Foreigners helped to speak the same language

Foreigners helped to speak the same language

http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/front/Foreigners_helped_to_speak_the_same_language.html?siteSect=105&sid=10768489&rss=true&ty=st&ref=ti_spa

Foreigners who speak fluent German often get a nasty shock when they come to Switzerland: they find they can't make head or tail of what the Swiss are saying.

But help is at hand in the form of an innovative language learning aid produced by Fribourg University. Hapless foreigners can not only learn to understand what is going on, but can have fun doing so.

They may at first be baffled even by the name of the course: "Chunsch druus?" is a way of saying "Do you understand?" It's an expression which doesn't exist in standard German. If it did, the first word – literally "you come" – would be "kommst". No wonder foreigners tear their hair out.

Michaela Keryova, a German language student from Slovakia studying at Fribourg University has understood. Or, as the Swiss would say, she "chunnt druus". She was delighted with her success when she asked for information in Zurich and got the answer in Zurich dialect.

"I understood him and found the street I was looking for," she exclaimed.

It is just such everyday situations that the course aims to help with. The idea is to enable non-Swiss German speakers to "survive" through comprehension, without necessarily learning to speak the language themselves.

A guide to language and people


"Chunsch druus?" exploits a range of modern media possibilities to help people learn and practise Swiss German. It consists of a book in a practical travel guide format, a DVD, four CD-roms - and a licence giving access to a variety of on-line material.

"Our target public are people who know standard German and want to get around in German-speaking Switzerland," project leader Raphael Bethele, a professor at Fribourg University's Institute of Multilingualism told swissinfo.ch. These include French- and Italian-speaking Swiss as well as foreigners – especially Germans - living in Switzerland.

Real life

The examples are taken mainly from real life. They include news programmes and weather forecasts from Swiss television.

"We didn't want to use artificial material, but rather to reflect the reality of German-speaking Switzerland," explained Martin Müller, one of the co-authors.

Numbers are always a nightmare for foreigners. Müller quotes the example of a scene showing a customer wanting to pay in a restaurant. The price is "vierzehn" – in standard German clearly "fourteen". But is it 14 in Swiss German too, or is it perhaps "four ten", in other words, "four francs and ten cents"? Many a student will be grateful for the clarification.

One of the problems faced by foreigners doing battle with the language is that "Swiss German" is a misnomer. Depending on where they come from, the German-speaking Swiss do not all speak the same language. Swiss German is divided into a number of different dialects. But the course takes this into account. Students can choose between four different variants, the dialects of Bern, Basel, Zurich and St Gallen.

Painless learning

The course uses plenty of fun elements to help students master differences between Swiss German and standard German. They include virtual "pairs" cards and dialect songs by the well-known Bernese singers Mani Matter or Polo Hofer.

"This helps learners to formulate rules which they can then apply themselves," said linguist and co-author Lukas Wertenschlag, who teaches German to foreigners at the law faculty of Fribourg University.

The authors have been keen to make things as easy and as much fun as possible. "You don't have to sit at home over the computer, but can download the exercises onto an MP3 player and listen to them in the train or out jogging," says Wertenschlag.

Making friends


But comprehension is not the only goal. "'Chunsch druus' is also designed to promote intercultural understanding, by making learners feel more at home in German-speaking Switzerland," Müller explained.

Philippe Humbert, a French speaker from Fribourg, spent two years studying at Bern university. "The lectures in German weren't a problem. But in the breaks, when the students spoke dialect, it was very difficult for me," he told swissinfo.ch.

Having followed "Chunsch druus?" Humbert no longer feels left out. "I'm not embarrassed any more and it doesn't bother me to ask if there's something I don't understand."

Pleased as he is to be able to take part in ordinary conversation, some very simple words caught Humbert's special fancy. "Schätzeli" (darling) und "äuä" (a very useful word to be used in practically any situation, as a question or an exclamation), are his favourites.

As for Keryova, she admitted that she had never laughed so much in a course as she had when using "Chunsch druus".

Renat Künzi in Fribourg, swissinfo.ch (Adapted from German by Julia Slater)


Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an EFL Teacher Trainer, Intellectual Development Specialist, author and speaker. He has written ESP, foreign language learning, English language teaching texts and hundreds of articles used in more than 100 countries. Get your FREE E-book, “If you Want to Teach English Abroad, Here's What You Need to Know" by requesting the title at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com Need a blogger or copywriter to promote your school, institution, service or business or an experienced writer and vibrant SEO content for your website, blog or newsletter? Then E-mail me for further information.

3 Facts You Need to Know About Learning a New Language

It’s a pretty challenging task when you think of it, but with time and effort, nothing is impossible. Learning a new language can be a rewarding experience, especially when you earn those appreciative glances and admiring compliments on your newly-acquired skill. We don’t think much of learning to talk when we’re young – it’s a natural ability, and this is why kids pick up any number of languages with an élan that’s hard to come by for adults. But there are reasons to learn a new language, no matter how old you are. Sure, the older you get, the harder it becomes, but that’s no reason to turn down a challenge.

