How Long Does It Take To Learn A Language? Shocking Truth!
How Long Does It Take To Learn A Language? Shocking Truth!
Photo Credit: Prostock-studio/Shutterstock
Affiliate Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. This means I will earn an affiliate commission if you click and/or make a purchase through the link (at no extra cost to you). And of course, I only recommend products I’ve used from companies I completely trust and love. For more information please see my disclosure.
How Long Does It Take To Become Fluent In A Language?
Do you want to learn another language? You're probably wondering how long it takes to learn a language. If you're thinking about learning a new language, you might be curious about how long it will take you to master it. In its most basic form, the answer is: It depends.
We live in a fast-paced world that continues to accelerate. From fast cars to quick deliveries to fast Internet, everything is moving at a breakneck pace.
We've become so accustomed to getting things done quickly that we practically expect it from everything in life. Is it, however, possible to apply the same pace to everything?
Is it possible to learn a language in a short period of time? If that's the case, how long does it take you to learn a new language? What does it mean to "speak a language," and how long does it take to become "fluent" in one?
When you can see the finish line, taking on a new task becomes much easier. It will be much more difficult to stay motivated if you don't have a clear end goal in mind, as well as a precise estimate of how long it will take you to achieve that goal.
With that in mind, I wanted to provide a definitive solution to the age-old issue of how long it takes to learn a language.
Don't get me wrong: It takes effort, concentration, and commitment to learn a language. It may take hundreds of hours to become fluent in a language, depending on the technique you use to study it. But, exactly how long does it take to learn a language?
Language is mostly determined by three factors: the learner's attitude, the amount of time spent with the language, and the learner's attentiveness to the language. So, assuming this is the case, and that the learner has a good attitude and is committed to the language, how long should it take to learn a language?
It's difficult to respond to this question since there are so many variables that might impact how long it takes to learn a language.
These can involve not just the methods used, but also the learner's mindset, as discussed above. To put it another way, does the student like the language, have confidence in his or her ability to learn it, trust the method, and so on?
There's a lot of focus on quick satisfaction in today's fast-paced society. It's no different in the realm of language study. Publishers of language resources, whether books, audio-visual courses, or apps, place an emphasis on speed of delivery. “I'm looking for fluency right now, and I'm looking for it now!” This is something that many language schools do.
Let's face it, we're all a little bit jaded. The promise of instant gratification is appealing. One of the most rewarding accomplishments you can have is achieving fluency in a foreign language you had to study as an adult. With such a wonderful prize, we don't want to be duped by claims of fluency in a short amount of time.
Although language teachers and bloggers are less concerned with making a fast buck, they, too, have a tendency to minimize the magnitude of the challenge confronting the novice language student. It's almost as if they don't want you to question, "How long does it take to learn a language?"
People, after all, like languages and the benefits they have provided us. I'd like for you to have the same experience. We "language encouragers" don't want to terrify the already apprehensive language learners in a society where so many people feel they will never be able to converse in a foreign language.
For your own benefit, I want you to get started. The sooner you can utilize a language to do basic tasks, the more confident and eager you will become. However, there comes a time when reality bites. Learning a language requires time and effort, as everyone knows. Like so many other good pursuits in life.
Do you want to be able to speak in a variety of languages? Yes, we all do. However, unlike the correspondence courses advertised, the criteria for achieving fluency in any foreign language might appear painfully difficult and unclear. You're doing it incorrectly if it feels so difficult that you'd rather pull your hair out. The more you attempt, the more difficult it is to learn a language.
This is due to a number of factors. Overabundance of information. Do you ever get the sense of being inundated with so much information that you can't take it all in? Learning a new language may be a frightening prospect for some individuals. Many of us are intimidated by thousands of foreign words, a totally different grammatical structure, and the significant risk of embarrassment.
Finding the time to devote to a new language when you have a hectic job schedule might be difficult. However, learning a language, especially from scratch, appears to be everything but quick: you'll have to master new grammar, recall vocabulary words, and practice speaking.
Working memory refers to our capacity to temporarily store new knowledge in our thoughts while doing activities, such as adding numbers in your head.
When learning a language, we use it frequently, for example, to:
When trying to comprehend a phrase, keep in mind the definition of a word you just looked up.
As you listen to the rest of the sentence, keep in mind what you heard at the start.
As you paste together language and vocabulary to convey your ideas, keep in mind what you want to say.
At any given time, our working memory can only handle a tiny quantity of information. Attempting to accomplish too much at once, such as calculating huge figures or deciphering the meaning of a sentence with too many new words, can result in overload, which impedes learning. Learning is hampered by tension.
You'll undoubtedly feel irritated or stressed out if you push yourself to achieve anything that feels too hard. This works against you since stress has a significant impact on learning. According to studies, we learn languages more effectively when we are comfortable. You'll probably give up if it's too painful. You'll hate learning a language if it continually feels like an uphill battle.
Willpower doesn't endure forever: if you don't love what you're doing, you'll quit sooner or later. For some people, learning a language is a challenging task. You probably spent years studying one in high school but are still far from understanding it. This is due to the fact that learning a language requires months, if not years, of focused study.
Of course, this just takes you to the point where you can have a conversation with someone. If you want to become fluent, you may want to live in a foreign country for at least a year. As a native English speaker, you may study a variety of languages that range from easy to hard. Spanish, for example, is an easy language to learn.
Others, like Arabic and Mandarin, have whole separate alphabets and symbols and are far more difficult to learn. Another factor to consider when determining how long it takes to learn a language is how you learn it.
RELATED: The Top 25 Hardest Languages To Learn For English Speakers.
Are you planning on enrolling in classes? Are you going to use an app or an online program? Alternatively, why not travel to a new country and learn a language via immersion? There are varying timetables for progressing from elementary to conversational to fluent in each of these languages.
If you, like me, consider learning foreign languages to be one of your top priorities, you already know that having a genuine interest in a language - in its mechanics, in its ongoing evolution, in the cultures that created it and the cultures it creates - can help you get through even the most difficult challenges on the road to mastery.
Learning, like most things, is heavily reliant on the learner. A highly driven person, for example, is more likely to continue with the process rather than abandon it halfway through. Finding characteristics you like about the language that retain your interest in, say, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, or any foreign language, is one way to keep your motivation strong. For example, it may be a passion for a foreign film, culture, or food.
When it comes to learning a language, how long does it take? Everything you need to know will be covered in this post. The differences between basic, conversational, and advanced levels will be discussed first. Then we'll look at the most widely spoken languages and rate them from easiest to most difficult to master.
Finally, I'll show you a variety of methods for learning a new language, so you may pick the one that best suits your learning style. The simple (and rather unsatisfactory) answer is that it varies greatly depending on a variety of circumstances. Are you the sort of person that follows a schedule religiously, or do you struggle to stay on track with your studies?
How many hours each day are you willing and able to dedicate to this endeavour? Do you want to study a language that is more accessible to English speakers, such as Spanish, or do you want to learn a more difficult language, such as Mandarin Chinese? The answers to these and other questions will influence how long it takes you to achieve your goal.
However, thanks to the estimations of researchers, linguists, and even the US government, you may arrive at a somewhat more specific range of time. Examine these models and determine which, if any, makes the most sense to you. Perhaps it will serve as a suitable benchmark for reaching your language-learning goals.
"How long does it take to learn a foreign language?" people frequently ask. And, while the answer is a little like a weight-loss commercial in that your results may vary, there are several things that can help or hinder how quickly that wonderful new language sticks in your head!
Depending on who you ask, becoming truly fluent can take a wide range of time, and the person learning it ultimately has the last say on how long it should take. Some eager language learners dive right in and immerse themselves, even if they've never taken a language class before, while others dabble for years before truly committing.
There is no such thing as a bad approach to study a language, unless you don't go all in! Fluency, on the other hand, does not have to be as far away as 20 years. We'll look at some of these variables to help you understand how long it will take you to learn a language overseas, whether you're looking to find out how long to study a language abroad or just out of curiosity.
This post delves into what it means to be fluent, the various levels of language proficiency, how long it takes to achieve fluency in different languages, the moments when language learning can be gained or lost, whether some languages take longer to learn than others, and the questions to ask yourself to help define what "language learned" means to you and the best ways to learn a language.
I'll also provide some short tips to assist you at getting started that can speed up your development and ignite your language skills!
In just moments you’ll discover:
What does “fluency” really mean?
What level of fluency are you trying to achieve?
Language goals and expectations
Levels of language proficiency and fluency
What are the easiest and hardest languages to learn?
Rate of learning dependencies
How long will it take me to learn a language if I work full-time?
How long does it take to learn a language fluently?
Do you want to speed up the process of learning a new language? Perhaps you need to learn a language so that you can communicate with it on a future trip. Or so that you can take on additional duties at work. Alternatively, you may read your favorite book in the original language it was written in. Whatever your motivation for learning a new language, you can certainly agree that learning it quickly would be ideal.
Some of the many benefits of learning a language regardless of how long it takes includes:
Travel with ease.
More job opportunities, including a higher income with being bilingual or multilingual.
Being able to communicate with loved ones (family, romantic relationships, make new friends).
Not as many people may be up for the challenge or haven’t learned a language, whereas you could fit into a population of people being able to speak a foreign language that could lead to more opportunities.
Learning a foreign language has several advantages and benefits, including boosting your career, enriching your travel experience, expanding your educational possibilities, and improving your social life. You may improve your language skills regardless of your age or past experience, whether it's for a new career, literary competence, or casual conversation.
Despite the lengthy time commitment, experts think studying a second language is worthwhile for the cognitive benefits alone. Our executive functions grow organically as a result of this. Furthermore, your native tongue might make learning some languages much easier than learning others.
Learning a second language has so many advantages that it has even been shown to improve brain health and cognitive ability. There is a clear link between bilingualism and intellect, memory skills, and greater academic success, according to research. The brain can even prevent age-related cognitive loss by processing information more effectively.
It's no surprise, then, that we desire to learn a foreign language not only to enjoy these benefits, but also to do it quickly! You can create a wide arsenal of both short-term and long-term cognitive benefits depending on your native tongue and the new language you're learning.
Of course, the greater the distance between the languages, the more difficult the task (think Afrikaans and Thai), but focusing on a single application may dramatically reduce the amount of time spent practicing. Languages are now divided into four groups based on their difficulty. Experts agree, however, that making significant improvement in just one hour each day is more than doable.
Not only that, but the abilities acquired via language practice may feel like superpowers in the workplace and beyond. In this post, we'll look at several crucial elements, such as the language and the level you want to reach, so you can set a reasonable pace for yourself.
Let's take a deeper look at what it means to be fluent in a language before digging into further data from "official" sources (including the institution where CIA trainees attend for language learning).
Is This A Big Commitment? It Doesn't Have To Be That Way
Is this a big commitment? Yes. Overwhelming? It doesn’t have to be that way. To be sure, being fluent in a language requires a significant amount of time and effort. Even still, when we break down the numbers, it doesn't appear to be as daunting.
Life might get in the way at times, and you'd probably be more flexible from week to week in practice (sometimes more, sometimes less). However, you can plan for this kind of time commitment.
You'll have to restructure your life to some level if it's truly a priority. You'll recognize the importance of developing a language habit. You'll want to utilize the most effective ways. You should try to work with materials that interest you as much as possible. You'll be able to connect with and learn from your tutors.
You'll have exchange partners and other systems in place to provide a larger sense of accountability and community. You can create clear goals for yourself and enjoy each step of the way. You're in for a long ride.
You're probably aware that when it comes to learning a language, like with so many other seemingly lofty ambitions, individuals tend to overestimate what they can do in a year...but don't underestimate what they can do in five or ten years.
Here's the catch: if you have reasonable expectations about how long it will take you to learn a language, you'll be less inclined to give up. More importantly, the longer you stay, the less your time spent will matter. The language will have simply become a natural and rewarding part of your daily routine.
What Does “Fluency” Really Mean?
If you ask, "How long does it take to learn a language?" you'll get a variety of answers. The answer isn't quite black and white, making it difficult to determine. One of the reasons is that defining what it means to learn or master a language is difficult. To begin with, learning a foreign language is a never-ending process. It's not like finishing a book and putting it on the shelf.
Even if you attain fluency, you must continue to practice to keep your skills sharp; otherwise, they will diminish. Second, there's the issue of defining what "fluency" means. Fluency is defined as "the ability to speak or write a foreign language fluently and accurately," as well as "the ability to express oneself easily and articulately," according to Oxford Languages.
There are no widely recognized definitions or measures of language fluency, even among linguists. If you can speak your target language in a fluid, natural, and cohesive manner, as opposed to hesitant, slow use, which demonstrates a lack of confidence, you're called fluent. Fluency is sometimes defined as the capacity to generate and understand words on demand.
Finally, there are three forms of fluency: reading, speaking, and written fluency. It's quite possible for a language learner to achieve significantly higher levels of fluency in some of these areas than in others. As you can see, the term "fluency" is a tad misleading, however it does help us grasp what it means to learn a language.
