TL;DR Summary
Fluency isn’t perfection — it’s comfort. Around B2 on the CEFR scale, you can understand and express yourself naturally on many topics. Build that ease through lots of listening and reading; fluent speaking follows exposure. Fluency isn’t a finish line — it’s a journey.
***
There are a lot of promises regarding shortcuts to fluency. Some videos on YouTube, for example, insist that you can achieve fluency after memorizing just a few hundred words. Other sources suggest that fluency is possible within three months of intensive study. These claims don’t make sense to me. In this post, I want to clarify what fluency is, how to achieve it, and how it applies to your language learning.
What is the meaning of “fluency”?
First of all, let’s look at this word ‘fluency’. Fluency is a bit like the word ‘good’ or ‘well’. It’s broad, but indicates a generally advanced grasp of the language.
Some confuse fluency with fluidity. For example, I once saw a video claiming that fluency requires just a few words. To demonstrate this, someone with limited Czech walked around Prague, exchanging pleasantries with shopkeepers and appearing fluent with few words. The interactions are fluid, but is this fluency? I don’t think so.
I consider fluency as the ability to converse on a wide range of subjects. The language does not need to be free of mistakes, but communication should be comfortable. If you’re fluent, a native speaker doesn’t need to modify or limit their speech for you. It’s assumed that you understand, and you’re able to maintain a good flow of conversation.
Notice that fluency depends on strong comprehension. With poor comprehension skills, conversational fluency is not possible.
The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)
There are different ways to measure proficiency in a language. Perhaps the best general reference point is the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), which divides proficiency into six levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2. In my view, B2 is the benchmark level for fluency. At a B2 level, you can understand and express yourself in a wide variety of contexts and subjects. Precision is not perfect, but your grasp of the language is evident.
What are the traits of someone with a B2 proficiency?
- You can understand the main ideas of complex texts on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in their field of specialization.
- You can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party.
- You can produce clear, detailed texts on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.
Proficiency Levels
Proficiency levels are a less official, but quite common, way to define language ability. On LinkedIn or a resume, for example, you’ll likely encounter the following terms:
- Elementary proficiency
- You can handle basic tasks that only require simple words and phrases.
- Limited working proficiency
- You can have basic (predictable) conversations that might require more than memorized phrases.
- Professional working proficiency
- You can follow most conversations and speak somewhat fluently on everyday topics.
- Full professional proficiency
- You’re able to understand and express yourself fluently in everyday, unpredictable, and professional contexts.
- Native / bilingual proficiency
- You speak the language as your mother tongue or you are nearly indistinguishable from a native speaker.
Briefly put, elementary and limited working proficiency correspond to the A1-A2 range on the CEFR scale. Professional working proficiency and full professional proficiency align with the B1-B2 range. Lastly, native/bilingual proficiency equates to the C1 (more likely C2) level.
Reading Your Way to Fluency
Reading results in fluency. Of course, we often evaluate fluency through speaking. However, reading is a fundamental component. Can you read a newspaper in your target language? To me, this is a sign of fluency. This may be more difficult in languages with different scripts, such as Chinese. However, in most situations, reading a newspaper comfortably is a good indicator of fluency.
In English, newspapers correspond to a 7th or 8th grade vocabulary level. The biggest limiting factor of any content is the vocabulary level. You need quite a large vocabulary to do many things, to understand newspapers, radio news, to converse on subjects of interest etc. Can you read a book in your target language? This doesn’t have to be literature, but this is definitely indicative of your fluency.
Reading isn’t just a strong indicator; it’s also a means of achieving fluency. Listening and reading were the most important components of my learning while studying Mandarin Chinese in 1968. I spent most of my time and energy building my comprehension skills.
If I had had a system like LingQ when I was learning Chinese, the process would have been much much easier (and enjoyable). The ability to translate words and phrases instantly, listen to the pronunciation, and review definitely speed up the learning process.
Anything you find online can be turned into a language lesson on LingQ. Create lessons with YouTube videos, news articles, audiobooks, blog posts, Netflix shows and more. Check out the complete guide to importing to find out more.
Faster learning means more intense learning. It took me nine months to reach a level where I could translate newspaper editorials from English to Chinese and from Chinese to English, read novels, and interpret. I did this in the age of the open-reel tape recorder, long before the age of the internet, online dictionaries, language learning apps, MP3 files and YouTube. With a tool like LingQ, I would have been able to take my listening and reading to a different level of effectiveness and intensity.
Fluency & Vocabulary
How many words do you need to know to be fluent? Well, meaningful conversations require a lot of words. Some people want to claim it’s possible to be fluent with a limited vocabulary. This isn’t true. If you can only talk about the weather and very basic subjects, even if you do so fluidly, you’re not fluent.
Fluency is about spontaneity across a wide variety of subjects.
Most adult native speakers have a large vocabulary–a large active vocabulary– in their own language. Therefore, at the very least, I have to have a fairly large passive vocabulary in order to understand what others are saying. Meaningful conversations require that both interlocutors have a large passive vocabulary. Fluency implies two-way communication. You can learn a few phrases and try to express yourself fairly quickly, but the trick is to understand what other people are saying.
I put so much emphasis on listening and reading because, without comprehension, communication breaks down immediately. To continue a conversation, you need to understand the other person. Awkward phrasing and a limited active vocabulary can slow down communication. A lack of comprehension, however, makes communication impossible.
Fluency & Your Personal Needs
Ultimately, our language goals will depend on our needs. If you have a need to communicate right away because you’re in the country, you’ll have more pressure to achieve spoken fluency more quickly. In my case, far away from where the languages I’m learning are spoken, I’m quite content to let my vocabulary accumulate and prioritize my fluency as a reader and listener. Afterwards, my speaking develops quite quickly.
Now, there are people who understand the language well, but they’re too shy or inhibited to speak. Perhaps they’re okay with this. Perhaps their reasons for learning the language are more tied to literature or just consuming content in the target language.
Ultimately, the level of fluency you need depends on you and what you need to do with the language. If you’re able to enjoy the language as a reader, listener, or speaker, you’re on the right track. There’s no finish line for fluency. You can always improve. The important thing is that you enjoy the process.
That’s all for now. Happy learning!
FAQs
1. What makes you fluent in a language?
Fluency is the ability to communicate naturally and understand others without constant effort. It’s not about perfection, but rather using the language comfortably.
2. Is B2 a fluent language level?
Yes. A B2 is the benchmark of fluency. At this level, you’re an independent user of the language. You can successfully communicate on concrete and abstract topics. Native speakers don’t need to accomodate you.
3. What level of language proficiency is considered fluency?
Full working proficiency roughly corresponds to a B2 on the CEFR scale. I consider this level to be quite fluent, as you can use the language effectively across a wide variety of situations and topics.
4. What is it called when you speak in a language but aren’t fluent?
There are several terms for this. You could define your language ability with the CEFR scale or proficiency levels. You could also simply call yourself a novice or intermediate language learner.
5. What is the difference between “fluent” and “intermediate”?
“Intermediate” speaks to familiarity with the language. You have a good grasp of the language, but you’re still not comfortable using it effectively across a wide variety of situations. Fluency, on the other hand, speaks to effective, comfortable communication (even in spontaneous, more complex situations).
6. How many words does it take to be fluent in a language?
You’re going to need a lot of words to be fluent in another language. I don’t have an exact number, but I have argued that one should know between 10,000 and 15,000 words to achieve fluency.
19 comments on “Language Fluency Levels: What Is Fluency?”
Comments are closed.
Yes and no. You can be fluent in a magazine with the limited vocabulary and grammar. With a limited vocabulary and ideas you can even be a successful politician in your native country.
Yet, your fluency will probably not reach this of James Joyce. Or in another language of Leo Tolstoi.
yes and no again.
There are lots of people who do not talk even though they know lots of words and grammar. Many people are afraid to talk, afraid to make mistakes and therefore never learn from making mistakes. Reading and getting a large vocab does help build confidence though and I am a great fan of reading out loud to combine learning new vocab and getting used to making the correct sounds.
I think “fluent” means many things to many people. What it has come to mean to me over time is that one can understand most speakers in a daily setting and be understood by most listeners in a daily setting. With that understanding, “fluent” is about kindergarten age. From that basic level of understanding and understandability, we build vocabulary and content knowledge to reach higher levels of proficiency. Having an educated adult level, native-like vocabulary is far beyond fluency. This holds true for first language and additionally acquired languages. How many native speakers of English do we know who have a command of English far lower than a college educated speaker? And yet, those with the lesser developed English are still fluent. They can understand and be understood.
To me fluency has less to do with the size of your vocabulary or even being able to read the newspaper. I consider myself fluent if I can have a conversation without needing time to think. This obviously depends on the topic to a point but basically sharing an opinion or a viewpoint in everyday conversations is what I aim for. This of course does require a pretty good sized vocabulary and good listening comprehension skills. I would put fluency at C1 personally. I suppose I kind of take it literally, fluency is reached when I can have a fluent conversation.
I also don’t think that fluency is necessarily what people should aim for. To be fluency is very close to actually mastering a language. Depending why someone is studying a language that may not be the goal. Nonetheless even if you’re happy with a tourist level somewhere between B1 and B2, you shouldn’t claim to be fluent, you’re functional. Anyways just my two cents
Sorr Andrea I have to disagree here. To call a level between B1 and B2 a ‘tourist’ level is wrong at best, it could be considered insulting. I believe most tourists never reach a strong A2. When I reached B2 in Spanish I had to be able to watch films with ease, read novels, not just newspapers, have hour long conversations on challenging themes, write essay length texts and understand ‘with ease’ normal conversations. It took me a long time and hours of hard work yet you would say I have achieved a tourist level? To gain C1 took almost as long again and I learnt a lot but honestly what I learned after B2 has contributed almost nothing to my ability to have conversations about every day terms. My 6 year old son is perfectly fluent in English, he can communicate with anyone and you could never ever say he has a tourist level of English. Would he pass a C1 exam or even a B2 exam? Never in a million years.
Just my two cents.
Hello. it is such an interesting article! I definitely agree with you on everything but the last part. I belong to that minority of people who have a large passive vocabulary but cannot use it actively for fear of embarrassing themselves. Yes, I know it is unusual,but I am a teacher and therefore hate to know I might make a fool of myself mispronouncing a word or using a wrong one. Thus, I can say my level of understanding French is C1 for reading since I can read any novel, B1 for understanding natives speaking at a normal level and only A2 for speaking it.
Funny,though,when I simply had to speak Italian ( as none of the Italian teachers could understand English or French) I had no problem, though I could barely utter simple sentences. But this was because I had never studied Italian and I had no high expectations from my speaking skills.
Does this make any sense to you?
I am agree with your disagreeing! Without the vocabulary you will hit so many roadblocks. Sure as a simple tourist this will not be a problem and you will feel “fluent”, but you are not unless you can make friends with someone in the language. And that surely will not involve a few hundred words.
I would say that “fluent” is unhelpful (or sets a really high bar) as a description of general proficiency in a language. I try not to use it. I’m not sure this is what Luca is talking about though. In my experience there is a skill of just being able to fluently spit out well-constructed, grammatical sentences, and this doesn’t require much vocabulary. For example, I became pretty fluent (in this limited sense) in Spanish when I worked in food service. (I had a background in French, a Spanish dictionary with a grammar reference, and coworkers who mostly spoke Spanish.) I had a small vocabulary, and couldn’t understand a lot that was said back to me, and I had no clear path to obtaining more vocabulary simply by being fluent in the grammar. But people understood me, I had fun (even just speaking to myself!), and it’s a skill I would have needed eventually (if mastering Spanish had been a goal of mine).
I’am a Brazilian Guy, I have been listening a lot during 7 months…Totally agree, i study with Anki, and today i have seen series like “how i met your mother” with 60% to 90% of compreehnsion. I have 4800 setences on anki.
This post assumes that fluency and proficiency are synonymous. They are not. Fluency means the amount of language coming out of your mouth (or pen), not the amount that helps you accomplish your communicative goals. Proficiency is a better term. It is a measure of the skills you have in each of the categories of reading, writing, speaking and listening, and it’s related to the task and the context. I can be quite proficient reading and writing in French, but I suck at speaking and I struggle to understand speech. So my proficiency levels are different in the different skills. I am highly proficient in speaking and listening in Spanish, and EVEN higher in reading and writing. And I’m most proficient in Spanish in an academic or cultural context, somewhat less so in certain social contexts. So “fluency” is an almost useless term–it doesn’t tell us anything about how your language skills work for you and how successful your language performance is. (I’m wondering about those videos too–a lot of language is coming out, but is it accomplishing for him what he wants to accomplish?)
‘I am fluent in French’ and ‘I am proficient in French are’, from a practical point of view, synonymous. No one refers to fluency in terms of the amount of language flowing out of a person’s mouth, but rather in terms of how competent the person is in using the language. Yes there are differences in implication, but it is not possible to be proficient in a language without being able to speak it comfortably. Fluency is far from a useless term, since it is the one most widely used, and generally most widely understood to mean proficiency. Of course you could specify that you are a proficient reader but not a proficient or fluent speaker but that is beside the point. When we talk about proficiency in a language or fluency in a language not otherwise specified, we mean the same thing.
I agree with Steve. For example, I can read many things (Jane Austen, Mark Twain, George Eliot …etc). But I can’t understand when people are talking. The language is said to have four rooms. Understandig,speaking,reading and writing. Person may be in one or two rooms.
