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Here is some practical advice that might help you to get on in German with the people around you.

How do I set about learning German?

  1. Learn a couple of new words and expressions every day and practise them regularly so you can make good progress.
  2. You can only learn German properly by speaking it too. Make a point of chatting regularly to friends, acquaintances, neighbours, or work colleagues.
  3. Learning apps are an easy way to build learning words, phrases and grammar rules into your daily routine. Some of these apps, such as Duolingo, aCho and Einstieg Deutsch, are free.
  4. Watch films in German. If possible, display the German subtitles too. This will develop your ability to understand spoken and written German and you can watch people as they speak.
  5. Prepare for everyday situations in which you will speak German by writing down words and expressions, for example, or repeating them to yourself in your head.

In German lessons I learn standard German, but in daily life people speak Swiss German. How can I learn Swiss German?

Swiss German is the language spoken in parts of Graubünden and Switzerland. The way a word is pronounced and the expressions that are used differ from region to region. It is also important to know that there is no official way of spelling and writing Swiss German, so people arriving from abroad usually learn standard German in lessons and gradually understand the local spoken dialect by talking to Swiss people every day. Ask if you don’t understand something. It’s also fine to ask people to speak more slowly or to speak standard German when they talk to you.

VoCHabular, the association for the promotion of German and Swiss German language acquisition, offers free self-study books and an app that make it easier for foreign nationals to start learning the German spoken in Switzerland every day. These are available in English/Standard German/Swiss German, Farsi/Dari/Standard German/Swiss German and Arabic/Standard German/Swiss German.

What is SprachTreff GR?

Various libraries in Graubünden provide places where people who are learning German and want to speak and understand the language better can meet. This service is free and you don’t need to register or book. Visit the webpage for information about meeting places, dates and times.