101.7 FM IN GENEVA DAB+, CABLE & SATELLITE ACROSS SWITZERLAND
LISTEN ONLINE 
R E S O U R C E S
WRS stories about language in Switzerland
Language stats from the Federal Statistics Office
L A N G U A G E C O U R S E S
FRENCH
University of Lausanne
University of Geneva
GERMAN
University of Bern
University of Zurich
MULTIPLE LANGUAGES
Live Mocha (free online service)
Busuu (free online service)
Memrise (free online service)
Swiss Federation of Private Schools
Ecole-club/Klubschule Migros
ENGLISH
Confidence in English for interviewees
Walk the Talk tailor-made courses
Please note: WRS does not endorse any particular language school. This list is intended merely as a reference point.
S U B S C R I B E
Language
Few subjects are so intertwined with the fabric of Switzerland as language—nor have such power to unite or divide us. Whether you grew up in this linguistically complex nation or you’re experiencing it as one of the some 1.6 million foreigners living here, this section is dedicated to providing materials to aid those who want to improve their English, as well as resources for expats who want to learn the national languages — — — — >
Improve your English: Read along with WRS
Whenever scripts are available with our feature stories, we’ll publish them here:
Kandersteg back in business after severe flooding
Wednesday, 23 November, 2011Just over a month after devastating floods caused millions of francs worth of damage in the Bernese Oberland and upper Valais region, the Swiss army has announced its support mission has finished. Severe damage costs and a lack of communication with some communities worried tourists and locals. Kandersteg in the Bernese Oberland was particularly badly affected. But the town is now eager for tourists to return. WRS’s Tony Ganzer reports on how the area is faring after the floods:
Wednesday, 23 November, 2011Just over a month after devastating floods caused millions of francs worth of damage in the Bernese Oberland and upper Valais region, the Swiss army has announced its support mission has finished. Severe damage costs and a lack of communication with some communities worried tourists and locals. Kandersteg in the Bernese Oberland was particularly badly affected. But the town is now eager for tourists to return. WRS’s Tony Ganzer reports on how the area is faring after the floods:
ABE: Chemical-free packaging won't come cheap
Thursday, 15 September, 2011The Consumer Show continues its investigation into potentially dangerous chemical migration from packaging into our foods. This week the team looks at what’s being done to combat it—and the solutions currently on the table are not terribly satisfying. Regular inspections and media attention have gotten some of the worst offenders pulled from store shelves on a case-by-case basis, but more comprehensive solutions are generally seen as too impractical or too pricey:
Thursday, 15 September, 2011The Consumer Show continues its investigation into potentially dangerous chemical migration from packaging into our foods. This week the team looks at what’s being done to combat it—and the solutions currently on the table are not terribly satisfying. Regular inspections and media attention have gotten some of the worst offenders pulled from store shelves on a case-by-case basis, but more comprehensive solutions are generally seen as too impractical or too pricey:
Zurich officials green light drive-in sex boxes
Wednesday, 14 September, 2011Plans to build drive-in sex boxes in Zurich to allow prostitutes to conduct their businesses more discreetly got the go ahead from the city parliament on Wednesday night. It’s part of a package of measures which the city government announced earlier this summer to regulate street prostitution. WRS’s Vincent Landon had this report just ahead of the vote:
Wednesday, 14 September, 2011Plans to build drive-in sex boxes in Zurich to allow prostitutes to conduct their businesses more discreetly got the go ahead from the city parliament on Wednesday night. It’s part of a package of measures which the city government announced earlier this summer to regulate street prostitution. WRS’s Vincent Landon had this report just ahead of the vote:
ABE gets rolling with electric bikes
Thursday, 1 September, 2011Our new consumer show, an English translation of TSR’s popular TV programme A Bon Entendeur, kicks off with a report on electric bicycles—from the advantages climbing up those steep Swiss hills and whizzing through gridlocked city streets to one big inherent danger: speed. Plus the winners and losers as the team tests 13 e-bikes available on the market. Download/Print Test Results (PDF)
Thursday, 1 September, 2011Our new consumer show, an English translation of TSR’s popular TV programme A Bon Entendeur, kicks off with a report on electric bicycles—from the advantages climbing up those steep Swiss hills and whizzing through gridlocked city streets to one big inherent danger: speed. Plus the winners and losers as the team tests 13 e-bikes available on the market. Download/Print Test Results (PDF)
Pakistan Taliban offers details about two kidnapped Swiss tourists
Wednesday, 17 August, 2011New information is emerging about two Swiss tourists from Bern who were kidnapped in southwest Pakistan on July 1. Experts believe the pair was trying to follow the old Silk Road in a camper, but ended up in dangerous Baluchistan, near the fractious tribal regions of north and south Waziristan. The Pakistan Taliban has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and made demands in exchange for the pair’s release, even offering to sell proof they are alive. WRS’s Tony Ganzer reports on the latest developments:
Wednesday, 17 August, 2011New information is emerging about two Swiss tourists from Bern who were kidnapped in southwest Pakistan on July 1. Experts believe the pair was trying to follow the old Silk Road in a camper, but ended up in dangerous Baluchistan, near the fractious tribal regions of north and south Waziristan. The Pakistan Taliban has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and made demands in exchange for the pair’s release, even offering to sell proof they are alive. WRS’s Tony Ganzer reports on the latest developments:
Chiasso appeals to Bern over refugee crime
Tuesday, 16 August, 2011Earlier this year, the mayor of Chiasso, in the canton of Ticino, wrote to the federal council in Bern to explain why the town didn’t want an asylum center anymore. He said it was because refugee crime was a burden. It was as much a plea for help as it was a provocation. On the border with Italy, some see Chiasso and its 8,000 residents on the front line of a growing Swiss angst over asylum seekers. WRS’s Tony Ganzer reports:
Tuesday, 16 August, 2011Earlier this year, the mayor of Chiasso, in the canton of Ticino, wrote to the federal council in Bern to explain why the town didn’t want an asylum center anymore. He said it was because refugee crime was a burden. It was as much a plea for help as it was a provocation. On the border with Italy, some see Chiasso and its 8,000 residents on the front line of a growing Swiss angst over asylum seekers. WRS’s Tony Ganzer reports:
Geneva-based UN human rights chief urges action on violence against women
Friday, 12 August, 2011Navi Pillay, Geneva-based UN Commisioner for Human Rights, is urging the international community to treat violence against women as a human rights violation. Pillay made the strong appeal on Thursday at a Zurich public meeting centred on treating such violence as an obstacle to development. Pillay and Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey spoke at the event. Among the hundreds of people attending were those involved in Switzerland in the fight against violence against women at the international level and in the Great Lakes region in Africa. WRS reporter Vincent Landon was there and files this report:
Friday, 12 August, 2011Navi Pillay, Geneva-based UN Commisioner for Human Rights, is urging the international community to treat violence against women as a human rights violation. Pillay made the strong appeal on Thursday at a Zurich public meeting centred on treating such violence as an obstacle to development. Pillay and Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey spoke at the event. Among the hundreds of people attending were those involved in Switzerland in the fight against violence against women at the international level and in the Great Lakes region in Africa. WRS reporter Vincent Landon was there and files this report:
Strong Swiss franc rebounds on Hungarian economic prospects
Monday, 8 August, 2011Though the Swiss are monitoring closely the value of the Swiss franc, some Eastern Europeans might be checking the exchange rate with even greater concern. Lured by low-interest rates on loans valued in francs, some Hungarian businesses and local governments funded spending with the foreign currency. But the stubborn strength of the franc against the euro and other currencies, such as the forint, could bring sluggish times ahead, especially in Hungary. WRS’s Tony Ganzer reports:
Monday, 8 August, 2011Though the Swiss are monitoring closely the value of the Swiss franc, some Eastern Europeans might be checking the exchange rate with even greater concern. Lured by low-interest rates on loans valued in francs, some Hungarian businesses and local governments funded spending with the foreign currency. But the stubborn strength of the franc against the euro and other currencies, such as the forint, could bring sluggish times ahead, especially in Hungary. WRS’s Tony Ganzer reports:
Tax battle intensifies between Italy and Ticino
Monday, 25 July, 2011Despite its healthy share of sunshine, a dark cloud hangs over the canton of Ticino. A tax battle with neighboring Italy is aggravating cross-border relations — and it shows no sign of ending. Negotiations on a new double-taxation agreement between Switzerland and Italy have bogged down, with banking secrecy a key stumbling block. Fed up with waiting, the Ticino authorities last month took matters into their own hands, by blocking 30 million francs in taxes bound for Italy. Some Italian politicians took notice, calling for tax talks to start immediately, but progress is still slow-going. WRS’s Tony Ganzer reports:
Monday, 25 July, 2011Despite its healthy share of sunshine, a dark cloud hangs over the canton of Ticino. A tax battle with neighboring Italy is aggravating cross-border relations — and it shows no sign of ending. Negotiations on a new double-taxation agreement between Switzerland and Italy have bogged down, with banking secrecy a key stumbling block. Fed up with waiting, the Ticino authorities last month took matters into their own hands, by blocking 30 million francs in taxes bound for Italy. Some Italian politicians took notice, calling for tax talks to start immediately, but progress is still slow-going. WRS’s Tony Ganzer reports:
Roaming Graubünden: Giacometti's village to finally honour artist
Monday, 18 July, 2011The face of renowned artist Alberto Giacometti’s adorns Switzerland’s 100-franc note. His elongated sculptures thrill art lovers around the world. Yet for decades the village of his childhood, Stampa, in the alpine valley of Val Bergell, has not known how to promote its most famous son. Until now. Plans are afoot to convert Giacometti’s workshop into a cultural centre. In the first part of his five-part Roaming Graubunden series, WRS’s Vincent Landon journeys over the Maloja pass to seek out Giacometti’s home:
Monday, 18 July, 2011The face of renowned artist Alberto Giacometti’s adorns Switzerland’s 100-franc note. His elongated sculptures thrill art lovers around the world. Yet for decades the village of his childhood, Stampa, in the alpine valley of Val Bergell, has not known how to promote its most famous son. Until now. Plans are afoot to convert Giacometti’s workshop into a cultural centre. In the first part of his five-part Roaming Graubunden series, WRS’s Vincent Landon journeys over the Maloja pass to seek out Giacometti’s home:
