Languages spoken in Bern?

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andÃ¤

it's definitely worth learning! in switzerland we learn "standard" german very early (around age 10, plus most tv programs and movies are in "standard" german). in the german part of switzerland, swiss german is not spoken in schools, "standard" german is required! bernese german is quite different from high german, most germans that i've met didn't understand me speaking my native tongue (bernese german). also, in the french part of switzerland, they (are supposed to) learn high german, but they don't like speaking it. (i study in a french/german bilingual city (where one can talk german and gets answers in french - and the other way around)). i think you should teach him german since french is not spoken in bern!

Jean-Paul J

People in Bern would understand your student fine if he spoke 'standard' German (also called 'High German'). Most (if not all) Swiss Germans can speak High German and understand it fully.

Even though Bern is German-speaking, I would advise that you teach your student French so that he will be able to communicate with more people in Switzerland. Bern is quite close (under 50 km) from a French-speaking city (NeuchÃ¢tel) and under 200 km by road (or just under 2 hours by rail) from Geneva, Switzerland's diplomatic heart.

Hope this helped,

JPJ

Amy

As you said, Swiss German and German are very different. I've spoken to some friends in Bern about that before and they can understand German pretty well, but it sounds off to them. They know a lot of Germans through work and they can converse comfortably. He will be able to get by, and he will probably pick some up during his time there.

Goddess of Grammar

If it helps any, Wallis German is MORE different from standard German than Bernese German is...

Most people in Bern can speak standard German, though not all particularly like to. It wouldn't hurt for him to learn a bit.

Plenty of people in Bern also speak French, but it's not the local language, so while it might turn out to be useful for someone who speaks it and moves to Berne, it doesn't make sense to learn it (especially from someone whose own French isn't that great--I gather that's your case, excuse me if not) TO move there.

tonton 674

Native language in Bern is Swiss German, but there is not a lot of difference between the both. If you speak Swiss German, you'll be understood in Germany. The most important difference should be the accent, and perhaps some expressions.
If you want to learn French, Bern would not be the right place. You should try Bale/Basel, in the north of Switzerland, where German is the official language, but most of the people there speaks French fluently!

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