Speaking French, German, Italian or Romansh in Switzerland

German (about 60%), French (about 25%), Italian (about 8%) and Romansh (about 0.6%) are the official languages of Switzerland. Romansh is only spoken in 5 valleys in Graubünden, and all Romansh speaking people will speak German and/or Italian as well.
Though English is widely understood and spoken, speaking the local language of the region where you live is essential for participating in society. Don't expect English to be a language at any firm - with the exception of multinationals and large international institutions like the United Nations. Similarly, it will be hard to find a job if you cannot manage the local language at least at basic level.

Dialects are widespread particularly in the German speaking part of the country. Though standard German is understood anywhere, and it is considered rude to speak dialect when there are people around that cannot understand it, dialect is the standard everywhere: not only at home or in the pub, but also at work and on television.
Foreigners are not expected to learn to speak the Swiss German dialect (though it is usually appreciated if you do so), but if you're living for a longer time in the German speaking area, you'll be frowned upon if you cannot at least understand the local or most common dialects.

Bénédict Schule www.benedict.ch is where I had gone in 2004.
I found it to be extremely helpful.

Yeah i speak French and English

Es spielt keine rolle was für eine Sprache du lernst oder sprichts. Du wirst nie exseptiert .... sorry. Du wirst immer die Amerikaner die Deutsch speche können bleiben. Deine Kinder werden als Schweizer angesehen. Vielleicht...

LG
Drew

Hi Drew > Can you please write in English in this English speaking forum?

Thank you
Christine
Expat.com

It depends on where you live. I live in the German-speaking part of Switzerland so obviously I need to speak German. If I lived in Geneva it would be French, in Ticino, it would be Italian. Learn the language of your region.