Hi...just want to know what is the percentage of people who speak english in Switzerland. In Hongkong, most residents doesn't speak english so you just point to the things you want to buy and theres always a price tag. when ordering food, you also do the same thing and just point and pay later (which sometimes will surprise you)

In my household: 100%

At work: 99% (80% of which are daily imports from Germany). They don't speak English unless it's absolutely necessary.

In the village where I live: The man in the computer shop, 1 guy in the bike shop, and 1 lady in the Geminde(sp?). Not, the bakery, post office, pizza shop, supermarkets, shoe shop, newsagent, quick-e-mart, small electricals, phone shop. Ooh and I forgot - at least one lady in the Apothecary does.

Not that I walk in and demand to speak English or anything. I try to muddle my way through in German, usually they ask if I speak English, 'cause it's plainly clear that I don't (yet) speak German Or they hear me telling one of the kids not to touch something in engrish.

I think French or Italian would have a much better chance of being spoken as a 2nd language. Maybe in the city it's different.

cheers,
(Mr)Wibble

My initial experience is when they don't know you, they'll tell you they don't understand. But once they know you, they same person will break out their supposedly newly acquired english skill. It's often better than inner-city English in the 'states.

If you appear nice, they may not be so cruel. For the locals, attempts to learn the local language is a sign of respect.

The percentage is actually extremely high. The problem is that the people you tend to talk to on a daily basis in malls, at kiosks, in grocery stores, at hair dressers etc. are the ones with the least amount of education and are least likely to speak English (or any other kind of language). As a matter of fact - you can be lucky if they speak proper German (rather than Albanian, Serbo-Croat or French)...

This is a problem no matter where you go. It drove me nuts in Canada and Ireland as well - none of the people I talked to spoke proper English...

peter

being living in HK for more than 30 years and now in Lausanne for almost 2 years, I'd say % of people speaking English in Switzerland is 0.1% if the above is what you think about the english speaking capability of 'most' HK residents You go into any shop in HK (of course not those little stores run by very old people, which is minority nowadays) and almost everyone could speak english --at least basic dialogue.

Are you sure it's Hong Kong where you have to point at the menu to order?

To be honest, I don't know about the French speaking part of Switzerland. However, the 0.1% can't be true given the fact that 20% of the population has a Matura (Gymnasium degree). All of them speak English very well.
Another about 40% have a Berufsmatur, they also speak English very well.
The remaining 40% are the ones you're most likely to encounter and probably neither speak German nor English very well.

I always speak English when I'm in the French speaking part (I do speak French quite well but to be honest, I hate the language - no offense) of Switzerland and always got around extremely well.

peter

In areas like Geneva/Lausanne and Zurich where there are large numbers of foreign residents you can get by without speaking French or German. Many people live for years without making the effort to learn the local language. But you will struggle outside major urban areas like these and even in the suburbs of even some of these cities it will be a question of survival. A little of bit of the local language goes a long, long way.

What amazes me is your description of English usage in HK. What you say may be true in the New Territories or outlying areas of Kowloon but not where the main expat communities live. For any kind of professional job in commerce, finance or tourism (the mainstays of the HK economy) English is indispensible for local chinese as well as expats. There is dedicated English speaking media, both press and TV and the administration uses English as a second language. Where on earth in the SAR were you living?

....might be the OP doesn't speak 'English' English or American English. Since HK is a very international city with good tourism business, both expats & tourists come from all part of the world. I usually run into foreigners speaking English with strong accent of their home country, like 'Japanese English'; 'Indian English'; 'French English'; etc. I have to admit that I don't fully understand it when it comes to situation like this; and in this case, I would tell him politely that my English is very poor and if he could speak very slowly or spell it or write things down.

ps My previous boss is a French who got an extremely strong French accent. It took me 4 months to be able to fully communicate with him and 'speaking like dddddssssss", "verly apppy". I don't blame him cos might be I should learn French to better communicate with him

Which part of Switzerland are you coming to anyway, and which part of the Philippines are you from? I don't think you'll have too much problem finding people to speak Tagalog here, or even you provincial dialect.

that 0.1% is not statistic....if you could reach between the lines in my previous thread

I was trying to give the OP a projected figure according to his standard of English speaking capability (base on what he described about HK and my clear understanding of the city). To him, I guess my English sucks

French is an official language of Switzerland.

well everyone I have run into and everyone that I work with can speak english (but they won't speak unless they absoulute have to, it will be easier to get them to do it, if you try saying something in german first (at least this goes for my experenice in zürich)