I am new to Switzerland and single. Gradually settling down. If anyone like me who is new here would be happy to meet and know each other.š
I am also looking for German classes, Could someone suggest excellent German class for beginners at an affordable rate?
To get a cheap head start you could work out the first levels online as suggested, I was doing Duolingo too but Babbel helped me the most. However I personally could not go higher than A2 with online courses.
Here are some lists of clubs and societies (called āVereineā in German) in Zurich.
https://www.vereinsverzeichnis.ch/veā¦zuerichzuerich
https://www.localcities.ch/de/vereine/zuerich/609
https://www.quartierverein.ch/
There are many, many such interest groups and they can vary a lot in terms of structure, particiption, age, gender, etc. It takes some effort to contact them and to go by, but it can be worth it.
Most of the people in a club or society will be pleased to meet a newcomer showing an interest. For this reason, it doesnāt really matter what their topic is, if you tell them that you donāt know much about it, but would like them to explain to you what they do, you are likely to get a good response. In this way you will learn something, and in any case will have the opportunity to practice your German (once youāve learnt the basics online), and if youāre lucky you might meet some nice people - and several at once.
If you start with those groups around the area where you live, then you will gradually build a network. One day, you will find yourself waiting at the busstop and see someone you recognise, and it helps to feel less lonely when you can share a wave and a smile.
Thereās even a case of an immigrant who did this in the Swiss town in which he lived. He spent only some weeks or months in each club, just meeting them and learning what they do, before moving on. He had told them this honestly at the start. He became more integrated and improved his German this way. Fast forward - by the time he came to apply for naturalisation, he knew lots and lots of people and they vouched for him.
Here is a map with subsidized german classes:
I see that some of the courses on this map are exclusively for people who have a "Kultur-Legi" (for OP: this is a card provided by the Social Security office to people with a very low income, allowing them to get reductions on some sorts of entrance tickets and, in this case, course fees), while other courses are open to everyone, allowing those with a Kultur-Legi get a reduction on the fee as long as they complete the course.
Regarding the German courses :
- wouldn't it be easier to learn German with a teacher whom speaks your maternal language ? (exception would probably be if you are english) --> from my POV , because english is my second language --> it's hard to learn a new language and get explanations in a different language --> so why don't you search for someone in your home country and do some online courses with them, and also it might be way more cheaper.
Good luck
money wise --> probably it's better
for A1/A2 --> I think it's easier to learn the grammar and the basics in your native language, than in another (pls do keep in mind that I am talking about German, not Swiss German)
Grammar at A1 is minimal, if you want basics, start with Duolingo.
The Kultur-Legi is issued, upon application, to people who have been unable to find work, or who are too ill to work, and whose low income (e.g. an old-age pension, a disability pension or benefits from the Social Security) often cannot or can only barely cover the minimum of rent and medical insurance plus a small allowance for everything else.
You, on the other hand, having a job and earning enough to support yourself, are not eligible for the Kultur-Legi.
The card is a wonderful product of a lot of coordination, and it's aim is to take some of the sting out of being poor. Many public institutions such a libraries, museums and theatres, and in this case language schools, plus many businesses such as some bicycle repair shops, some clothing stores, etc., offer a discount to holders of a Kultur-Legi.
That's why, if ever you see anything advertised as with "Kultur-Legi", you need to check the price for all the others, like you, who don't have (and don't need) a discount card.
There are some courses which are offered exclusively to holders of the Legi. In that case, non-Legi people are not even allowed to attend. Even then, however, if you spot such a course you really want to go to, it's worth asking whether - if they're not fully booked with Legi holders - they might let you in, anyway.