We'll go through different degrees of proficiency and what they require later. When I'm learning a new language, my goal is to get to the point where I can speak it fluently and confidently. This is what I refer to as "social equivalency." That, to me, is fluency.
Normally, I'm not attempting to pass a certain exam. Language learning, in my opinion, is a practical endeavour rather than an academic one. My goal is to be able to communicate effectively in the language in everyday situations.
What Level Of Fluency Are You Trying To Achieve?
Do you want to achieve near-native fluency? Is this language required for a job in another country? Or are you just trying to improve your language skills so you can order food out without exposing yourself... and maybe make some small talk? Obviously, the lower the level you're aiming for, the less time it will take to get there.
As previously stated, the following estimations are for becoming extremely proficient in a language. Work at an embassy overseas, for example. Estimate approximately half of the allowed time if you're simply attempting to be chatty.
Meaning, after 3 months of intensive language study in an immersion setting, you'll be able to get by, order food, ask for a hotel room, directions, and even make a few friends - all without any prior knowledge. Many people are happy just to be able to communicate in a foreign language, let alone in another country! To these people, I say, "You'll be proud of yourself for learning a language faster than you think!"
Language Goals And Expectations
When learning a language, what are your objectives, expectations, and motivation? When determining how long it takes to become fluent, these criteria are the most important. Some language students simply require the fundamentals of a foreign language.
This is frequent among tourists who wish to seek directions, decipher a menu, or welcome individuals they encounter in a foreign country with polite greetings. Others may require a little more. Maybe to seek a business partner or have a conversation with the locals. A third group aspires to become proficient.
To pass an exam or relocate to a country where the language is spoken. You must decide how far you wish to take your language studies. Then you can calculate how long it will take you to become fluent (or semi-fluent). These various goals obviously require vastly different time commitments, and a language learner must be aware of these distinctions.
Understanding the different degrees of commitment required for different levels of mastery may help you match your objectives to your expectations, which can help you enjoy the learning process and prevent frustration.
Levels Of Language Proficiency And Fluency
Language Levels: A Breakdown Of How Do You Define Levels Of Proficiency
So, you've decided to study a new language, but what does it entail? Do you want to be able to travel around for a week or two in a new country? Do you need to be able to communicate in their native language with new friends or family members? Or do you need to know a language well enough to work in a foreign country full-time?
Fortunately, there are organizations that study language learning and have classified fluency into various categories. These categories assist you in calculating your time commitment based on your desired degree of expertise. For new language learners, the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) offers numbered rating scales to categorize levels of proficiency.
Each of them represents a distinct degree of language learning, and mastering each requires a different length of time. Your desired degree of fluency is another key element in deciding how long it will take you to learn a foreign language. Language fluency, like most things, is a spectrum. As a result, determining your proficiency level is difficult.
There are also various levels of expertise to consider. While one individual may acquire the fundamentals of a language well enough to converse and write in it and socially, another may have a deeper understanding of it. It might take longer to get to an advanced learning stage than it does to get to an introductory one.
What Are The Different Levels Of Proficiency?
For those who are not interested in doing business, the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and The American Council on Teaching Foreign Languages (ACTFL) are two additional widely used lists of categories.
The ACTFL Levels Of Language Proficiency
The American Council of Teaching Foreign Languages (ACTFL) has guidelines for language students to determine their proficiency. The levels are Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, Superior, and Distinguished, with the first three having sub-levels of low, mid, and high.
The CEFR Levels Of Language Proficiency
If you’ve ever studied a European language, then this second proficiency scale will be more familiar to you. It’s called the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment, but is usually abbreviated in English as CEFR or CEF or CEFRL.
CEFR uses six categories divided by a level designation, a descriptive name, a typical vocabulary for each category, and a brief summary of the ability of a speaker at each level. Level designations are simple alphanumeric names: A1 and A2 describe Beginner and Elementary, respectively; B1 and B2 are Intermediate and Upper, and C1 and C2 are Advanced and Mastery.
Clearly, these categories are flawed. We could struggle to distinguish between "participating in spontaneous communication" and "expressing thoughts naturally and without strain," for example. They do, however, provide a prospective language student some notion of the variations in levels of proficiency, and quantifying the levels with an expected vocabulary, which is quite useful.
Some languages are more difficult for non-speakers to learn than others, according to the CEFR fluency categories. As a result, vocabulary isn't always a reliable indicator of fluency.
As a result, some parts of languages will take a person considerably longer to fully comprehend than others. Mandarin, for example, employs tonal changes to make a single word signify a variety of things, thus mastering Mandarin pronunciation will take a long time.
Proficiency Levels To Show How Fluent You Are: The FSI 5 Levels Of Proficiency
There are two scales used to describe the different levels of proficiency in a foreign language. The first is a scale used by the FSI which was originally developed by the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) and often referred to as the Interagency Language Roundtable scale.
In addition to categories for describing language proficiency, the FSI has developed a five-category ranking system for languages. The goal of these categories is to make it easier to estimate how long it takes a native English speaker to learn a language. The difficulty of a language is determined by its linguistic and cultural closeness to English.
Let's look at what these different levels are and how the two scales compare:
1. Elementary Proficiency (ILR 1, CEFR A2)
You have an elementary, basic command of your target language at this level, as the name implies. The first step for each new language student is to learn the basics of the language. You only know a few basic phrases, can only answer questions about a few everyday subjects, are courteous, and can convey your most basic requirements.
It is feasible to hold simple conversations, like ordering a meal or asking for directions, when you speak a language at an elementary level. You have a limited vocabulary and may write in short sentences or sentence fragments with frequent spelling and grammatical errors if you have elementary skills. You won't be able to spontaneously discuss an unknown topic at this level; you'll have to rely on the words you've learnt.
Language learners at the elementary and limited working proficiency levels are typically unable to form past or future tense sentences and are unaware of or unable to comprehend colloquial terms or slang expressions. Every word and translation is taken literally, and metaphors are frequently misinterpreted.
2. Limited Working Proficiency (ILR 2, CEFR B2)
On this scale, I would call limited working proficiency above basic conversational fluency. At ILR level 2, your communication ability is somewhat higher: you can handle a wide range of regular social interactions, such as introducing oneself, speaking about current events, job, family, and other personal matters.
You should be able to complete basic job needs on your own, but you may want assistance if any issues or problems occur. If the subject is non-technical, you can typically catch the essence of what you hear in conversation and respond simply, but you can also improvise a bit more than at the elementary skill level.
Your grasp of grammar is also better: you can handle simple formulations with ease, but you lack a complete understanding of grammar.
