Here is a short summary of our last live stream on Tuesday at 8 pm on my You Tube channel. As usual I try to make the sessions as natural and as conversational as possible. After each live stream at 9 pm  you can  join my Speaking Workshops on Zoom.  Below there are some of the questions we tried to discuss. Thank you for taking part in it. 

Is Swiss German difficult for you to learn? I would like to talk about your experiences with learning and studying my mother tongue. Yes, we will try to answer the question: Isch Schwiizerdütsch schwirig zum Leere? A lot of people think that Switzerland has 4 official languages and learning French or Italian or German or Romansch will do. At least speaking one of those languages will do, right? 

How to learn Swiss German? Where can I learn Swiss German? We will try to answer the question: Wie leersch s Schwiizerdütsch am Beschte? It might be a bit of a struggle since you can hear German or French or even Italian and other languages everywhere you go. Another problem with Swiss German is the fact that it is not officially written language. There isn't any official dictionary for Swiss German. Maybe one day we will do it in our online language school. For me personally, the best way to learn is through listening and speaking as much as possible. ​​

The next question we will try to discuss is: "What is the most difficult thing in learning Swiss German? Was isch s Schwirigschte am Schwiizerdütsch? In general, people find learning languages difficult. Yet for some people, it is a piece of cake to learn another language. Let's face it, it the beginning, when you start learning a new thing you are very likely to make a lot of mistakes. It is normal, don't be afraid to make mistakes. Also, don't expect too much and just enjoy being immersed in a new language and culture. ​

Most of my students who want to learn Swiss German with me have to face this question: "Why do you want to learn Swiss German? Wiso wottsch du Schwiizerdütsch leere? The number one reason is that Swiss German is spoken in Switzerland. If you want to integrate with the local people and local culture you have to be able to understand the local language. The next reason you should learn Swiss German is that its grammar is much easier than German. Most of my students tell me that Swiss German is much easier than German. Speaking Swiss-German is really cool and it would make you feel more integrated in Switzerland. ​The big dilema is always if I should learn German frist or Swiss German. 

Some of you already know that my mother is from Zurich. I was brought up hearing that dialect all the time. In my live stream, we will try to answer the question if it is difficult for you to follow and speak with people from Zurich? Above in the short video you will also learn an interesting expression describing, busy and stressed out business people from Zurich. Also I would be curious what would be your answer to this question:  "Do you like Zurich dialect?" Gfallt der s Züri-Dütsch? ​

In every language, you can practice your pronunciation with tongue twisters. Basically, it is repeating some specific sounds in order to improve the way you speak. It is very challenging when you try to say the Swiss-German tongue twisters very quickly. Tongue twisters will help you improve your pronunciation and your ability to speak more fluently. They will help you to be understood better. Try to say this aloud, my favorite: De Papscht hät s Bschteck z schpot bschtellt.

If you want to watch the live stream again, join our growing community of Swiss German students. Thank you for your support. 

We are excited to see you again on Tuesday at 8 pm 

Simple Swiss German story about a climber who died a few years ago.

​In this lesson you will learn how to conjugate the verb "climb" in Swiss German.

ich chlättere - I climb  
du chlätterisch - You climb
er chlätteret - he climbs
si chlätteret - she climbs
es chlätteret - it climbs

mir chlättered - we climb
ir chlättered - you climb
si chlättered - they climb

De Ueli Steck isch am Mout Everest bim Chlättere gschtorbe.
Ueli Steck died climbing on Mount Everest.

De Ueli isch e Schwiizer Chlätterer gsi.
Ueli was a Swiss Climber.

Er isch de schnällscht Chlätterer vo de Wält gsi.
He was the fastest climber in the world.

Er het d Bärge gliebt.
He loved mountains.

Er het s Chlättere gliebt.
He loved climbing.

Leider het er e-n-Unfall gha, während em Chlättere. 
Unfortunately, he had an accident when he was climbing.

Sehr wahrschiinlich isch er uusgrutscht und 1000m abegheit.
​Probably he slipped and fell down 1000m.

Here is a short, love story in Swiss German.  You will learn how to say "Will you marry me?"

In this short video, you will learn how to conjugate the verb "to get". You can practice your Swiss German with 3 very short conversations including the verb "to get" ​

In today's lesson we will learn how to swear in Swiss German. In other words you will learn how to express your anger or disappointment. Be careful in what situations and context you use the swear words. It might be ok with your friends, but avoid it in formal situations. 

​Das isch es Wort zum sine Ärger uusdrucke. 
This is a word to express your anger.

Das isch es Wort zum sine Ärger uusdrucke. 
This is a word to express your anger.