I quit French because:
1. I visited France. The people are awful. I would never go again.
However, when I went to Spain… It almost felt like home. The people were so hospitable. They volunteered to go with us around the city and show us good tourist spots. They’d use us to help them with their English, and they’d point to things and tell us Spanish words, help us with pronunciation for phrases, and even tell us phrases and urge us to go ask Native for directions so that we got Practice. I had no will or want to learn Spanish, but the difference in social culture there as opposed to France was so staggeringly large… It was surprising and refreshing all the same.
I would never turn down a trip to Spain, ever, after that experience.
I can hold basic conversation in French. My grammar is probably better than my vocabulary at this point, TBH, since classroom learning drills that more than vocabulary. I can read French text and pretty much (through deduction, context clues, and some guesswork) understand what I’m reading at a relatively decent pace considering my level – again, probably due to classroom study, since we barely spoke French but had to read a lot of it to do the work. The biggest issue is…
2. Pronunciation. Really, I don’t think my pronunciation is horrible by any means, but French pronunciation is literally painful to practice.
3. Language Learning materials are too expensive.
4. While many of these companies (and many people) sing the praises and benefits of learning a second language, it simply isn’t a priority here and there really isn’t a need. That sounds selfish, but it’s the reality in the world at this point.
a. English is the lingua franca of business.
b. I have no relatives outside of the USA.
c. The Time and Expense that it takes to learn a language can be better spend learning things that are more… rewarding; like software development, a new sport or athletic activity, going to the gym (and actually socializing instead of having earbuds with foreign language material blasting in your ears, etc.).
That being said, Spanish is more useful and I actually regret taking French instead of Spanish when I was in school, as I’d be able to get immersion with that language due to the amount of Native Spanish speakers everywhere I’ve lived in this country (and I’ve lived in quite a few places), as well as those that I’ve worked with or attended school/college with.
The problem I have now, is that everything else is magnified in difficulty because I am Native English and I spent so much time studying and practicing French. German sound completely foreign. I remember going through books and it just made sense where to put verbs but that’s all lost now (all I have is memories of the experience, not the application of the knowledge acquired). I couldn’t even pick a verb out of a German sentence these days. It almost feels like English is my first language, French is my second language (to a degree) and everything else literally sounds like noise.
Maybe I’ll try Spanish again in the future, due to its usefulness and proliferation throughout this country. But for now, I’m enjoying “not caring” about this stuff.
Constantly trying to find resources, podcasts and movies that didn’t have awful audio. Wasting money on the cheaper learning material that turned out to be utterly useless, etc. I’m over that 😛
I admire what people who learned languages have endured to get to where they are, even more, because I got at least a taste of the struggles that come with the journey!
“Language Learning materials are too expensive.”
I learn Italian for free. I think successfully, despite the lack of strong motivation.
The OED defines fluency as “1.1 The ability to speak or write a particular foreign language easily and accurately: 1.2
The ability to express oneself easily and articulately.” Note the emphasis on speaking and writing. And both definitions stress the ease at which you can do this. To me, this means the ability to speak and write about the same things you can speak and write about in your native language or languages. You should be able to carry on a conversation with friends and colleagues without pausing to mentally look up words. Bad grammar in the language just feels wrong. You don’t necessarily know why. You may have an accent, but your pronunciation is good enough that native speakers understand what you say. Your CEFR level is between C1 and C2.
Hi Steve,
I agree fluency means a fairly high level of proficiency (B2+) and it requires a broad vocabulary.
However, this was not the core message I got from the video. The message I got from the video is that you can have basic conversations in a language without having a large vocabulary and that is very exciting and motivating. So if you have the opportunity you should keep doing it and this will keep you motivated while you continue to develop your language skills. And this is much better than traditional language classes.
This is not necessarily the way I would approach language learning. I am very much aligned with you on how I am learning languages. But some people seem to find it very rewarding to have basic conversations with people and if that gives them the motivation to keep having exposure to the language, then it should help them eventually reach a higher level of fluency.
Great post with lots of useful information.
Thanks for sharing with us.
As I understand it, “being fluent” is to be able to communicate clearly and effortlessly with minimal grammatical/vocabulary mistakes in pretty much any situation, as well as understand virtually anything you hear. In other words, you need to be able to use your target language as flexibly as you would your mother tongue. As a rule of thumb, when I am learning a language, I’ll ask myself: “Do I know how to say this in my mother tongue?” If the answer is yes, I know that I’ll have to learn how to say it in my target language as well before I consider myself fluent. Anything less than that is just “speaking a foreign language”.