3. Minimum Professional Proficiency (ILR 3, CEFR C1)
This is the first level that is applicable in real life. This is most likely equivalent to B2 in the European Framework of Reference. This is what I recommend you aim for. This level is commonly used to answer the question, "How long does it take to learn a language?" and to estimate the number of people who speak a certain language throughout the world.
You understand and speak the language well enough at this level to communicate effectively in a variety of situations, including practical, social, and professional ones. You may also simply discuss specific interests and topics of study.
Your comprehension is fairly comprehensive for a normal rate of speech, your vocabulary is broad enough that you hardly ever have to look up a word, your grammatical control is strong, and basic mistakes are uncommon. Despite this, professional proficiency is still referred to as "minimum," and there are two more levels to come!
4. Full Professional Proficiency (ILR 4, CEFR C2)
The second level in language learning is general and advanced proficiency, which is more conversational than the first. You have finally acquired fluency and accuracy on all levels required to fully fulfill professional demands at ILR level 4.
At these levels, understanding a language's vocabulary and sentence structures entails a considerably broader variety of words and linguistic structures. You can comprehend and engage in almost any personal or professional discussion, even if the topic or context is new, and your vocabulary precision is excellent.
People who can converse in a language can participate in most debates, even on more difficult topics like politics or science. A solid grasp of all tenses, rules, and linguistic patterns is required to master a language in a general and advanced proficiency level.
Although you are unlikely to be mistaken for a native speaker, you make relatively few grammar and pronunciation mistakes. You may even do casual interpreting in your target language at ILR 4.
5. Native or Bilingual Proficiency (ILR 5)
What could be better than complete professional competence? Of course, achieving native or bilingual proficiency! Every language student aspires to become fluent in their chosen language. If you attain this level of proficiency in your target language, it indicates you are on par with a native speaker who has had formal education.
In tiny but significant ways, this degree of functionally native differs from conversational. A fluent speaker not only understands the cultural distinctions and dialects of each country, but also talks as fluently as a native speaker.
Congratulations! You've really got it when it comes to full fluency! You've mastered the language in all of its aspects, including expressive vocabulary, colloquialisms, and cultural references, thanks to your extensive mastery of the language. Even at such a high level, though, constant practice is required; otherwise, your skills will decline. You wouldn't want all that hard work to be for nothing, would you?
Levels one and five are easy to grasp and apply to any language student's long-term learning strategy. However, the others are more particular to the professional field and may not be suitable for everyone. Overall, the FSI ratings may be more useful for someone interested in a job in international relations or business.
What Are The Easiest And Hardest Languages To Learn?
The difficulty or ease with which you learn a foreign language is primarily determined by your native language as well as any other foreign languages you may already know. The general idea is that learning ‘related' languages, or languages that belong to the same group within a language family, is much easier.
The Indo-European language family, namely the Germanic group, includes English. Other Germanic languages, such as Danish, Dutch, Swedish, and Norwegian, are among the easiest to learn for English speakers. French, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese are among the Romance Indo-European languages included.
The Foreign Service Institute provides one of the most widely recognized methods for categorizing languages into levels of difficulty for English speakers (including the time required to learn them) (FSI). Employees in the US foreign affairs sector undergo official training at the FSI, which is run by the US federal government.
The following timelines and levels of difficulty are based on the FSI's 70 years of experience teaching foreign languages to American diplomats. They show how long it takes for a typical student to achieve ‘Minimum professional competency,' or ILR level 3 in the language. Of course, depending on a variety of circumstances, the actual time for each student may differ.
Some Languages Take Longer To Master Than Others
While your degree of effort and environment will undoubtedly influence how long it takes you to learn a language, some languages just take longer to master. But for how long? The U.S. State Department has divided the most common global languages into several levels of difficulty for English speakers to learn.
The Department of State has estimated the amount of time it will take to attain "superior competence" (essentially fluent; but not flawless) in speaking and reading in these languages, but keep in mind that your results may vary.
These estimations are also based on someone with no prior understanding of these languages, so if you already have a high school class or two under your belt, you may just need a fraction of the time.
For native English speakers, certain languages are very easy to learn, while others are infamously hard. The alphabet, conjugations, vocabulary, and other factors all have a role in how easy or difficult a language is to learn.
Learning one of these languages is an excellent place to start if you want to be widely understood and discover new places to visit. For native English speakers, which are the easiest and most difficult to learn?
How Long Does It Take To Learn A Language According To The FSI (Foreign Service Institute)
There are several methods for estimating how long it will take to learn a language to the point where it is functionally native. The American Council on Teaching Foreign Language Guidelines provides many different options. These recommendations, like the ILR scale, divide language learning into several different phases.
Others, on the other hand, follow the criteria set forth by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Both of these definitions define fluency. How do you get there, though?
When it comes to determining the number of hours required to achieve fluency, the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) difficulty rankings are crucial. They rate languages according to their difficulty and provide an estimate of how long it will take to learn each one. The results of their table rankings are listed below.
The FSI (Foreign Service Institute - the US State Department's agency for training US diplomats) estimates the time it takes to achieve their classifications using FSI learning.
The assumption is that the native English speaker has no prior knowledge of any other language. As a result, the FSI groups its estimations according to how challenging a language is for a native English speaker. The FSI rankings also show how many hours of classroom instruction would be required to learn a new language for this person.
The FSI estimates the average number of hours it takes for a native English speaker to achieve “Professional Working Proficiency” in a language and divides languages into difficulty groups based on the linguistic and cultural differences between English and the target language.
Category I - Easy Languages: 23-24 Weeks (575-600 total hours of study to learn) Languages closely related to English:
Afrikaans
Danish
Dutch
French
Italian
Norwegian
Portuguese
Romanian
Spanish
Swedish
RELATED: The Top 11 Easiest Languages To Learn (Even For English Speakers).
575 hours of study is about equivalent to 7 months of 20-hour-per-week language training. These languages would take the least amount of time to learn, assuming the FSI designations are accurate. One of these languages could be a suitable choice for someone who wants to study a foreign language relatively well for practical reasons.
Category II - Medium Languages: 30 Weeks (750 total hours of study to learn) Languages similar to English:
German
Category III - 36 Weeks (900 total hours of study to learn) Languages with linguistic and/or cultural differences from English:
Indonesian
Malaysian
Swahili
Consider these languages to be 9-12 months of 20 hours of instruction each week to help you decide what kind of class to register in.
Category IV - Hard Languages: 44 Weeks (1,100 hours of study to learn) Languages with significant linguistic and/or cultural differences from English:
Albanian
Amharic
Armenian
Azerbaijani
Bengali
Bosnian
Bulgarian
Burmese
Croatian
Czech
*Estonian
*Finnish
*Georgian
Greek
Hebrew
Hindi
*Hungarian
Icelandic
Khmer
Lao
Latvian
Lithuanian
Macedonian
*Mongolian
Nepali
Pashto
Persian (Dari, Farsi, Tajik)
Polish
Russian
Serbian
Sinhala
Slovak
Slovenian
Tagalog
*Thai
Turkish
Ukrainian
Urdu
Uzbek
*Vietnamese
Xhosa
Zulu
RELATED: The Top 25 Hardest Languages To Learn For English Speakers.
You shouldn't expect to learn one of these languages in less than a year, especially if you're beginning from scratch. 1,100 hours equates to about 14 months of continuous 20-hour-per-week study.
Category V - Super Difficult Languages: 88 Weeks (2,200 total hours of study to learn) Languages which are exceptionally difficult for native English speakers:
Arabic
Cantonese (Chinese)
Mandarin (Chinese)
*Japanese
Korean
*Usually more difficult than other languages in the same category.
These languages are referred to as "super-hard" because they are extremely difficult to grasp for native English speakers. The reason for this is that certain scripts do not exist in English.
Officials from the State Department are normally given 88 weeks to master these languages, although keep in mind that language learning is frequently seen as a full-time profession. Sure, 88 weeks if you have the time for it. But, in general, don't expect to learn these languages in less than two years.
They estimate that learning the "Super Difficult" languages will take 88 weeks, or one and a half years, plus another year being in the country. Even the State Department understands the importance of language immersion and learning abroad.
Official FSI Statistics vs. Reality
As you can see from the data above, achieving ‘Minimum professional proficiency' (ILR 3, CEFR C1) in languages from Group 1 - the easiest languages for a native English speaker to learn - takes 24-30 weeks or 600-750 class hours, according to the FSI. It will take you 88 weeks or 2200 class hours to master languages from Group 4, or the "super-hard" languages like Japanese or Arabic.
This doesn't appear to be that bad. But are these figures realistic? Individual outcomes might vary based on a variety of factors, including the learner's inherent ability, past language experience, time spent in the classroom, and others, according to the FSI.
Furthermore, they are official numbers based on years of training for diplomats and foreign-policy officials, who get rigorous language lessons tailored particularly for them. However, not everyone can afford to learn like a diplomat! The rest of us work full-time, have children, do errands, do housework, and have incredibly hectic schedules and lives.
We don't have the same opportunities as language or foreign affairs students to learn a foreign language. Things happen, and we need to take a break. Life gets in the way, and we get off the language-learning bandwagon from time to time, returning days, weeks, or even months later. Consider a linguistic university student who takes daily language classes that incorporate both theory and practice.
They spend up to several hours a day studying the language! That's nearly a full-time job! (And it's a really good one!) If they begin with no knowledge of the language, they will attain ILR 3 or 4 in 3-4 years (CEFR C1 or C2). In comparison, if you study part-time on your own using textbooks, YouTube videos, and language learning apps, you might only attain ILR 2 (CEFR B1 or B2) in the same length of time.
So, if you're not a diplomat, is official data entirely useless? Certainly not! They nevertheless offer you a good idea of which languages will be easier and which will be more difficult for you to learn. They can also give you an estimate of how long it will take you to attain your target skill level.
You can master any foreign language with a well-established schedule, persistence, and the will to keep going. Just bear in mind that you could take a little longer than a foreign affairs employee or a full-time language student. It's not all doom and gloom. There are some strategies for learning a language efficiently and effectively.
How Difficult Is Your Target Language?
What’s Your Target Language?
The CEFR for Languages was created primarily for European languages, the majority of which are Indo-European languages. Those are the languages to which English is most closely related. They share fundamental structures because they share a distant common ancestor. Much of the language has its origins in the same places.
How similar a language is to English is a key factor of how long it takes to learn it (and any other language that you already know well). Languages differ in terms of grammatical complexity (as measured in English), making certain Indo-European languages more difficult than others.
German and Icelandic are close cousins of English, although their grammar is far more complicated (or than their common relatives Swedish or Danish). Russian and Polish are not English's brothers and sisters; rather, they are first cousins, like French and Italian.
Nonetheless, Slavonic lingos have a complex case system, and their verb system differs from what is found further west in numerous respects. Then there's the sound system of a language to consider. Do you have any unusual new consonants to learn (like in Arabic or Hebrew)? Do you have any tones (Chinese, Vietnamese)?
The process will be more complicated if you choose a different writing system. It's one thing to create a new alphabet. However, the system is the same as our Latin one. You can master the Russian or Greek alphabets. However, the system may differ substantially, making learning more time consuming.
For example, your language could have an "abjad" system (which solely depicts consonants and is the foundation of the Arabic writing system). It may utilize a "logographic" system, in which each letter represents a word, which is the most time-consuming of all (Chinese and Cantonese). All of these linguistic factors play a role in determining how objectively "hard" or "easy" your language is.
Other Factors
Taking lessons is one of the easiest methods to learn a new language. Because you have a framework to follow and are responsible for taking lessons, the process is easier than learning on your own. Furthermore, because no two minds are alike, the time it takes to learn a foreign language differs from person to person.
Time to fluency may be affected by a variety of factors, including the amount of concentration placed on learning, the number of hours dedicated to education each day, and study techniques. Take time to evaluate your progress as you work toward being able to confidently listen, speak, and write in a foreign language. Be proud of how far you've progressed thus far. One day at a time, keep going.
Rate Of Learning Dependencies
After clarifying what your target language is, it's still impossible to know how long it'll take you to get there. This is due to the fact that the language learning process has so many variables and dependencies.
I've compiled a list of significant dependencies – not an exhaustive list – as well as research that shows how they affect language learning rates. The learning environment and the learner are the two primary types of dependencies that have been identified.
The Learning Environment
Learning Context
The speed with which you learn a language will vary significantly depending on the setting in which you study it, from classrooms to private language schools to immersion. Whether the language is being taught as a second/foreign language (i.e., whether it is being studied in a country) will also influence the rate of learning.
The amount of input learners are exposed to and the number of hours of instruction received/time spent to study per week are two major differences between these environments.
Teaching Methodology
Different teaching techniques will have an influence not only on the quantity and variety of teaching materials provided to students, but also on the pace and focus placed on specific areas of language learning.
Traditional grammatical translation methods emphasize accuracy over meaning, but communicative translation methods aim to respond to various elements of students' communicative ability at the same time, stressing communication above accuracy.
