I suppose the best way to find out would be to contact the education office in the canton you plan to move to. I'm sure every person would have their own type of requirements to converting their teaching degree.
However, he can teach in private schools. There are a lot of great private schools in Switzerland that your husband can look into. Here are some links I googled.
http://www.global-education.ch/structur.html
Good luck with your decision!
Dottie
This forum is full of people with similar situations to yourself... It is never easy to jump into something "unknown". Make yourself a list of pros and cons and then see how things look...
Spend some time learning french before you come out here and suddenly that problem disappears... As for buying a house.. well that is tricky. Could you keep your house in the US and come out here for a year first and see? Maybe you find its not so bad.
We all love it here really... despite our complaints otherwise why would we be here
Check out your local adult ed/community college course offerings to see if they have French classes or, alternatively, see if your local PBS station is airing the French in Action series. You can also order the DVDs: http://www.learner.org/resources/series83.html
It's a bit pricey, but it's also a great learning tool. Since your husband is an academic (and a French teacher to boot), perhaps he can order the series at a discount through the school. You have the distinct advantage of having a built-in private French teacher and can practice what you learn Turn your home into a real La Maison Française, and you'll be that much more prepared when you arrive here.
As for your house in the US, if you do decide to move here, hold onto it just in case. Burning bridges is never a good idea. You could also rent it out (having rental income is always a plus) until the market becomes more favorable again for sellers.
I'm an American living in CH. There are probably dozens of threads on this forum asking the same question. Some of those threads are very good, and some are trite. I'll try to give you short feedback without ranting.
Before I moved here, I had idealized expectations of what it would be like to move here. The first six months was a blast, the next six month got boring, and then there were periods of disdain and pain.
To make a long story short, part of what kept me unhappy were my idealized expectations. I had to "reconfigure" my expectations, and strategize my approach to achieving them. It was a painful pruning process. But in the end, it was much needed revitalization. Afterall, the opportunities of today are much more interesting than the expectations of yesterday. So if you are going to come here, watch over and nurse your expectations the way you watch over a child. It may grow up to be a monster and become your worse nightmare.
My advice- start looking at job openings NOW in order to get an idea of what's out there, and if you see anything, apply (even if just to see if you get a response)! There are lots of international companies in that part of the country so you might find something! Just don't wait until you get here to start applying for jobs. Contact headhunters (both you and your husband) and see if they can help find something. Look into teaching English if nothing else works out. Also, DO start trying to learn French so that at least when you're out and about in the community, you can get by. It can be quite frustrating to sit for hours in a group where everyone is speaking a language and you can't participate in the conversation.
And finally, homes are smaller here, but you might be able to find a house out in the countryside that's bigger and cheaper than an apartment in the city.
what do u think ?????
2. Don't ask strangers, ask your parents or boyfriend.
I am glad I am not your parents.
It is better for me to talk to people i dont no !! I can open up more !! And my mother and father does not no i thinking about it they dont like my boyfriend they dont get along! because of are age differnts
If you have want to move here because of collegue (university) and because you know the country and have someone to rely on, that is fine. But if you are only moving to be near your BF that is not ok, because even thouhg you love him, it is not enough good reason to make your parents worry about you, you will see that after the "honeymoon fase" life is hard and that you are far away from your friends and family, only to rely on your BF and your godfather.
Now that being said, CH has great schools and its a great opt to see new things and live new adventures. Yet, Im not so sure if:
1. You have the means ($$) to move here
2. You have a plan
3. You are old enough
4. You are mature enough
Besides this, I will applaud you if you move here for and adventure besides your BF. If not, then Im not so sure this will be right thing for you.
dave
I found job hunting quite tough, but as long as you stick to the larger global companies, chances are corporate language is english. I also found that showing willingness to learn the language was enough when it came to interviews. You are considering moving to a country that is exceptionally good at languages, so you have little option but to learn.
I cant speak for schools in the area as I have no children, but I do think Switzerland is a great place to bring up kids. The country has a lot to offer, as I am sure your husband will tell you.
Remember, you only live once....