International Office |
Learning German in Bern
English is the language of communication and research in numerous departments at the University of Bern, and you will often meet Swiss whose English is excellent. Nonetheless, a command of basic German helps you handle everyday situations with confidence.
Geographically, German-speaking Switzerland makes up a large portion of the country, with over 60 percent of Swiss speaking German as their native language.
German course for faculty members
The Welcome Center offers a course in German for beginners (level A1) aimed at new faculty members and academic staff. Participating in the course gives you an opportunity to acquire basic language skills and meet colleagues from other departments.
Center for Language Competence
The Center for Language Competence (ZSK) offers courses in German as a foreign language and English for academic purposes for students, academic staff, and faculty of the University of Bern and "Tandem". (Priority is given to studens and doctoral students.)
Berndeutsch (Bernese German)
Even if you already speak German, you may have a hard time understanding the local dialect at first. Be patient. Talk with colleagues and friends as much as you can until your ear adjusts. But you may want to consider taking a formal course in Berndeutsch. A systematic approach simplifies learning its grammar, vocabulary, and idioms – but only if you already have good knowledge of German.
The Department of Applied Linguistics (AAL) offers a course in Berndeutsch for German speakers:
Other courses available in Bern
Various institutions and commercial enterprises offer courses in German and other languages. Here is a selection:
