Hoping someone can help. I am US based but work for a company in Basel where all the directors or, people that matter, are from Switzerland and speak Swiss German. Everyone speak English very well but, I feel lost in meetings when things get heated and all tongues switch to Swiss German. I have always been good with romance languages and have a base in Latin but, Swiss German looks and sounds far more complicated to learn than any language I have attempted to learn previously. I want to at least be able to hold a conversation with my Swiss counterparts without sounding like an idiot. Can someone tell me if the Pimsleur series is worth the effort or, if not, is there a better direction to go?
I would not count Swiss German to those...
the Pimsleur stuff is fine for asking complete strangers how to get to Bahnhofstrasse, but is completely useless for understanding the directions you will be given. it will be even more useless if you want to be able to understand people from Basel.
if you search the threads that are posted at the top of the Language Corner, you will find links to lots of resources for learning SG, all of which will be better than Pimsleur.