Learning German in Switzerland

(Article English level A1+)

Hallo.

Hello.

Ich hätte gerne einen Filterkaffee.

You would like a filter coffee?

Gern.

Would you like milk?

Nein. Danke.

We also have soy milk and almond milk, if you prefer.

Nein. Danke.

Is that for here or to go?

Zum Mitnehmen, bitte.

You got it.

Danke?

If you are a native English speaker living in Switzerland, you have probably had a similar conversation, oh,  at least once a day.  Okay, all day— every day— but who's counting?

While it is convenient that most Swiss people speak English well enough to accommodate us foreigners with our daily business, it doesn’t really help us learn German.  And, sure, if no one spoke English with us we’d, more than likely, accuse them of being rude and unhelpful. 

So, this begs the question: How does one politely insist on struggling through what should be a simple conversation, using what can best be described as  “broken” German?  

Is there a polite way to insist on that? Should a Swiss or German person, whose English skills are sharp enough to get straight to the point (and save everyone’s precious time), have to endure our "Deutschlish", just so we can practice German?

There must be a win-win solution.
​
​Any thoughts? What have your experiences been?  




Vocabulary

Similar:                Looking the same 
Convenient:        Causing no trouble
Accommodate:   Answer someone's wishes
Rude:                    Not nice
Struggling:           Having problems
Described:           Saying what something looks like
Polite:                   Respectful
Endure:                Suffer
Solution:              Answer
Experience:         Knowledge or skill learned from doing, seeing, or feeling things


Phrases

Begs the question:  Invites a question