Why learning a Swiss language strictly 'by the book' may not help your career

Being able to speak one of Switzerland’s national languages is a must for a number of companies, sectors, and positions.

But how you go about learning it matters more than the certificate you get, one expert explains.

The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) requires a certain level of proficiency in one of the national languages to obtain a work permit, permanent residence status, and citizenship:

But will attaining a required level actually allow you to communicate easily and effectively in the German, French, or Italian speaking work environment?

SEM certified language

Many foreign nationals report that even though they have passed the SEM-certified language exams, they still have difficulties conveying their thoughts clearly during a business meeting or even in informal conversations with native speakers.

Why is that?

Academic versus performative

Most of us have heard people say (or maybe you said it yourself) that they had X years of X language at school, but they still can't string a coherent sentence together.

The main reason for this phenomenon is that language instruction at many schools in many countries is oriented heavily toward learning grammar, tenses, and sentence structure, while ignoring active speaking skills.

And the same approach is also common in language schools - including those in Switzerland.

Whether in business or social life, "language isn't academic, it's performative," Eveline Rosa, founder of XLINGUA, a Zurich-based language learning startup, tells The Local.

And though purists may disagree, in reality language training for career purposes should not be based on perfect grammar, she said.

At least part of the blame is due to the structure of typical language lessons - both physical and online ones, Rosa noted: "Big classes, grammar-heavy curricula, and passive learning. That works for passing tests, but not for high-stakes speaking moments like meetings, negotiations, or networking."

Therefore, attaining a language level mandated by SEM and taught in schools "creates a false sense of readiness," Rosa says.

For instance, she points out that B2 proficiency level is "the most expensive lie."

That's because "people are told that when they reach that level, they will be fluent."

In reality, however, "many professionals reach the B2 level, get promoted, move to Switzerland and then discover they still freeze in meetings and daily interactions."

But there is a "hidden career cost" for foreign professionals in Switzerland and for job opportunities that may not come their way, she says.

"People realise too late that certificates don't equal performance. Careers stall, integration slows, and confidence drops," she says.

Tongue-tied no longer

For foreign nationals who want to build a successful career in Switzerland (whose native languages are not German, French, or Italian), these three tips are "critical to bridge the language gap," Rosa says.