Gopfetori, jetz ha-n-i de Zug wäge dir verpasst! 
Damn it, now I have missed my train because of you!

Gopfetori! Chasch nid besser uufpasse? 
Damn it! Can’t you  be more careful?  

Und wie isch diis Bewärbigsgschpröch gange?
And how did your job interview go? 

Gopfetori! Das ha-n-i total verschwitzt!
Damn! I completely forgot about that!

​
Gopfetori, jetz isch mir di ganz Tomatesosse uusglärt!
Damn it, I spilled the whole tomato sauce!   

Jo das chasch säge, Gopfetori!
Yes, you can say that, damn it!

Gopfetori, mini Hose sind ganz verfläcket! 
Shit, my whole trousers are stained! 

Now listen and repeat aloud. Ok,maybe not too loud :) After all, you will be swearing in Swiss German and you don't want your neighbors calling the police, right.

Here is a short lesson about the verb "to live". You will learn how to pronounce this word in Swiss German and also its conjugation. Also you will learn to ask simple questions. 

wone

ich wone
I live 

du wonsch
you live 

er wont
he lives

si wont
she lives

mir woned
we live 

ir woned
you live

si woned
they live 

Wonsch du do?
Do you live here?

Nei, ich wone z Bärn.
No, I live in Bern.

Wo wonsch?
Where do you live?

Ich wone z Friburg.
I live in Fribourg.

Wo woned Si?
Where do you live?

Ich wone z Albanie.
I live in Albania. 

Wo wonsch?
Where do you live?

Ich wone im Schtadtzentrum.
I live in the city center. 

Wo woned Si?
Where do you live?

Ich wone im Dorf.
I live in the village. 

Ich ha früener i de Schtadt gwont.
I used to live in the city.
​
Aber hüt won-i uf em Land.
But today I live in the countryside.

Today's lesson is about work. Do you need Swiss German to speak with your work mates? I hope you have a much better boss than the one in the situtaion below. 

I am working my butt off to teach you Swiss German:) Read the notes and enjoy the video to improve your Swiss German vocabulary and listening skills. 

Let's start with the conjugatopn of this wonderful Swiss German verb

​​e schträngi Wuche

ich schufte
I work my butt off

du schuftisch
you work your butt off

er schuftet
he works his butt off

si schuftet
she works her butt off

es schuftet
it works its butt off

mir schufted
we work our butts off

ir schufted
you all work your butts off

si schufted
they work their butts off

Vocabulary

Mäntig
Tsiischtig 
Mittwuch
Donnschtig
Friitig
Samschtig
Sunntig


Conversation 1

Was machsch am Mäntig?
What do you do on Monday?

Am Mäntig bi-n-i dehei.
On Monday I'm at home. 

Ich mues uufruume, putze und choche.
I have to tidy up, clean and cook.

Was hesch am Tsiischtig vor?
What are you up to on Tuesday?

Am Tsiischtig goh-n-i uf-n-e Gschäftsreis.
On Tuesday I go on a business trip. 

Was machsch am Mittwuch?
What are you doing on Wednesday?

Am Mittwuch mues i de ganz Tag im Büro schufte.
On Wednesday I have to work off my butt all day in the office.

Was hesch am Donnschtig vor?
What are you up to on Thursday?

Am Donnschtig bi-n-i s Taxi für mini Chind:
On Thursday I am the taxi for my kids:

Ich fühere de Max is Schwümme.
I lead (bring) Max to the swimming classes.

Ich hole d Evelin vo de Flöteschtund ab.
I pick up Eveline from the recorder lesson.

Di zwöi Jüngschte bring-i is Tschutti-Träning.
The two youngest ones I bring to the football training.

Was mached ir am Friitig?
What are you all doing on Friday?

Am Friitig he-mer es Familie-Träffe.
On Friday we have a family meeting.

Was hend ir am Samschtig vor?
What are you all up to on Saturday?

Am Samschtig gö-mer i Wald go pilzle.
On Saturday we go picking up mushrooms to the forest.

Was mached ir am Sunntig?
What are you all doing on Sunday?

Am Sunntig erhole-mer üs vo dere schtränge Wuche.
On Sunday we recover from the busy week.

Muesch du vil schufte?
Do you have to work your butt off a lot?

Macht di dini Arbet chrank?
Is your work making you sick?

Was bruucht mer für-n-es guets und gsunds Arbetsklima?
What does one need for a good and healthy climate at work?

Hesch gnueg Freiziit?
Do you have enough free time?

Was machsch i dinere Freiziit?
What do you do in your free time?

