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R E S O U R C E S
WRS stories about language in Switzerland
Language stats from the Federal Statistics Office
L A N G U A G E C O U R S E S
FRENCH
University of Lausanne
University of Geneva
GERMAN
University of Bern
University of Zurich
MULTIPLE LANGUAGES
Live Mocha (free online service)
Busuu (free online service)
Memrise (free online service)
Swiss Federation of Private Schools
Ecole-club/Klubschule Migros
ENGLISH
Confidence in English for interviewees
Walk the Talk communication coaching
Please note: WRS does not endorse any particular language school. This list is intended merely as a reference point.
S U B S C R I B E
Language
Few subjects are so intertwined with the fabric of Switzerland as language—nor have such power to unite or divide us. Whether you grew up in this linguistically complex nation or you’re experiencing it as one of the some 1.6 million foreigners living here, this section is dedicated to providing materials to aid those who want to improve their English, as well as resources for expats who want to learn the national languages.
Improve your English: Read along with WRS
Whenever scripts are available with our feature stories, we’ll publish them here:
Too many English words on Swiss TV?
Tuesday, 23 April, 2013One national member of Parliament has called on the Federal Council to intervene against the “takeover” of English on Swiss German TV, SRF. Martin Candinas is a Christian Democrat MP in the National Council, representing the canton of Graubünden. A native Romansh speaker, he says too many TV shows on SRF have English names. But, he told WRS’s Catherine Allen, he’s not against English. He’s for national pride:
Tuesday, 23 April, 2013One national member of Parliament has called on the Federal Council to intervene against the “takeover” of English on Swiss German TV, SRF. Martin Candinas is a Christian Democrat MP in the National Council, representing the canton of Graubünden. A native Romansh speaker, he says too many TV shows on SRF have English names. But, he told WRS’s Catherine Allen, he’s not against English. He’s for national pride:
Zurich regulates sex industry
Tuesday, 27 November, 2012Zurich introduces a raft of measures next year to try to regulate the city’s sex industry which officials admit has got out of control. Brothels and sex workers will require permits and street prostitution is being moved to three designated areas to try to make it safer and more discreet. At a press conference in Zurich on Monday, city officials outlined their plans again and said the new booths or sex boxes to accommodate prostitutes and their customers will open in August. WRS’s Vincent Landon hears more:
Tuesday, 27 November, 2012Zurich introduces a raft of measures next year to try to regulate the city’s sex industry which officials admit has got out of control. Brothels and sex workers will require permits and street prostitution is being moved to three designated areas to try to make it safer and more discreet. At a press conference in Zurich on Monday, city officials outlined their plans again and said the new booths or sex boxes to accommodate prostitutes and their customers will open in August. WRS’s Vincent Landon hears more:
Should campaigners pay to use public space?
Thursday, 8 November, 2012Do non-profit groups or political parties have the right to freely use public space or should they have to pay? What if the space is a park? Or perhaps a train station? A report earlier this week said the Swiss Federal Railways is planning to tack on fees of as high as 1,000 francs for groups wanting to use rail station space to promote their cause, or gather signatures. It backtracked a bit yesterday, lowering the fee for gathering signatures without having a booth or handing out fliers. The move came after political backlash. WRS’s Tony Ganzer has more on the controversy:
Thursday, 8 November, 2012Do non-profit groups or political parties have the right to freely use public space or should they have to pay? What if the space is a park? Or perhaps a train station? A report earlier this week said the Swiss Federal Railways is planning to tack on fees of as high as 1,000 francs for groups wanting to use rail station space to promote their cause, or gather signatures. It backtracked a bit yesterday, lowering the fee for gathering signatures without having a booth or handing out fliers. The move came after political backlash. WRS’s Tony Ganzer has more on the controversy:
Switzerland, America and relations today, part 2
Tuesday, 6 November, 2012In part two of WRS’s look at contemporary relations between the U.S. and the confederation, we look at the issue most pressing for Switzerland: banking and taxation. WRS’s Tony Ganzer explores how the U.S. elections will effect banking secrecy and whether the relationship is a good one despite aggressive U.S. investigations into Swiss banks:
Tuesday, 6 November, 2012In part two of WRS’s look at contemporary relations between the U.S. and the confederation, we look at the issue most pressing for Switzerland: banking and taxation. WRS’s Tony Ganzer explores how the U.S. elections will effect banking secrecy and whether the relationship is a good one despite aggressive U.S. investigations into Swiss banks:
Switzerland, America and relations today, part 1
