Success as a language learner is overwhelmingly dependent on three factors: attitude, the amount of time spent with the language, and the ability to notice patterns.

Given that we have an ideal learner–someone with a positive attitude, strong daily habits, and a keen eye for patterns–how much time should it take to learn a language?

How Much Time Do We Need to Learn a Language?

This isn’t an easy answer. There are too many factors to address: study methods, native language, previous experience with language learning, etc. However, the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) has attempted to answer this question, quantifying how many hours of instruction are required to achieve a general professional proficiency in their target language for native English speakers. 

The FSI divides languages into four groups, categorized by difficulty:

 Group 1 (600 to 750 class hours)

Examples: Spanish, French, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Dutch

Group  2 (900 class hours)

Examples: German, Malay, Indonesian, Swahili, Haitian Creole

 

Group 3 (1100 class hours)

Examples: Russian, Thai, Greek, Farsi, Albanian, Finnish

Group 4 (2200 class hours)

Examples: Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin & Cantonese), Japanese, Korean

How Do We Define Fluency?

It’s difficult to determine how much time one needs to learn a language, as the definition of fluency varies. 

The FSI, for example, considers general professional fluency as the benchmark. At this level, the learner can speak their target language with sufficient structural accuracy and vocabulary to participate in most formal and informal contexts. This roughly corresponds to B2 on the European Framework of Reference.

Personally, I consider basic conversational fluency to be a good milestone. At this level, the learner can handle routine tasks, work requirements, and converse with relative ease despite limitations in grammar and vocabulary. Others, of course, aim for a near-native or bilingual proficiency, in which they can use the language at a high level, nearly indistinguishable from an educated native speaker. This is quite difficult to achieve.

Consider what type of fluency you hope to achieve. In Arabic and Persian, for example, I prioritize my ability to read and listen to increasingly more advanced content. Currently, I’m not as concerned by my spoken fluency. There are many definitions of fluency and a wide range of circumstances in which we use a language. This makes it especially important to decide for ourselves what our goals are with our target language.

Learning Outside the Classroom

While the estimates presented by the FSI are helpful, they do not acknowledge that most learning occurs outside of the classroom. To quote Manfred Spitzer, language learning takes place in our brains, not in the classroom. The bulk of my progress with a language is made outside of the classroom.

I spend a lot of time listening and reading to content in my target language, using a system like LingQ, for example. I’ll listen to a podcast while washing the dishes or exercising. I might open up a grammar book to clarify a concept I’ve been noticing while my reading. Perhaps I’ll chat with a tutor on iTalki or attempt to watch a movie in my target language. I’m spending a lot of time with the language, just not in a classroom setting.

In short, I focus on input-based learning, reading and listening to material that I’m legitimately interested in. The Foreign Service Institute does not take this time into account. Therefore, the FSI estimates, based solely on instructional time, may not be the most accurate for you.

My Experience: How Long Does it Take to Learn a Language?

I’ll answer this briefly. For languages that are more similar to English, I have no doubt that someone who is observant, has a positive attitude, and engages with the language for an hour or so every day should expect to reach basic conversational fluency in 2-3 months. For more difficult languages, languages with a different writing system and little to no words in common with our first language, it may take between 6-9 months.

Are you Ever Done Learning a Language?

It is important to mention that, aside from English, I’m not completely satisfied with my fluency in any of my languages. There’s always room for improvement. Language learning is an ongoing process. There’s always more vocabulary, structural complexity, and cultural references to uncover. Again, this makes it especially important to know what you hope to achieve with your target language, as perfection isn’t necessarily achievable. 

Learn Languages Faster on LingQ 

Repetitive listening is an excellent way to get used to a new language. I recommend texts with lots of repetition and key vocabulary, like the Mini Stories at LingQ. The stories are told in more than one perspective, packed with high-frequency vocabulary and key sentence structures. On LingQ, you can listen and read your content simultaneously, look up and save new words, and review your lessons on the go. 

Immersing yourself in a new language doesn’t require you to travel abroad or sign up for an expensive language program. You can find lots of material to listen to and read at home. LingQ has large libraries in dozens of languages from Netflix, YouTube, Project Gutenberg, etc. You can also import your own favorite videos, podcasts, and much more and turn them into interactive lessons.

I like LingQ because it removes barriers between you and a true sense of flow when reading and listening to the target language. Instant translations, review activities, and progress tracking make tackling new content in my target language more comprehensible and more enjoyable. 

Final Thoughts

So how long does it take to learn a language? Well, if you enjoy the process, does it really matter? Most recently, I’ve been studying Persian and Arabic for a couple years. However, I’m still not fluent. I’m simply enjoying the process, reading Arabic LingQ Mini-Stories or reading about Iranian cuisine in Persian.

Depending on your goals and circumstances, learning a language can take anywhere from a few months to few years. Frankly, language learning can be an indefinite undertaking. Understand what you want to accomplish, enjoy the process, and you may find that you’re no longer concerned about how much time you need to stay the course.

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