Now let's listen and repeat after me. If you do it several times, I am sure you will get the hang of it.  All it takes to get better at Swiss German is practice, practice and practice...

In today's lesson we will learn a very useful verb "to think". We will learn how to ask about opinions in Swiss German. What do you think about feminists, climate change, Swiss public transport. 

​finde think 

ich finde
du findsch
er find(e)t
si find(e)t
es find(e)t

mir finded
ir finded 
si finded

dänke  think
​
ich dänke
du dänksch
er dänkt
si dänkt 
es dänkt

mir dänked
ir dänked 
si dänked

Useful vocabulary

d Klimaveränderig                                        climate change
d Feminischte                                                 feminists
d Gliichberächtigung                                    equality 
d schwiizer Musig                                           Swiss music
de schwiizer ÖV (öffentlichi Vercher)      Swiss public transport

Conversation 1 

Was dänksch über d Klimaveränderige?
Ich dänke, das isch es sehr es seriöses Problem.

What do you think about the climate change? 
I think it is a very serious problem. 

Conversation 2 

Wie findsch d schwiizer Musig?
What do you think about Swiss music?
Ich find si grossartig.
I think it is great. 
Wie findsch s Jodle?
What do you think about yodeling?
Das find-i sehr schön.
I think it's very beautiful.

Conversation 3 

Was findsch, isch scho überall Gliichberächtigung i de Schwiiz?
Es isch scho nid schlächt, aber mer chönnt doch no einiges verbessere.

What are you thinking, is there already equality in Switzerland?
It s not bad, but we could still improve quite a few things.

Questions asking about opinions in Swiss German. 

Was dänksch über d Klimaveränderig?
What do you think about the climate change?
Wie findsch d Feminischte?
What do you think about the feminists?
Was dänksch über d Gliichberächtigung?
What do you think about the equality?
Wie findsch d schwiizer Musig?
What do you think about Swiss music?
Wie findsch de ÖV i de Schwiiz?
What do you think about Swiss transport?

In today's lesson you will learn some basic conversation in the mountains.  Small talk is very important and it is a great way to improve your Swiss German speaking skills. Next time you are in the mountains try out and have some fun with the phrases below. 

Conversation 1 

Grüezi, sind Si scho uf em Gipfel gsi?
Hello, were you on the peak already?

Jo, ich bi go de Sunnenuufgang luege.
Yes, I have been to look at the sunrise.

Het s vil Lüüt dobe gha?
Did it have a lot of people on the top?

Nei, ich bi ganz elei gsi, aber jetz ha-n-i scho einigi Lüüt underwägs troffe.
No, I have been all alone, but now I have already met some people on the way.

Isch es no wiit bis zum Gipfel?
Is it still far to the peak?

Das chunt druf aa, ich glaube, vo do uus isch es no öppe anderthalb Schtund.
That depends, I believe, from here it is about one a half hour.

Das isch perfäkt, denn chö-mer uf em Gipfel obe picknicke.
That’s perfect, then we can have a picknick on the peak.

CONVERSATION 2

Grüezi, isch das de richtig Wäg zu de Sennhütte?
Grüezi, is this the right way to the Sennhütte?

Jo. Do chunt mer au zu de Sennhütte, aber Si münd e-n-Umwäg mache.
Yes. Here one gets to the Sennhütte too, but you have to make a detour.

Wenn Si diräkt zu de Sennhütte wönd cho, denn münd Si do unde bim Wägwiiser rächts goh, i Richtig Hubeltobel.
When you want to go directly to the Sennhütte, then you have to go right at the signpost down there, in direction Hubeltobel.

Wüssed Si, öb si s Bärgbeizli hüt offe het?
Do you know, whether the mountain-bar is open today?

Wo-n-i hüt am Morge bi dra verbii cho, isch s no zue gsi, aber jetz sött s scho offe ha.
When I came past the hut this morning, it was still closed, but now it should be open already.

​
CONVERSATION 3

Mami, wie wiit goht s no?
Mum, how far is it still?

Chö-mer nid es Pöiseli mache?
Can’t we make a short break?

Das isch so schteil do. Ich mag nümm.
It’s so steep here. I’m worn out.

Lueg, do vore het s e Brunne!
Look, over there is a fountain!

Det chö-mer üs chli erfrüsche.
There we can refreshen us.

Denn sitze-mer i Schatte und warted uf di andere.
Then we sit down in the shadow and wait for the others.

Chum, nume no das chliine Schtückli, denn mü-mer nid i de pralle Sunne sitze.
Come, only this little stretch, then we don’t have to sit in the blazing sun.