I also know several local teachers, including one who is the director of her middle school.
NONE of the teachers can speak English!
Tom
Alas, I've been here 32 years (plus four in Zurich), and have several adult kids, born and raised here, and thus have spent many years dealing with local teachers.
That's what they tell you!
We live just under 20 km from Lugano. It is hot in summer. If you are going to work from home keep in mind that central air conditioning is very rare in homes. Some homes may have room units installed. More modern homes might have "active cooling" in the underfloor heating system but this is not like the air conditioning you might know. Of course you can buy fans or free standing aircon units -most require venting outside.
Most people cope with the heat by airing their homes early in the morning and evening. Window screens are also not a standard item here but these do help keep out bugs and it is possible to find a DIY solution. Most homes have windows fitted with shutters and during the day you will see many shutters closed to keep out the sun and heat.
The winter is sunny and not very cold. I think we had two snowfalls last winter.
We did our property search in the summer which allows the opportunity to see the temperature in the house when it is hot outside. If you view the property in the afternoon you will see firsthand what it is like.
While I don't have direct experience with the school system here a friend in the next village to ours sends their child to school in Italy (we live close to the border) where English is taught much earlier than here.
We don't live in the city and yet in our village and the nearby villages I have met quite a lot of people who speak English.
When I was at the hospital in Lugano I found myself using French and German. Only the nurses and doctors from Italy could communicate in English.
Hi!
Just thought I would add my experience being a native English speaker who just moved to Ticino to be with my partner and son. We are based in the Lugano area and I have found that people do speak English or at least have a grasp of it. In fact, yesterday evening we went for an aperitivo and the server was British (spoke fluent Italian too of course), so out and about you won't have a problem.
As for dealing with administration I think you will need to have a grasp of Italian. My other half is Italian so I'm lucky in the sense that he can deal with all of that. In instances where I've been by myself and the person doesn't speak English, I have communicated in French as I speak that fluently. When I had to see a doctor we spoke in French. I hear a lot of people speaking German too so if you speak that or French you can also get by.
Good luck with your move, we're loving it so far it's so nice and sunny here.
I moved to Lugano recently. You will find few people over age of 20 that speak even some English. Being a fluent German speaker in a country that speaks mostly German, I thought that would be sufficient. Imagine my surprise to discover there are even fewer German speakers than English speakers!
Government offices, ditto. Even most of the the people in the Immigration office speak only Italian. Very odd for a country where students must take another Swiss language for 6 years. Someone said it is because of the many cross border workers from Italy.
Your best chance of finding English speakers is in Lugano and Locarno. Living in a small town/village you would be truly unable to communicate.
Without mid level Italian you will find it difficult to communicate in Ticino. Google Translate and I have become very good friends!
This would be the same in French speaking Switzerland. I find it is a myth "everyone speaks English" in CH. It's really not the case and one needs to be ready to learn the local language. And those people who do speak some often don't want to if it's expected.
Everyone will have some basic knowledge in another Swiss language but does not mean they are happy or comfortable using it and since they are at home, they simply do what is easier.
French works better than German or English in Ticino, as it's the first foreign language taught here.
Tom
Have to disagree, at least around here in the Malcantone area. We have found far more English speakers then French or German speakers. Maybe it's because many of the people we deal with are Italians that are working in Switzerland, and the first foreign language they learn in school is English. Here are a couple of examples:
Comune - English and German
Doctors office - English
Hardware store - English
Vet - English
Tax department - German
Plumber - German
Gardener - English / French / German / Portuguese
My experience when I first arrived in Locarno in 1990, was that very few were happy to speak in English or German, but were more than happy to communicate in French. My local born and raised landlord told me (in French) that very few locals speak English, but most can speak German but refuse to do so with Swiss Germans as, for various reasons, they don't particularly like them!
I became friendly with the local police, sometimes taking them some drinks when they mounted a speed control on the corner where I lived. It was quite interesting, as when they stopped a German registered car, if the speed was not excessive, they would note the name and registration and give them a verbal warning - all in German. If however, it had a Swiss German plate, they would only speak Italian and would always give them a fine!
I once received a parking fine in Zurich, which was sent while I was abroad for some three months. Shortly after returning home I had a knock on the door from the local police with said ticket + costs. I went to the police station with him and he managed to write a 2 page objection - all in Italian - which I signed. He told me that while the Zurich police expect him to read German, I have every right to make my statement in Italian, and as they can rarely speak it, or respond in Italian, that would be the last I would hear of it. And it was!
You are very lucky! Not the case is Lugano.
I once tried to make an appointment with a local doctor: In five out of five offices I called, the receptionists spoke only Italian! Mama mia....
|It was quite interesting, as when they stopped a German registered car, if the speed was not excessive, they would note the name and registration and give them a verbal warning - all in German. If however, it had a Swiss German plate, they would only speak Italian and would always give them a fine!"
I love this story!
I lived in Zurich for years, and I definitely got the impression that the Ticinese detested the Swiss Germans. I think it was mostly because they would come here and speak their mostly incomprehensible Swiss German dialects to the locals, without asking if they spoke German. Understandable. The locals interpreted this as arrogance, I am sure.
Another good story:
I returned from abroad, and bought a train ticket from the airport to Lugano. The Zurich conductor informed me that my SBB discount card had lapsed 2 weeks ago. He promptly issued me aFr 90- fine.
In Lugano I went to the SBB station and explained the situation. The reply: "I'll take care of that for you. Have a good day"
What is that old saying:
"In German Switzerland the rules are made to be followed. In French Switzerland the rules are meant to be bent. In Itallian Switzerland the rules are meant to be broken."
I have doctors in Lugano. What I suggest you do is send an email. There is a good chance you will get a reply.
Also the case when I arrived in 1990 from Zurich.
Tom
All the doctors I have visited speak English. They have to as so much medical information, research and updates (so to speak) are in English. It's the receptionist's that can be difficult. However, some basic Italian, which we all should really learn if living in Ticino, is usually enough to get an appointment.
I have certainly known many who don't.
Tom