Another factor is the teacher's impact: in addition to their educational method, there are concerns of involvement with students, responsiveness to students, ability to encourage students, effective feedback, and so on.
Intensity Of Program
The concept of the forgetting curve has been investigated through memory-related activities (as language learning does). Infrequent review of information and abilities, according to research on spaced repetition and active recall, leads to an accelerated loss in performance.
Language learning programs that include just 2 hours per week of instruction, limited self-study, and long breaks between terms are less effective than more intensive programs.
Group Dynamics
Positive or negative classroom dynamics can either greatly increase or completely derail language learning possibilities. Group dynamics are an under-exploited component of second language learning, especially given their importance within language classroom settings.
Access To Useful Resources For Language Learning
A key component in language learning is access to resources that give understandable information and desire to learn, and this access is increasingly influenced by access to technology and the internet.
Furthermore, the ability to engage learners in meaningful language learning activities, as well as the effective grading of language in learning materials, are all aspects of learning resources and materials that might affect their pace of learning.
The Learner
Age and Gender
Age (both in terms of when a person first begins to learn a language and differences in the rate of learning at different ages), gender (including the social acceptability of different languages for different genders), and other individual differences will all have an impact on a learner's rate of language learning (including language aptitude, language learning styles, and strategy).
Beliefs About Language And The Nature Of Language Learning
The learning process and the learning techniques people think to be effective are heavily influenced by the learner's ideas about language learning, whether conscious or subconscious.
This might be in general (e.g., ‘I need to feel sure in my accuracy before I say anything in public') or specific to the language in question (e.g., ‘I believe Mandarin Chinese is really hard, therefore I don't think it's worth my time to try to study on my own outside of class time').
Depending on the beliefs held, this may have a good or negative impact on acquisition speed. The status and vitality of the language may also influence a student's desire to commit time to, as well as their views and motivation to learn it.
Clear Learning Objectives
The importance of how learners view themselves – or their "potential self" – has lately been underlined in research on second language learning motivation. This study has highlighted the necessity of having a goal that can be clearly imagined and experienced, as well as the importance of this in being able to sustain long durations of motivated language study.
This has implications for learning rates since learners who have a clearer picture of themselves using the language outside of the classroom are more likely to learn faster than those who do not.
First Language
The more differences there are between the learner's native language and the target language to be learned, the more difficult the process will be and the longer it will take. Script, phonology, syntax, lexis (especially the amount of cognates between languages), pragmatic aspects of the language, and so on are all examples of differences.
To estimate the number of class hours required to attain a ‘professional' level, the US government divides languages into four groups based on their ‘distance' from English.
How Much Time Do You Have?
How Much Time Can You Commit?
It should go without saying that the more time and effort you put into anything, the more you will receive out of it. You must be devoted when learning a new language. Once you've determined how much time you have each day to study, stick to it. Do five hours every day if you are capable of doing so. Make those two hours count if two is all you have.
Some language learners, however, feel that effort trumps time while learning a new language. It's better to set out a specific amount of time in your life, even if it's only 1-2 weeks, and give it your all rather than wasting months or even years.
How Much Of Your Spare Time Will You Devote To Solidifying Your Knowledge?
Even while relaxing or sleeping, being in language-learning mode increases and reinforces your new language's familiarity and ease of recall, and it is this ease of usage that makes us feel like we know it. It takes effort to learn a language, and you'll have to keep your mind in "Spanish mode" or "Chinese mode" even while you're at home doing nothing.
It's not just about how many hours of class you attend; watching movies, listening to music, conversing with friends, reading books, and looking up words you don't understand are all part of the overall input required to truly master a language. Don't expect to become fluent in Mandarin after 20 hours of Mandarin lessons in China.
You must also engage in some self-study. Language isn't only a concentrated and energetic action. It's also the most passive thing for the human brain; we can't help but think, talk, and name things. In these "passive" periods, your language brain must be trained to passively pick your second language rather than default to your first.
How Long Will It Take Me To Learn A Language If I Work Full-Time?
The majority of us cannot afford to take a year or two off to study a foreign language intensively. We all need to take a break now and again. We estimated that 400 hours would be required to gain a solid working understanding of, say, French, Spanish, or German. Assume you devote 30 minutes every day to improving your language skills.
You're going to take a day off. That works out to three hours each week. At that rate, you'd be able to complete the 400 hours required for a "good working knowledge" in little over 133 weeks. That's approximately a year and a half. If you already have a foundation from school, it will be less. If you've previously learnt another language, it'll be even less.
Although if you’re using the Pimsleur method, you can make a success of any language! The ability to learn a new language is now at your fingertips thanks to technological advancements. Pimsleur has a good selection of easy-to-learn second languages for native English speakers.
In fact, Pimsleur is a fantastic place to start if you want to experience how enjoyable language study can be for you.
Get a 7-day free trial of the Pimsleur method and you’ll see how to learn a difficult language in just 30 minutes a day.
It’ll be even less still if the other language is closely connected to your first (for example, if you're studying Italian after learning French or Dutch after learning German). Let's say you wish to improve your French or Spanish to an advanced level. This will take around 600 hours. Assume you work three and a half hours each week.
This may be accomplished by studying for thirty minutes each day, or thirty minutes each weekday, with an hour free on Saturday and Sunday. In slightly over three years, you'd have achieved your goal of speaking French or Spanish at a high level. You'll need just over four years to complete German, which requires 750 hours.
Fluency in Russian takes six years at 1100 hours. The majority of people are happy with a good level, so you'll see significant improvement and enjoy speaking your language at a lower level much sooner. Of course, if you want to learn Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, or Korean fluently, you'll need fourteen years if you study for three hours a week. That seems like a depressing time frame to me.
Why not try some reverse engineering to get things moving faster? Let's say you set a five-year goal for yourself to become fluent in Chinese, Arabic, or Japanese. That's 440 hours a year, or little over eight and a half hours per week, if you keep up your current pace. Every workday, you put in 45 minutes. You may study first thing in the morning before starting your other responsibilities.
If you worked for 45 minutes or 3.75 hours overall, you'll need to work for another 4.71 hours on the weekend. If that's too much, divide it up like this: You work five hours throughout the week and two hours on weekends, totalling 5.75 hours each week.
Over the course of a year, that more relaxed weekend routine results in a 141-hour deficit (440 x 52). You compensate for this by taking intensive residential classes several times a year.
How Long Does It Take To Learn A Language Fluently?
Timeframes For Language Learning From Various Perspectives
When you ask an expert how long it takes to learn a language, they will most likely give you a range of answers. Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts to fluency! The only way to speed up the process is to immerse yourself as much as possible and devote yourself.
Simply said, the less you are exposed to the language, the longer it will take you to learn it. So, get out there and immerse yourself if you truly want to improve your language abilities.
Most language learners believe that if they study enough flashcards and watch enough Netflix, they will ultimately succeed. Wrong! If you truly want to learn another language, you must put out a significant amount of work. I prefer to think of language learning as having five distinct phases, and sadly, you can't just study for a few months and expect to be fluent. Everyone would be multilingual if it were that simple!
With The Right Motivation, How Long Does It Take To Become Fluent?
The length of time it takes a person to become proficient in a new language is mostly determined by their motivation. Interest is related to motivation, which is linked to the capacity to notice – which feeds back into ability. As a result, the length of time it takes you to learn might be influenced by your drive. When trying to learn a language, motivation may be more important than ability.
The major – and obviously crucial – contribution of motivation will be to determine whether or not you stay on track. However, it will not significantly increase your speed. With the benefit of time on your side...unless you're studying a language that's very similar to one you already know (like Spanish after Portuguese), learning a new language well will always take you one or two thousand hours of concentrated work.
Psychologists discovered two fundamental forms of motivation decades ago. Intrinsic motivation is derived from a person's delight or personal gratification from engaging in a behaviour. Extrinsic motivation, as the name implies, is a drive that originates from beyond the individual. Extrinsic motivators include things like money and other people's praise.
Linguists use terms that are similar to explain the reason for learning a language. Integrative motivation is a desire to learn a language in order to connect with a region's culture and people. It may also be more particular, such as learning a language to facilitate cross-cultural dialogue or showing respect for a family member's language and culture who does not speak English.
Integrative motivation and high levels of language proficiency have been shown to be highly correlated in studies. Learners who are inspired by the integrated approach have a better grasp of pronunciation and accent. Maybe it's because native speakers of a language have more empathy for them.
Integrative motivation may not always shorten the time it takes to learn the fundamentals of a foreign language, but it's not unrealistic to believe that a strong interest in the language and culture can speed up the path to full fluency.
The term "instrumental motivation" refers to a desire to study a language for reasons other than the language itself. Instrumentally motivated learners are those who study a foreign language for school credit or as a complement to their professional skills.
Methods Can Influence How Long It Takes To Learn A Language
It's possible that if you use a poor approach, you'll have significant delays. As a result, I've spent a lot of time on this site thinking about techniques, and I'll continue to do so in the future. You should experiment with several ways to see what works best for you. However, once you've found something that appears to work, don't make too many changes.
Persistence in doing anything – anything – that requires strong input and output practice is more essential than finding the perfect or even optimal approach. But here's the thing: while there are several decent techniques available, there is no single, magical approach that can dramatically accelerate things.
We can be certain that if there was, people would use it. You must accept responsibility for your own learning, regardless of the technique. Don't expect the teacher to learn the language for you or rely on huge group classes.
Can we say anything meaningful about how long it takes to learn a language, given all the challenges around defining what it means to "learn a language" and all the dependencies that influence the rate of learning?
Counting Hours
To begin, it's important to note that there are several methods for calculating learning time. The number of classroom hours has a big influence on how institutions organize their resources. Self-study time, on the other hand, is an important aspect of learning.
This can be directed (i.e. following the instructor's instructions) or unguided (i.e. additional learning not mandated by the teacher - either because the learner is self-motivated or because they are practicing English for personal or professional reasons). Students who do a lot of unguided self-study should undoubtedly advance faster.
Learning Rate At Different Levels
The rate of learning appears to differ between levels due to two primary factors: a) At lower levels, improvements in language development have a smaller influence on communicative skills. Learning 100 more words at the A1 level, for example, has a greater influence on a learner's capacity to communicate than learning 100 more words at the C1 level.
This leads to the familiar ‘plateau' at intermediate level, where students believe they are no longer progressing as quickly as they were at the basic level. b) At higher levels, learners are better equipped to develop their language skills on their own. They can make use of unadapted language - e.g. on the internet - without assistance.
They feel more at ease talking in the target language with others, which gives them more practice and input. As a result of these two variables, lower-level learners tend to require fewer hours of study to move through the CEFR levels, whereas higher-level learners require a smaller proportion of their language learning hours to be in the classroom or teacher-directed.
Learning hours include time spent in a classroom, directed self-study (for example, homework), and other learning activities started by the learner.
How Long Does a Language Course or Book Last?
When discussing how long a course takes to finish, publishers of English language course books usually refer to the number of classroom hours plus supervised self-study. The number of hours for a course can be very flexible because they will also include a quantity of optional supplementary material.
Because of the reasons discussed in the previous section, courses at different levels tend to have similar quantities of information (e.g. that higher level learners spend an increasing amount of time learning a language outside a course book).
How Long Does It Take To Completely Learn A Language?
You want to see the end result before you even start learning a new language. You're putting together a language study schedule and aren't sure how much time you should set aside. Would you be able to communicate fluently in a year? Or maybe even less? How long does it take to learn a language fluently? The answer is that it depends.
You'll never know unless you give it a go! You can estimate how long it will take you based on a variety of things. It should be apparent by now that there is no one-size-fits-all estimate of how long it takes to learn a foreign language.
Fluency takes various amounts of time for different people, but one thing is certain: you can't get there without effort, commitment, patience, and, in some cases, taking it overseas or through online immersion! You must first realize that learning a language is a never-ending process. Prepare yourself for a long journey. You will, however, achieve fluency at some time.
Different people have different motives and goals, therefore the method they choose to learn a language may not be the most efficient. This difficulty is compounded by the fact that certain languages are far more difficult to learn than others.
As I mentioned earlier in this post, there are several factors to consider when determining how long it takes to learn a language. First and foremost, what language level do you need to achieve? Basic for a short trip abroad, conversational for chatting with friends, or professional fluency for working in a foreign country?
Each one requires more preparation and effort spent learning the language than the one before it. Second, what language would you like to study? Mandarin, Arabic, Hindu, Portuguese, and Spanish are the top five most widely spoken languages in the world (apart from English).
RELATED: The 13 Best Languages To Learn (Number 9 May Surprise You).
Each of these five languages is worthwhile to learn, but some are more difficult than others and need more time and work to master. Spanish, for example, may be learned in 600 hours, but Mandarin takes closer to 2200.
Finally, the length of time it takes to learn a language is determined by the learning technique you use. Immersion, organized classes, and online language learning each have their own set of advantages and disadvantages.
You can learn a language faster if you select immersion learning, especially if you live with a family member who speaks the language natively. However, in this environment, it is easy to get stagnant, therefore you may need to supplement your immersion learning with online classes.
If you've been thinking about taking on the task of learning a new language, now is the perfect moment to get started. Despite the fact that learning a new language opens up a whole new world of communication and new cultures to discover, research shows that there are several advantages to learning a new language.
Bilingualism enhances memory and perception, and it may even reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Finally, keep in mind your goal I mentioned before. Real-life encounters may be the only test you're attempting to pass. Don't simply study the language; experience it, and speaking should be your primary goal from the start.
Other Factors Affecting The Time It Takes To Learn A Language
People's attention spans are limited, and while individual limits vary, only a few people can effectively master a single topic for six hours a day. Many of the training hours were most likely wasted due to a lack of attention or exhaustion.
Personally, I believe that a language learner may attain a high level of fluency in a much shorter amount of time if they use the appropriate materials and approaches.
Finally, when it comes to the FSI, it's unclear exactly what "Professional Working Proficiency" means. There are two reasons for this. To begin with, the FSI has never defined what this means in public. Second, even if they did, this definition would alter significantly depending on one's job; a diplomat, for example, will require a very different vocabulary and grammatical skills than an author or an electrical engineer.
How Long Should You Study A Language Every Day? Is 30 Minutes A Day Enough To Learn A Language?
To begin, 30 minutes each day is sufficient. For most people, a daily schedule of 30 minutes of active study and 1 hour of language exposure will yield excellent results. You'll discover that as you grow more excited and practice more, your stamina to practice increases, and you'll want to do a lot more.
Shorter learning sessions offer the added benefit of increasing your likelihood of sticking with it and maintaining a consistent routine. It's a model for achieving fluency that can be sustained throughout time. However, it all relies on your goals and expectations.
Can You Learn A Language In 15 Minutes A Day?
It may seem apparent, but practicing vocabulary or listening comprehension for 15 minutes a day is one of the best long-term investments in language learning. It all boils down to learning and memory research, which debunks the idea that “cramming” for an exam is beneficial and instead recommends learning in smaller pieces and utilizing repetition.
The daily habit accelerates and improves language acquisition, helping new learners to remember more of the fundamentals of grammar and vocabulary. This makes 15 minutes ideal for acquiring a bit of knowledge and then repeating it until it becomes ingrained in your long-term memory.
This approach doesn't provide a hard and fast deadline, but it does provide a foundation for learning a new language successfully and efficiently. Spending 15 minutes a day on language learning will put you on the road to fluency.
Patience Is Required To Become Fluent In A Language
True language fluency needs constant work and time, and while 500 - 1,000 hours may seem like a lot, with the right study plan, an average individual could definitely devote that amount of time over 12-18 months. If that still seems daunting, keep in mind that this is what it may take to reach a particular degree of fluency.
You could be completely content with just getting by with the minimal essentials, which takes a lot less time. There is no easy answer to the issue of how long it takes to learn a new language, as we've discovered.
There are just too many variables, such as how fluency is defined, which language is being taught, how much exposure the language learner has had to other languages previously, if immersion is part of the process, and so on. However, the information I've supplied should give you a fair idea of how long it'll take you to achieve your language learning objectives.
Conclusion
Speaking another language allows you to meet new people, gain cultural awareness, view the world from a different perspective, and grow as a person. There's only one thing you need to do regardless of the language you wish to learn, whether it's from the "easy" or "very-hard" category. Start! It isn't difficult.
Start by enrolling in a language school or having a trial lesson with an online tutor. Learn your first 10 words by downloading a language learning app. Make some friends by joining a learning community online.
It makes no difference where you begin; you can always change your mind along the way. You can become fluent in any language with passion, persistence, and consistent practice! Keep in mind that you are capable of achieving your goals.
You just learned how long it takes to learn a language and how to define what your intentions are for the language you’ve chosen to learn. And that means you can now start planning out a productive hourly, daily and/or weekly schedule for daily practice.
As you may know, there are a lot of language learning programs out there to choose from, where do you even start? Not all courses and apps are the same, and how do you know if any of these programs can teach you to become fluent in less time? However, it doesn’t need to be difficult.
That’s why I’m going to give you a tool to make it easier than ever to learn how to understand & speak right away to achieve fluency.
So, go ahead and get started with a 7-day free trial of Pimsleur today - you’ll be glad you did!
Let’s quickly recap the highlights:
You found out that focusing on the number of hours you study is a much more important measurement than the years you learn a language.
You discovered that when determining how long it takes to learn a language, several factors come into play. From your previous experience learning languages to the languages themselves, each part impacts how long it should take to learn.
You learned that while the level of effort and your surroundings can undoubtedly affect how long it takes for you to pick up a language, some languages just take longer to learn than others.
You discovered how Pimsleur makes it easier than ever to get started learning how to speak a foreign language.
If you're not sure what your language learning style is, take my free quiz to find out what type of language learner you are. Your results may surprise you!
So, your next step is easy - take action on what you just learned. Because the sooner you do, the sooner you’ll start reaching fluency in less time while enjoying learning a new language!
A TINY REQUEST: IF YOU LIKED THIS POST, PLEASE SHARE THIS?
Ready to have some fun learning a new language? Then take action on what you just learned - you’ll be glad you did! Be a good friend and share this post on social media.
Also, share this post with anyone you know who’s looking to learn a foreign language! Just think how good you’ll feel when your friends thank you for bringing them insight and some surprising discoveries about language learning!
I know most people don’t share because they feel that us bloggers don’t need their “tiny” social share. But here’s the truth…
I built this blog piece by piece, one small share at a time, and will continue to do so. So thank you so much for your support, my reader.
A share from you would seriously help a lot with the growth of this blog.
Some great suggestions:
Pin it! (I even made a pretty pin for ya!)
Share it to Facebook
Tweet it!
Flip it on Flipboard
It won’t take more than 10 seconds of your time. The share buttons are right here.:)
Thank you so much!
Question:
So, here’s the question: Are you attempting to learn a new language? Do you think these timelines are reasonable? Let me know in the comments section down below!
P.S. I want to hear from you today. No for real, get out from behind that keyboard and tell us more about yourself! Use the comment section down below and introduce yourself.
Hey, I’m Mara.
I am the founder and blogger of Sololingual helping anyone at any age, from any place, who wants to learn a new language. You can learn how to reach fluency in your chosen language fast, fun and easily studying a short amount each day and spending very little money using different language learning techniques, programs and resources at your disposal. Fluency isn't difficult to achieve. In fact, it’s easy when you find a solid method that walks you through every step of the way, and believing in yourself so that you can achieve your goal at becoming fluent in any language.