Monday, 5 November, 2012As the whole world, including Switzerland, keeps an eye on the upcoming U.S. presidential elections, WRS continues with its look at Swiss-U.S. relations. WRS’s Tony Ganzer, examines present-day relations and the issues that are presently stirring tension between the two countries:
Monday, 5 November, 2012As the whole world, including Switzerland, keeps an eye on the upcoming U.S. presidential elections, WRS continues with its look at Swiss-U.S. relations. WRS’s Tony Ganzer, examines present-day relations and the issues that are presently stirring tension between the two countries:
Business Insight: Transparency and Swiss banks of the future
Wednesday, 29 August, 2012WRS’s Tony Ganzer explores the dramatic shifts to what some consider to be Switzerland’s life-blood: banks. He speaks to experts and officials about what is really happening to cherished banking secrecy, and whether tax deals are really a cure-all:
Wednesday, 29 August, 2012WRS’s Tony Ganzer explores the dramatic shifts to what some consider to be Switzerland’s life-blood: banks. He speaks to experts and officials about what is really happening to cherished banking secrecy, and whether tax deals are really a cure-all:
How Nestlé pushes processed food in Brazil
Monday, 9 July, 2012With markets in developed countries stagnating, food multinationals are looking for growth in low and middle income countries. The move coincides with soaring rates of obesity and diabetes, and health campaigners point the finger at the arrival of highly processed food and drink. In the first part of his special report, Food for Thought, WRS’s Vincent Landon visits Brazil where Swiss multinational Nestlé operates a floating supermarket on the Amazon:
Monday, 9 July, 2012With markets in developed countries stagnating, food multinationals are looking for growth in low and middle income countries. The move coincides with soaring rates of obesity and diabetes, and health campaigners point the finger at the arrival of highly processed food and drink. In the first part of his special report, Food for Thought, WRS’s Vincent Landon visits Brazil where Swiss multinational Nestlé operates a floating supermarket on the Amazon:
'Businesses playing key role in push towards sustainibility'
Thursday, 21 June, 2012The official part of Rio+20, the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, began on Wednesday with a speech by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. Just a few hours later, a huge demonstration, organized by the parallel People’s Summit weaved its way through downtown Rio. WRS’s Vincent Landon reports on two parallel worlds as well as why businesses are far ahead of government in pioneering change:
Thursday, 21 June, 2012The official part of Rio+20, the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, began on Wednesday with a speech by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. Just a few hours later, a huge demonstration, organized by the parallel People’s Summit weaved its way through downtown Rio. WRS’s Vincent Landon reports on two parallel worlds as well as why businesses are far ahead of government in pioneering change:
Swiss team at Rio summit holds on to lofty goals
Tuesday, 19 June, 2012Swiss President Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf might not be travelling to Rio for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. But delegations from all over the world have been in place since the weekend, trying to reach consensus before many heads of state and other ministers jet in to put their signatures to a final document. The Swiss team is dividing its time between the convention centre and its hotel, near one of the world’s finest beaches, Copacabana—from where WRS’s Vincent Landon reports on Swiss hopes and fears for the conference:
Tuesday, 19 June, 2012Swiss President Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf might not be travelling to Rio for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. But delegations from all over the world have been in place since the weekend, trying to reach consensus before many heads of state and other ministers jet in to put their signatures to a final document. The Swiss team is dividing its time between the convention centre and its hotel, near one of the world’s finest beaches, Copacabana—from where WRS’s Vincent Landon reports on Swiss hopes and fears for the conference:
World leaders have trouble agreeing on 'green economy' in Rio
Monday, 18 June, 2012Rio+20, the summit which takes place this week in Brazil, is seen as a crucial opportunity for world leaders to put the global economy on a more sustainable footing. The trouble is that countries simply cannot agree on key issues. By Friday, after months of negotiations, they have agreed upon a third of the draft text. In his latest report from Rio, WRS’s Vincent Landon takes a look at the deep divides:
Monday, 18 June, 2012Rio+20, the summit which takes place this week in Brazil, is seen as a crucial opportunity for world leaders to put the global economy on a more sustainable footing. The trouble is that countries simply cannot agree on key issues. By Friday, after months of negotiations, they have agreed upon a third of the draft text. In his latest report from Rio, WRS’s Vincent Landon takes a look at the deep divides:
