We don’t teach German. We coach professionals to perform in it.
We believe that international professionals in Switzerland deserve better than generic language courses. They deserve coaching that understands their world.
Why Joylingua exists
Every day, talented professionals across Switzerland sit in meetings where they can’t fully contribute. They see career opportunities they can’t apply for. They leave networking events early because the conversation switched to Swiss German and they became invisible.
They’re not lacking ambition or ability. They’re lacking German — or more precisely, they’re lacking the confidence to use the German they have.
Joylingua was built to change that. We combine a deep understanding of the professional expat experience with a coaching methodology grounded in neuroscience. Our coaches understand Swiss culture and what it truly takes to integrate — professionally, socially, and personally. The result is a coaching space that doesn’t just improve your German — it transforms how you perform in it and how you feel about it.
Meet Teresa
Founder and CEO of Joylingua • German Language & Cultural Integration Coach • Certified Neurolanguage Coach® (ICF) • CELTA-qualified Teacher • 15+ years of experience
I grew up in Southern Germany and experienced early on how powerful language can be — not just professionally, but as a bridge to belonging.
When I moved to France for work, I discovered what many of my clients recognise: despite years of learning a language, I couldn't access it under pressure. It was only through 1:1 practice and real immersion that things shifted. That experience shaped everything I do today.
Through Joylingua, I support international professionals in Switzerland who understand German but struggle to use it when it matters. As an Accredited Neurolanguage Coach®, I help you build confidence, overcome mental blocks, and communicate effectively — especially under pressure.
I've worked with professionals from Salesforce, Google, UBS, McKinsey, Deloitte, and Microsoft. My approach combines strategic clarity with genuine empathy — because language coaching works best when the nervous system feels safe, the goals are meaningful, and progress is visible.
Meet Martina
Senior German Language & Cultural Integration Coach • Native German Speaker • Certified Neurolanguage Coach® • 25+ years of experience
Martina has over 25 years of international experience in language education and coaching, and has worked closely with Teresa and Joylingua for more than five years.
She is a Certified Neurolanguage Coach®, a trained Waldorf educator, and a qualified psychosocial counsellor. She combines academic depth with genuine warmth — integrating neuroscience-informed coaching with deep cultural insight to help professionals communicate confidently in the situations that matter most at work.
Her approach is holistic and highly individual, shaped around each client's professional context, goals, and learning style. She is also experienced in working with neurodiverse learners.
Martina speaks eight languages and also coaches in Italian and Spanish. Her clients include diplomats and senior executives from Johnson & Johnson/Kenvue, Triumph, Roche, UBS, Google, and Novartis.
Meet Stephanie
Senior German Language & Integration Coach • Native German Speaker • Certified Dipl. Master Coach HEB CFS • almost 10 years experience
Stephanie is an experienced German Language and Certified Dipl. Master Coach HEB CFS based in Switzerland, with almost ten years of experience supporting international professionals with their German and Swiss integration.
She has particular expertise in Swiss exam preparation and brings extensive experience from both corporate language training and relocation programmes. Her calm, supportive and straightforward approach helps learners build confidence while working towards clear and practical goals.
Stephanie particularly enjoys helping learners use German more confidently in real-life and professional situations and tailors her sessions to each learner’s individual needs and objectives.
Stephanie speaks three languages and has personal experience adapting to a new cultural and linguistic environment. Her clients include learners of all ages from young professionals to senior executives and their spouses from Roche, Google, Biogen, AstraZeneca, Syngenta and other companies.
Meet Elisabeth
German Language Coach • Teacher of German as a Foreign and Second Language • Goethe Examiner • Native German Speaker • 9 years of experience
Elisabeth is a highly experienced German Language Coach and university-trained teacher with almost a decade of experience teaching German as a Foreign and Second Language.
She holds a Master’s degree in German as a Foreign and Second Language and is a licensed Goethe examiner with extensive experience in individual exam preparation. Alongside her work with Joylingua, Elisabeth teaches German at school and university level and is also active in research in the field of German language teaching.
Elisabeth also has a strong background in coaching and has taught coaching in practical application at university level. She combines her language teaching and coaching expertise to create a supportive and highly individual learning experience. Her clients particularly value her warm and motivating style and her ability to adapt sessions to their personal goals and learning needs.
What we stand for:
Excellence
We hold ourselves to a high standard. Every session is carefully prepared, every programme is tailored, and every client receives the attention needed to make real progress. This is not mass-market language learning — it’s focused, high-quality coaching for professionals.
Empathy
We believe that empathic coaching plays a vital role in a successful learning process. Did you know that when we feel threatened and stressed, our brains actually shut down? We can only find our ideal learning state when we feel safe and supported.
Belonging
Language is more than communication. It’s how you connect with colleagues, take part in conversations, and feel at home in the country you’ve chosen to live in. We coach German because we believe every professional deserves to feel like they belong — not like an outsider.
“The limits of my language are the limits of my world.”
— Ludwig Wittgenstein