Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Can any child join these classes?

Answer: Not really. These classes are for children with native or near native fluency. This means that they are growing up in an English-speaking environment, either because one or both of their parents is a native English speaker, because the language spoken at home is English, or because they have recently returned to Switzerland from a stay abroad in a country where English is the first language.

Question: Where can my child, who is not a native English speaker, take English lessons?

Answer: There are many excellent private language schools in and around Basel. Go to the White Pages and look under Sprachschulen for more information.

Question: What kind of English is taught (British English? American English? Other?)

Answer: Our native English-speaking teachers speak and teach a variety of Englishes. They are all sensitive to the vocabulary and grammatical differences between the different Englishes. While the focus is on intelligibility and communicative ability, we are aware the reality is that the Swiss school system tests for knowledge of British English.

Question: What will my child/children learn?

Answer: Each teacher has her own program (see Teacher Bios and Class Information) but generally, at the lower levels, the focus is on speaking and listening skills, while at the higher levels, there is more emphasis on reading and writing skills.

Question: How much homework will my child/children get?

Answer: It depends on the teacher but usually, homework is optional, not obligatory. Therefore, each child can do as much or as little as he/she wants.

Question: How do I and my child/children visit a class?

Answer: Go to the Teacher Bios and Class Information link and find the class closest to your home. Send the teacher an email and she’ll contact you with a date for a visit.

Question: How much does the class cost?

Answer: See the link for Costs.

Question: Do I need to commit my child/children for a whole school year?

Answer: No, the fees are paid per semester. The minimum commitment is one semester.

Question: Will my child/children get school credit for this class?

Answer: Currently, there is a notation made on your child’s report card that they attended the HSK classes without any marks. In future, there will be a certificate with detailed information on attendance and levels attained in the various skills.

Question: Why take these lessons when English is taught in middle school anyhow?

Answer: This is a chance for your child/children to meet other English-speaking children who are in the Swiss school system and share the experience of moving between two (or more) worlds.