Written by: | Students |
Date posted: | May 29, 2007 |
Posted in: | Home / Locations / Switzerland / Montreux / |
What I love about Switzerland…
Are you interested in a course in Montreux, French Switzerland, near the Lake Geneva?
I have been to French Switzerland a number of times, as I have cousins and my beloved goddaughter there. I think it’s a very nice region, with beautiful landscape. I always envy my cousins for living so close to ski resorts. I also love having a walk by Lake Geneva. When I first went there, although it was sunny, the clouds were hiding the mountains, so it looked like the sea. But when I came back, I could see the mountains behind, and it’s such a unique view – I can’t remember seeing it anywhere else! Wherever you are in Switzerland, you feel very far away from pollution, noise, poverty and crime. It sounds like a cliché, and I’m not saying that Switzerland is completely free of those things, but that’s the impression I have every time I return there.
The first thing that French people joke about is the general obedience of the Swiss. I have a funny anecdote: one day my dad was trying to find somewhere to park and asked the hotel receptionist for assistance. The assistant told him that he had to pay and display every other hour. He asked her if the police would go somewhere prohibited, and she answered no. So what he did was park illegally. The receptionist told him that it was very French of him, but the strategy worked, because he didn’t get a fine!
Sometimes I really have trouble believing that the French speaking Swiss used to be French. But they still do speak French. Curiously, we still understand each other very easily. I’ve always heard that the Germans could not understand the German speaking Swiss, but the French and French speaking Swiss understand each other no problem!
They don’t speak a dialect, but still there are a few differences. The accent is of course different, quite close to the Savoy accent. We often say that the Swiss are slow, probably because they usually speak slowly, which is in fact an advantage for a foreigner learning a difficult language. I used to make fun of my cousins and people I knew there until they told me that they also found my accent was weird! They also count slightly differently. For example, 70 is “septante” and not “soixante-dix” like in France. Although I always say “soixante-dix”, being French, I think that their counting is much easier and logical. They also have been strong enough to resist some Anglicisms like “chewing-gum”, which they call “chiquelette”.
If you decide to learn French in Switzerland, you will have a wonderful opportunity to learn French in a superb and safe location. I have never heard of anyone being disappointed by Switzerland!
Celine
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Comments
Hello Celine,
It’s always interesting to read about those dialects and the differences between them. I have studied French for two years and always had some difficulties following the quick way of speaking in France, so maybe I would have more succes in Switzerland!
Sophie
Dear Celine
You are right: How could anyone be disappointed by Switzerland? I have a friend living there and she is very happy. The people are friendly, the landscape is stunning…Unfortunately, I had just one time the opportunity to go to Switzerland, but my friend keeps me informed and regularly sends me pics. I can recommend to everybody to visit Switzerland!
Melanie
You couln’t be more right about Switzerland! The landscape, people and the culture combines is so unique! I’m going to learn french in Montreux for 4 or 6 months from march 2008, and it’s a dream coming true! I’m really looking forward to it and I hope that all my expectations will come true:-)
Cecilie, Denmark
I also do recommend Switzerland to anyone who wants to learn French in a French speaking country. Plus, the landscape is just amazing! People are so friendly and you’ll have the time of your life!
Jeff (UK)
Hi
May I just say something as a native German speaker. As far as I can tell the Swiss can make themselves understood in ” Hochdeutsch” they mostly just choose not to.
As far as the description of nature is concerned: Sounds very much like the Black Forest where I have family. I always like going there. The quietest and cleanest place I have ever been, despite the tourists.
Bye
Hmm septante and chiquelette is almost similar to the Spanish words ´setenta´ and ´chicle´ as well!! Really funny that you can find so much similarities if you analyse the different languages in Europe.
But just one question, it all sounds perfect no poverty and crime etc but isn´t it really expensive the costs of living there, especially being a student with a minimal budget??