I am ashamed to say that I have lived in Switzerland for almost 19 years and still have problems with the language. I‘m a native English speaker, as is my husband, and with our kids we (naturally) speak English. I work from home for an English speaking company. My high German is functional. I think I can express myself pretty well most of the time, though I’m always more comfortable in small groups. I have social anxiety and in German speaking situations it is much worse. My closest friends have gotten used to speaking to me in High German and we‘re so used to communicating like that it‘s become a habit. My problem is still understanding Swiss German. When I‘m in a large social gathering (which I find difficult at the best of times) I have a hard time hearing conversations with all the background noise going on. When I miss every 3rd or 4th word, I have to guess what the other person is saying. I sit there mute, unable to participate, all the while becoming more anxious. It‘s got to the point I avoid social situations whenever possible, which I know will not help me understand Swiss German in the long run. I recently went back to my home country and for the few days I was there I felt like a different person. I miss that person! I don‘t like myself anymore in German speaking situations. I feel stupid and clumsy and full of anxiety. I can‘t speak spontaneously as every sentence has to be thought out in my head before it comes out of my mouth. And if I don‘t understand what other people are saying, I can‘t say anything at all. I‘ve tried to learn Swiss German at the Klubschule and online. For some reason I may as well be learning Chinese, I don’t seem to improve at all. I try to listen to podcasts on SRF and when only one person is speaking, I can understand pretty well. This isn‘t how social situations work though! Does anyone have any tips? submitted by /u/itstoopeopleyouthere
Originally posted by u/itstoopeopleyouthere on r/Switzerland