i'm a german major, and i'd like to improve my german speaking skills by immersing myself in two of these countries (one in the winter, one in the following spring). i definitely want to do germany, but which part and when? i'm really interested in a program that offers placements at these specific institutions (see http://www.isep.org/nus/germany/index.html). between austria (http://www.isep.org/nus/austria/index.html) and switzerland (http://www.isep.org/nus/switzerl/index.html), i'm ever so slightly leaning toward austria. i listened to a swiss german conversation...and it was something. it's very interesting, but i don't think it'll help with my "high german" learning.
i only put up the links in case you are familiar with any of those schools.
i'm hoping to get some answers from people who have actually lived or studied in/at any of these countries/cities/universities.
2006-07-22 01:31:03 · 8 answers · asked by H.G. Swell 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
sorry about the links. just take out the parentheses in the url and they should work! these are some great answers so far!
2006-07-23 06:48:35 · update #1
I would suggest Austria as well. Switzerland is very expensive and Yes the German there is something else. I'm German and I usually have problems understanding the Swiss. If you are looking for High German, I would suggest areas in the northern, central part of Germany. Then again, there are hardly any Germans that speak a proper high German. There are a lot of different dialects out there. Deep Bavaria (however beautiful it is), the East, The very North and areas around the Rhine river seem to have the strongest accents.
Good luck and enjoy!!
2006-07-22 01:38:49 · answer #1 · answered by ilovemyarmyguy 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Even living in Switzerland, I would not recommend Switzerland to learn German - the Swiss German spoken is really entirely different and won't help you anything in another country.
The city with the most "perfectly" spoken German is Hannover in Germany, and they have a university as well. Otherwise also Frankfurt would do it or something in between. Good luck!
2006-07-22 11:11:18 · answer #2 · answered by swissnick 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I lived in Switzerland and if you really want to improve your German, I would go to Germany instead. In Switzerland, you will be taught High German at school, but then when you go to stores, restaurants and just to socialize, all you will hear is Swiss German, and that is not the real German! You will get confused and you won't understand a word!
2006-07-22 03:19:48 · answer #3 · answered by Belindita 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tried your german link didn't work...
I recomend mainz in germany, great university check out this link
http://www.uni-mainz.de/eng/
Switzerland is expensive, and very diversified as far as language goes, for me Ausrian german is a little easier to identify with using German Hochdeutsch as a basis.
Any more specific questions or coments please feel free to IM or E-mail me...
2006-07-22 01:46:00 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't go to Austria unless you want to sound like Arnold lol. Maybe Heidelberg, Bamberg,Würzburg ,Regensburg ,Frankfurt. While you over there make sure in your free time you go sightseeing there are alot of beautiful places in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
have fun
2006-07-22 04:33:48 · answer #5 · answered by Share Bear 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Germany !
2006-07-22 01:34:36 · answer #6 · answered by frozenrose 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
austria
2006-07-22 03:16:12 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
schprechen sie deutsh?
2006-07-22 01:34:41 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