Language acquisition is primarily influenced by three key factors: the learner’s attitude, the time dedicated to language study, and the learner’s attentiveness.
Given these factors, if we assume a positive attitude and increasing attentiveness from the learner, the question arises: how long does it take to learn a language?
Answering this question is complex as various factors impact the learning timeline, including learning methods and the learner’s attitude and confidence in the language.
The FSI, or US Foreign Service Institute, has estimated the time required to learn different languages based on difficulty levels for English speakers.
Language Learning Timeframes According to FSI
FSI categorizes languages into groups of difficulty:
Group 1: French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Swahili.
Group 2: Bulgarian, Burmese, Greek, Hindi, Persian, Urdu.
Group 3: Amharic, Cambodian, Czech, Finnish, Hebrew, Hungarian, Lao, Polish, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Thai, Turkish, Vietnamese.
Group 4: Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean.
FSI’s Proficiency Levels
Elementary proficiency
The individual can meet basic travel and courtesy needs.
Limited working proficiency
The person can handle social demands and basic work requirements.
Minimum professional proficiency
The individual can participate effectively in various conversations on practical, social, and professional topics.
Full professional proficiency
The person communicates fluently and accurately on all professional levels.
Native or bilingual proficiency
The person speaks at the level of an educated native speaker.
FSI research suggests it takes 480 hours for basic fluency in group 1 languages and 720 hours for group 2-4 languages.
For those studying 10 hours per day, fluency in easy languages may take about two months, while difficult languages may require three months. Adjustments should be made for days off and individual study habits.
Input-based learning, such as listening during daily activities, can be beneficial for those with limited study time.
If Studying 10 Hours a Day…
To prevent burnout, a varied study schedule is important. A sample day could include listening, reading, vocabulary review, grammar practice, writing, speaking practice, and relaxation activities in the target language.
Consistency and intensity are key to language learning success, and an intensive study program can lead to basic conversational fluency in two to three months.
During the initial stage of language learning, we are naturally curious about the language and open to repeating the same content multiple times. Repetitive listening is a great way to familiarize yourself with a new language. Make sure to have access to transcripts when listening to content to learn vocabulary effectively.
Moving from level 2 to level 4, or achieving full professional fluency, may take significantly longer, depending on the complexity of the language.
To expedite the language learning process and achieve fluency faster, you can immerse yourself in a new language without the need to travel or enroll in expensive programs. Platforms like LingQ offer a wide range of content for listening and reading, allowing you to discover and learn from materials you enjoy. The app provides interactive lessons, vocabulary tracking, and easy word lookup features.
LingQ is accessible on desktop and mobile devices, offering a seamless learning experience. By creating an account, you can access thousands of hours of audio and transcripts to enhance your language learning journey.
If you’re interested in learning more about language learning success, you can sign up for a free email course on the 10 Secrets to Language Learning Success on the Linguist website. This course can be a valuable starting point for your path to fluency in a new language.
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