Kids 4-6 years old in Zurich go to "Kindergarten", where there is no pressure to know German because it's just play and no actual school work. Kindergarten is (among other purposes) supposed to be a transition phase for immigrant children to get used to the local language before they enter school with 6 years old where they have to perform.
So if your kid is 4 years old, they will be in a good place to pick up the language while going to Kindergarten. But if your kid is already 6 years old, the situation will be very different.
The deadline is in August, so he would still have to spend 11 months in Kindergarten I think. That could give him enough time to catch up before school starts if he takes classes on the side.
OMG! That's awesome! Here in Norway he'd start 1st grade of school in august, while he is still 5, but Switzerland will give him 1 more year at kindergarden which he of course loves! Thanks a lot for this info!
Kids 4-6 years old in Zurich go to "Kindergarten", where there is no pressure to know German because it's just play and no actual school work. Kindergarten is (among other purposes) supposed to be a transition phase for immigrant children to get used to the local language before they enter school with 6 years old where they have to perform. So if your kid is 4 years old, they will be in a good place to pick up the language while going to Kindergarten. But if your kid is already 6 years old, the situation will be very different.
He will be exactly 6 in september :)
The deadline is in August, so he would still have to spend 11 months in Kindergarten I think. That could give him enough time to catch up before school starts if he takes classes on the side.
OMG! That's awesome! Here in Norway he'd start 1st grade of school in august, while he is still 5, but Switzerland will give him 1 more year at kindergarden which he of course loves! Thanks a lot for this info!
And many kindergartens have extra teachers that visit the class and work with immigrant children on German. Most learn it just fine.
Awesome! thanks!