect on the telephone is much harder than face to face visual contact, so get friendly with those annoying telesales agents, for practice.

Marry a Zucchino?

Tom

Maybe he's already married to a marrow.

Dybuster.

Well, even (High) German native speakers don't understand, let alone speak, Swiss German unless maybe they've grown up very close to the border. I know quite a few who, even after 15 years in Switzerland, speak no more than a couple of words of Swiss German, though they understand it to some extent or other.

The problem is that it's more than a dialect, though not a fully separate, own language. But it has dozens of dialects even within it. I'm Swiss born and bred but lived in different parts of the country, and believe me, there's words in some areas I didn't know before moving there

You're already further than most and have a solid understanding of German, which is a good start. There are books with Swiss German words (http://www.amazon.de/Schwyzerdütsch-...hweizerdeutsch - no idea though if it's any good). I realize you don't want to take another course, but I still want to mention that the Klubschule offers Swiss German courses, same here, not sure if they're any good, but why not consider them: http://www.klubschule.ch/Angebote/Sp...hweizerdeutsch Also, agree with a Swiss friend to only converse in Swiss German. I know this is difficult and especially Swiss have a tendency to quickly switch to either High German or English (or French depending on the area they live in) to make it easier, but if you set up the "Swiss German only rule", it might be worth a try. Or maybe you'll find yourself a tandem/language exchange partner?

Do you have somebody to show you the systematic phonetic correspondencies between dialect and high German? That's the first step.... recognising them. Second step is to learn the specificities of vocab in your area. The restis just training with lots of listening, a bit every day.
It works better if your German is really good, not just the usual "fluent but I don't really want to speak" kind of person...

Thank you all! Yes, my first goal is just to be able to understand it and to reply in High German. It would make my life so much easier. This Youtube channel is very useful. I believe it will help me a lot.

Start with:

Ja, ja
Doch, doch
mal, mal
isch nüd wahr?
Glaubsch es nüd?
mal, mal

Gopf
Stärne füfi

Pfuus guet
Guet Nacht mitenand
e schöne Tag

du mussch es sälber wüsse

What do following 4 expresions mean?
mal, mal (in which situation do they use it?)
Gopf
Stärne füfi
Pfuus guet

Tnx!

"Pfuus guet" = "Good night" or rather "sleep well" (casual, something you say to a friend/partner)

"Gopf" = mild, harmless, non-vulgar swearword, something like "darn (it)"

"Stärne füfi" = still thinking how to explain this one… Edit - used to express surprise about something, maybe similar, though not exactly, to a surprised "no way!" (can't think of a better translation right now, maybe someone else can…)

"mal mal" - I have no idea (seriously! See, stupid Swiss German, I don't even understand it )

Turn 4 again and attend Kindergarten.

Joking aside, in the early days, watching kiddies programmes, with my kids, (simple language) on Swiss TV, did help.

It takes 30ti years till you are allowed to sit here