Hi,

Please can any one advise where in BADEN area can I learn the Swiss-German language ?

I do not German so my start to learn the language will be tough I guess

If you don't already know High German it will be difficult to find schools that will let you learn Swiss-German from them. Learn High German first, then you'll be able to read and write, as Swiss-German is primarily a spoken dialect.

Swiss German has a pretty free grammar so if you are really fixed on speaking that I would advise making some Swiss friends, hanging out in bars etc and listening.

I would personally not try to speak Swiss German without a High German background, it tends to help with words and figures of speech a bit, but I think you will be alright. Just know the process is long.

Good Luck

Thanks ! Please where can I find a good school to learn German in Baden area bearing in mind that my knowledge about German is 'ZERO !'

Migros Klubschule offer Swiss German lessons. I don't agree that you need German to learn Swiss German, it's like saying that you have to learn Latin before you learn English.

If you want to learn Swiss German, go for it.

Also, use google to find schools, like this link I found.

In Baden you have the omni-present Migros Klubschule of course www.migros.ch, then there is the TLC http://www.tlclanguage.ch/?clang=1

Migros offers swiss german courses. I'd rather learn German first and then (or parallel) some swiss german.

Never tried them, so I cannot tell you about the quality.

If you are going to work for ABB or Alstom, don't worry, they'll organize language courses for you.

Language schools in Baden:

AVS (Audiovisuelles Sprachinstitut)
Audiovisuelles Sprachinstitut
Rathausgasse 22 (the back of Rathausgasse - down the steps along the right hand side of Moser bakery)
5400 Baden
Tel. +41(0)56 222 35 35
Fax +41(0)56 222 74 19
http://www.sprachinstitut.ch

TLC (The Language Company)
Bahnhofstrasse 44 (on the right hand side on the way from the railway station towards Hotel Du Parc)
5400 Baden
T 056 205 51 78
F 056 205 63 83
http://www.tlclanguage.ch/5-0-kontakt.html

Klubschule Migros Baden
Nordhaus 3 (West side of the railway station, at the end of the bus stops - see www.nordhaus.ch for a picture of the building)
5400 Baden
Telefon 058 568 97 97
Telefax 058 568 97 98

I did an intensive German course at AVS and found it excellent, but their evening courses are only once a week.

I suggest you go and see each of them rather than do it by telephone or e-mail.

ArgoviaCalibro9 suggested TLC. They aren't bad. As an ABB employee you get a discount there as well.

No flexibility at all with AVS. Be careful: once registered, your money is blocked.

The registration includes a tick box agreement (written in german) that legally blocks your money and it is only refundable for "valid" reasons according to the school direction judgment. I have tried most of the german schools in Baden where try-lessons and refundable courses (without giving reasons) are common practice.

AVS has been by far the worst experience I've had during my german learning in Switzerland.