Learning with Gioia — language courses, exam preparation, tutoring and Gymivorbereitung in Zürich

We offer language courses, one-to-one lessons, tutoring and Gymivorbereitung. If your target language, or the kind of course you are looking for, is not listed, do get in touch. We will find the right course for you.

There is unfortunately no single answer to this question. What is true is that on average it takes around 100 to 150 guided group hours**, plus a similar amount of independent study, to move up one level, e.g. from A0 to A1. Our regular group courses are divided into three blocks per language level.

We follow the six levels of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). Our self-assessment grid lets you get a rough sense of where you stand. If you prefer a formal placement test, contact us and we will help you find the right level.

It depends on what you are looking for. Private lessons suit those who want to work towards one particular goal and want to maximise the opportunity to speak during lessons. Group lessons can open up new perspectives, provide the chance to meet people, and either challenge you or show you that you already know more than you thought. Both formats are excellent ways to learn a language, and they mix well throughout your learning journey.

An open group course has three to five participants. If you want a group including only your colleagues or friends, we can set that up as a closed group.

A group course runs from three participants. If fewer sign up, upon your agreement, we either merge the course, postpone it, or run it with a modified lesson count. If the school cancels a course, the full amount is refunded.

TELC, Goethe, FIDE, Cambridge, TOEFL, IELTS. We practise with the real exam formats, so nothing on the day is a surprise.

Our answer is yes. Even if the language does not particularly appeal to you, we will try and spark your interest in it. Why? We believe it can only be a good thing to at least understand the local language, and better yet to speak it. In Zürich the language of everyday life is Swiss German, after all. And, however annoying that may be, people speak their mother tongue, consciously or not. Being able to at least understand it can only help you find your way around Switzerland more easily. The same goes for standard German.

To stick to the subject, one of the official national languages is indeed standard German. What people in German-speaking Switzerland actually speak day to day, however, is Swiss German. This reality unfortunately cannot be changed, and it makes learning standard German immensely harder. A key factor in learning a language is the casual, everyday exposure to it outside the classroom, and the prevalence of Swiss German makes that difficult to arrange here. In our courses we also try to provide material that helps close this gap between what is learnt and lack of exposure.

Yes, any course we offer can also be attended online.

Yes. Lesson times are arranged in Zürich time, and we can usually find a slot that works across European time zones. For anything further afield, tell us your window and we will aim to find a suitable time.

A stable internet connection, a device with a camera and microphone, and somewhere you can speak out loud. Materials are shared digitally.

The earlier the better. The road to Gymnasium starts long before exam day. We teach Mathematics and German across 12 or 20 teaching days of three hours each — 36 and 60 lessons respectively — once or twice a week. Tell us your child’s school year and target exam date and we will suggest a timeline.

Groups of three to seven children work well when a child is broadly on track and needs exam practice. One-to-one is the better choice when there are specific gaps to close, or when exam anxiety is the main obstacle.

For Gymivorbereitung, we teach mathematics and German. The goal is to close any gaps in those subjects, practising with the exam format, and building the calm needed to perform under time pressure. What we focus on during lessons varies from child to child.

Yes, we teach directly at your offices or online.

Pricing is on request, because it depends on group size, lesson length, location and how much bespoke material the programme needs. A level typically takes around 100 lessons, commonly at two 60-minute lessons per week.

Certainly. We build the programme around your industry, your everyday work and the situations your people actually face. Client meetings, phone calls, written correspondence, small talk in the corridor.

Yes, we teach Swiss German. Standard German helps with everyday written communication. Swiss German opens doors at the lunch table, the corridor and the team apéro.

We invoice the company directly. Invoices can be issued for the whole programme or per participant. Companies can also obtain a booking code for employees to enrol themselves in a course directly through our website.