Europe
Online English lessons for children in Switzerland: cantons, dialects and a growing language mix
Quick answer
Most children in Switzerland learn English at primary school, from an age set by the canton, and 1-to-1 online lessons add speaking. CurioKids teaches children aged 4 to 12 in live, 1-to-1, 25-minute online lessons with a real teacher. If lessons for families in Switzerland haven't opened yet, our Switzerland page has a waitlist.
Most children in Switzerland learn English at primary school alongside a second national language, but the order and starting year depend on the canton. Live 1-to-1 lessons online give your child steady speaking practice whatever the school timetable, with a teacher who listens to them alone. This guide explains how English fits into Swiss schooling, the sounds that trip up children from each language area, and how to choose lessons well.
- By CurioKids teamHow we write our guides
- Published
- Updated
- 7 min read
Key takeaways
- Education in Switzerland is run by the cantons, so the order and starting year of English and a second national language vary.
- Most children learn both a second national language and English at primary school.
- Children in the German-speaking part switch between Swiss German at home and standard German at school, which is good practice for adding English.
- The CEFR gives families a common language for levels, wherever they live and whichever canton they move to.
On this page
How does English fit into school in Switzerland?
In Switzerland, education is run by the cantons, so when English starts, and whether it comes before or after a second national language, varies by canton. Most children learn both at primary school. Switzerland has four national languages, German, French, Italian and Romansh, so the second national language your child learns depends on where you live.
This means a family moving between cantons may find their child ahead in one language and behind in another. Your child's school is the best source for what their class covers and in which year. If English starts later in your canton, a little English at home beforehand can make the first school lessons feel familiar.
Does Swiss German at home make English harder?
No, and it may even help. In the German-speaking part of Switzerland, children speak Swiss German dialects at home, while school uses standard German. Children who move between the two every day already know that one idea can be said in more than one way, and that habit carries over to English.
Children can learn two or more languages side by side, and mixing words for a while is completely normal. A Swiss German word in an English sentence usually just means the English word is not there yet. Offer it calmly and keep the conversation going.
Which English sounds are tricky in each language area?
The tricky sounds depend on your child's home language. Here are common ones for children who speak German, French or Italian at home.
| Home language | What to listen for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| German or Swiss German | No th sound | thick may sound like sick |
| German or Swiss German | German w is said like English v | west may sound like vest |
| German or Swiss German | Final consonants softened | bad may sound like bat |
| French | Silent h | hand may come out as and |
| French | Short i and long ee | live and leave sound alike |
| Italian | A vowel added after a final consonant | big may become bigga |
| Italian | ch spells a k sound in Italian | cheese may start with a k |
False friends are another source of fun mistakes. In German, a Chef is a boss and Handy means mobile phone. In French, sensible means sensitive. In Italian, a camera is a room. English spelling is less regular than any of these languages, which is why phonics helps children read English on its own terms.
Where do the CEFR and Cambridge exams fit for a Swiss child?
The CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is used across Europe to describe language levels, so it works across cantons and language areas. The first levels for young learners are Pre-A1, A1 and A2. CEFR Pre-A1, A1 and A2 correspond to the Cambridge English Young Learners levels Starters, Movers and Flyers. CurioKids is not affiliated with or endorsed by Cambridge University Press and Assessment.
Cambridge English Young Learners exams (Starters, Movers and Flyers) are optional. Some children like a target to aim for, while others do better with steady practice and no exam at all. Our guide to CEFR levels for children explains what each level means in everyday terms.
How can international families in Switzerland keep English growing?
Many international families live in Switzerland, and for some, English is a home language while school runs in German, French or Italian. In that situation your child's spoken English may stay strong while reading and writing in English slip behind the school language.
- Read English books together regularly, choosing ones a little above your child's own reading level.
- Encourage your child to write in English: postcards, short diaries, a list of favourite things.
- Give them a regular English conversation with someone outside the family, so they hear more than one voice.
- Keep sessions short. A 25-minute lesson once or twice a week is easier to sustain than a long weekly session.
What should I check before choosing an online English tutor?
Children aged 4 to 12 need lessons that suit their stage and a provider you can trust. Before you book, check the following.
- Lessons are live, with a teacher who responds to your child in real time.
- Your child gets most of the speaking time, rather than listening to a group.
- Lessons for young children include games, songs and movement.
- There is a clear starting level and a clear path forward.
- You hear what your child did after lessons.
- Teachers are checked, lessons happen only on the provider's own platform, and there is an easy way to raise a concern.
Our guide on choosing a safe online tutor goes through the safety questions in more detail.
How would CurioKids lessons work for a family in Switzerland?
CurioKids gives children aged 4 to 12 live, 1-to-1 online English lessons with a real teacher, 25 minutes each, in the CurioKids online classroom with video, an interactive whiteboard, lesson slides and games. Most children start with Phonics Starter; a child who already reads can be placed straight into a CEFR-based level after the free first lesson. Phonics Starter is our 52-lesson reading course, from letter sounds to reading sentences. Teachers can't teach until our team has confirmed a background check and they have signed our teaching agreement. Lessons happen only inside the CurioKids classroom, and your child's teacher gives feedback after lessons. See our levels and safety pages for more.
For a child in Switzerland who reads in German, French or Italian at school, Phonics Starter teaches the English letter sounds as a separate set, so they do not borrow the school language's rules.
Visit our Switzerland page to see how lessons work, what your child will learn and how we keep children safe. If lessons for families in Switzerland haven't opened yet, the page has a waitlist: leave your details and we'll let you know when you can book your child's free first lesson. Plans for families in Switzerland are priced in Swiss francs: see the prices for Switzerland.
Frequently asked questions
When does English start at school in Switzerland?
It depends on the canton. Education is run by the cantons, so the order and starting year of English and a second national language vary, though most children learn both at primary school.
We speak Swiss German at home. Will adding English confuse our child?
Not usually. Children who switch between Swiss German and standard German are already used to moving between languages, and English can grow alongside both.
We are moving to a different canton. Will lessons help with the change?
They can. Regular lessons keep your child's English moving forward whatever the new school's timetable, so a change in when English starts at school matters less.
My child speaks English at home. Why would they need lessons?
Spoken English at home is a strong start, but reading, writing and wider vocabulary in English often need extra support when school runs in another language.