So if you’re ready, here are a few facts you need to know about learning a new tongue:

• You either use it or lose it: If you want to become fluent in a new language, you need to keep using it. You need to listen to people talk it and you need to converse in it yourself, on a continued basis. If you don’t, you’re likely to end up forgetting it. Learning a new language is just like any other skill – it requires continuous honing through regular use. I took a course in Japanese a couple of years ago, but it pains me to admit today that I only remember how to ask the question “What’s your name?” and respond to it. Once the course was over I had no incentive to keep speaking the tongue; of course, the fact that there was nobody to talk to didn’t help much either. So if you learn a new language and want to remember it, continue to find avenues where you can use it.

• A language is a way to keep mental disorders away: It’s been proven and is now official – learning a new language stimulates your brain and makes your mental processes more active. You’re boosting the blood flow to your brain and this helps keep your neurons and blood vessels in great shape. When you push your brain and attempt to learn a new language, you postpone and even prevent the onset of debilitating mental disorders like Alzheimer’s disease that can impair your memory and make you lose your power of cognitive reasoning.

• It’s easy when you can’t be choosy: Try moving to a country where no one speaks any language other than the local vernacular. You’d be surprised at the speed with which you pick it up. Sure, it’s going to be difficult at first and you may have to resort to sign language and face a ton of misunderstandings and funny situations, but in the end, it’s all going to be worth it because you’re going to be speaking like a native in a matter of weeks. When there’s no other language to choose to converse it, you’re forced to learn the local lingo, and this makes you pick it up faster.


This post was contributed by Katie Wilson, who writes about the online universities. She welcomes your feedback at KatieWilson06@gmail.com. After graduating from college she took time off to pursue a writing career. Katie writes for online education sites offering tips, advice, and general information regarding education, learning, and studying.

Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an EFL Teacher Trainer, Intellectual Development Specialist, author and speaker. He has written ESP, foreign language learning, English language teaching texts and hundreds of articles used in more than 100 countries. Get your FREE E-book, “If you Want to Teach English Abroad, Here's What You Need to Know" by requesting the title at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com Need a blogger or copywriter to promote your school, institution, service or business or an experienced writer and vibrant SEO content for your website, blog or newsletter? Then E-mail me for further information.

5 Keys to Boosting Your Brain and Memory for a Better Quality of Life

Healthier, Happier and Live Longer
All of us want to be healthier, happier and live longer, more productive lives. Essential to quality of life are a good brain and memory, greater intelligence and being mentally active. Here are five useful keys to help you in re-vamping your lifestyle, improving your health and boosting your mental capacity.

1. Minimize or Eliminate Causes of Stress
Not only is excess stress bad for your mental processes, it’s harmful to your health and can even be a killer. Other aids to help minimize stress include getting enough sleep along with cutting down on consumption of caffeine from soft drinks, tea or coffee. Not more than two cups of coffee a day is the recommendation. One other stress-busting key is to laugh a lot and have more fun. Have you ever seen a stressed-out person at an amusement park? (other than a caregiver with too many charges). Take time to enjoy your life more.

2. Become More Active Mentally
Do brain-teasers, work a variety of different games or puzzles. Try your hand at some crosswords, anything to get that gray matter working for a change. Play checkers, chess, backgammon, Monopoly or any other of numerous board games. You could also play card games. Bridge, Poker and other parlor card games are making a comeback from the video-game fever that has swept across the cultures of countries around the world. Whatever you do you need to challenge your brain. Only then will it respond, develop and grow

3. Eat Brain-Boosting foods
Brain-healthy fats like Omega-3, aid can not only in slowing down the onset of mind-debilitating disorders but can promote mental acuity. Consume more Olive oil, fish, and walnuts along with foods high in anti-oxidants as studies show they may actually increase mental ability. You should eat less unrefined carbohydrates - instant and processed foods can spike your blood sugar thus reducing brain function. Get the lowdown on a complete dietary overhaul by visiting a Dietician or Nutritionist.

4. Become More Physically Active
Links between reduced Alzheimer’s risk and regular physical activity has been well-established by doctors and numerous medical studies. So move it. Go for walks, jog, join a gym, take up a physical sport or go bowling. Be sure to get a medical checkup before engaging in any rigorous physical activity, but by all means do something for your muscles, heart and mind.

5. Improve Your General Health
Your general health greatly impacts your mental abilities or lack thereof. As your health improves, so will your mental skills in general. Quit smoking, or better yet, abandon any use of tobacco including, dipping, chewing, etc. Nicotine and other tobacco by products are transmitted into your system in different ways so switching from one form of tobacco use will not be of any benefit.

Other health-promoting tips include, but are not limited to:

• Don’t use addictive drugs
• Drink alcohol in moderation
• Have regular medical check ups

Learn and Practice a New Hobby or Skill
Make time to boost your mental activity by:

• Taking a class (preferably not a sedentary one like needlepoint, etc.)
• Learning a new sport, hobby or activity
• Learn an interesting new skill, even a new language

It's Never Too Late
It’s never too late to grow mentally or learn. If I can be of any further help or you have a specific question, please feel free to contact me at the site listed below. Try these six useful keys to augment your lifestyle to aid you to live a healthier, happier, longer, more productive life.


Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an EFL Teacher Trainer, Intellectual Development Specialist, prolific writer, author and public speaker. He has written ESP, foreign language learning, English language teaching texts and hundreds of articles used in more than 100 countries. Get your FREE EFL e-book, "If You Want to Teach English Abroad, Here’s What You Need to Know" by requesting the title at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com Need a blogger or copywriter to promote your school, institution, service or business or an experienced writer and vibrant SEO content for your website, blog or newsletter? Then E-mail me for further information.