In a world of instant gratification, language learning timeframes can be daunting, and many people get frustrated before they reach that "ah-ha" moment. While it can seem like a never-ending battle, if you want to learn to speak the language, you need to stay committed and have a little faith in the process (and yourself!). So, if you're just starting on your journey, you may be wondering... "How long does it take to learn a language?" Well, that answer depends on a few factors—from your target language to how you use your language learning time. Here, we'll talk about timelines for learning common foreign languages along with how to set yourself up for long-term success.
How Long Does it Take to Learn a New Language?
Depending on the language you want to learn, becoming fluent can take 400 to 2,200 hours of studying plus real-world practice. One of the easier language programs (i.e., Spanish) can take about 400 hours and requires 100 days of studying for four hours daily. More difficult language studies (i.e., Mandarin Chinese) can take over 500 days of studying, four hours daily nonstop! But we're not trying to scare you—learning a second language is possible regardless of age or background. Still, it's a pretty intimidating timeline. Luckily, with the right mindset and an efficient language-learning process, you can achieve conversational levels much faster.
7 Factors That Affect Your Timeline for Language Learning
The two biggest factors that affect how long it takes to learn a language are the language you want to learn and the level of proficiency you want to achieve. Other things can also impact how long it will take to improve your language skills.
1. The Foreign Language You Choose to Learn
The language you decide to learn is a fundamental factor in predicting the length of your language-learning journey. For native English speakers, languages that share linguistic roots with English, such as Spanish or French, are often easier to grasp due to vocabulary and sentence structure similarities. Conversely, languages with stark linguistic differences, such as Japanese and Korean, may pose a greater challenge and require more time and dedication. The type of alphabet will also affect the time it takes you to grasp a language.
2. Your Target Language Proficiency Goals
Do you want to get by with conversational proficiency, or do you need professional fluency? Clearly defining your language proficiency goals is essential for estimating the time required to achieve them. It takes longer to learn a new language at a higher level than an introductory language course covering the basics. It often takes twice as long to advance into more native-like fluency, so don't get discouraged. Setting realistic goals allows you to tailor your study plan and allocate your resources effectively so you can reach that language learning breakthrough moment.
3. Motivation and Mindset to Learning a Foreign Language
Your motivation and mindset to learn a language may also influence how long it takes to achieve proficiency. Are you committed to carving out study time on a regular basis? Are you willing to take language lessons, or are you only able to self-teach? Do you have a native speaker to help you with language pronunciation and speaking confidence? If not, download Tandem and match with a native speaker of your target language today!
4. Background Skills or Fluency in Another Language
If you are bilingual or already possess proficiency in a language similar to the one you are learning, you may find certain aspects more accessible. Transferable skills, such as understanding grammar concepts or recognizing cognates, can expedite the learning process. On the other hand, if the new language is vastly different from any you know, you might face a steeper learning curve. Developing good language skills requires creating new neural pathways, but even if you're a complete beginner, it is possible with the right approach!
5. Your Teacher and Learning Techniques
Language schools are a great resource to help you learn new words and how to use them in a sentence, but your teacher also makes a difference. If you have a teacher who adapts to your learning style, it can speed up language recognition and decrease the amount of time required to start speaking confidently. You can also learn a language quickly if you adopt an immersive approach and find someone to practice speaking with outside class.
6. The Tools You Use to Learn a Foreign Language
The choice of learning tools, including apps, textbooks, language exchange programs, and immersive experiences, can significantly impact your language acquisition speed. Include diverse studying techniques to help you cater to different aspects of language acquisition, such as listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Experiment with various tools to discover what works best for you.
7. Available Time to Dedicate to Your Language Learning Experience
Even learning a language like Spanish takes a long time, so if you're trying to become proficient in something more difficult, give yourself a break and be realistic with your goals. Trying to reach fluency in 30 days is not attainable, so don't give up if you feel overwhelmed. It can take a few months before things feel like they start to "click," but once they do, you'll find the process of learning even more exciting and rewarding.
How Long Does it Take to Learn a New Language by Proficiency Level?
Learning a language doesn't take too long if you only want to reach A1 or A2 proficiency, which is a great starting point for many people. To help you better understand what to expect during the journey, consider the following timelines based on language levels.
Beginner: A1 - A2
A1 Level: At the A1 level, learners can expect to acquire basic conversational skills and grasp fundamental vocabulary. Achieving A1 proficiency typically takes 60-80 hours of dedicated study and practice. This level allows for simple interactions, such as introducing oneself and asking basic questions.
A2 Level: Moving to A2 proficiency requires an additional 80-100 hours of study. At this stage, learners can engage in more extended conversations, express opinions on familiar topics, and understand straightforward texts. A2 marks a significant step towards functional language use in daily life.
Intermediate: B1 - B2
B1 Level: Reaching B1 proficiency signifies a more independent use of the language. This level generally takes around 150-200 additional hours of study. Learners at B1 can participate in discussions, write coherent texts on familiar subjects, and comprehend more complex written and spoken materials.
B2 Level: Progressing to B2 proficiency involves an investment of approximately 200-250 additional hours. At this stage, learners can navigate various situations with increased fluency. They can express themselves clearly, understand nuanced language in various contexts, and even tackle more complex literary or technical texts.
Advanced: C1 - C2
C1 Level: Achieving C1 proficiency is a significant milestone, requiring approximately 250-300 hours of study beyond the B2 level. At C1, learners can communicate fluently and spontaneously in most situations. They can understand and produce complex texts, engage in discussions on abstract topics, and tailor their language to different audiences.
C2 Level: Attaining C2 proficiency, often considered near-native fluency, demands an additional 300-400 hours of dedicated study. Learners at this level exhibit a high level of proficiency, expressing themselves with precision and ease. They can understand intricate written and spoken materials and engage in sophisticated conversations on various subjects.
How Long Does it Take to Learn the Language?
The time required to learn a language truly depends on the above factors, but with immersion techniques and dedication, you can learn some languages in as little as 400 hours. So, as a language learner, how many hours per week do you need to study a language?
The Foreign Services Institute (FSI) is used in the United States to rank languages by difficulty and learning time. Category 1 includes languages similar to English, and Category 5 includes languages that take longer and are more difficult for English speakers.
Here is a list of the many languages you can learn and how many hours it takes to reach proficiency or fluency.
Category 1 Languages — 575 hours (23 weeks)
- Spanish
- French
- Italian
- Romanian
- Portuguese
- Dutch
- Norwegian
- Swedish
- Afrikaans
Category 2 Languages — 600 hours (24 weeks)
- German
Category 3 Languages — 900 hours (36 weeks)
- Indonesian
- Swahili
- Malaysian
Category 4 Languages — 1,100 hours (44 weeks)
- Polish
- Hungarian
- Greek
- Turkish
- Croatian
- Icelandic
- Finnish
- Latvian
- Bulgarian
- Persian (Farsi)
- Russian
- Slovak
- Ukrainian
- Vietnamese
Category 5 Languages — 2,200 hours (88 weeks)
- Japanese
- Mandarin Chinese
- Korean
- Arabic
- Cantonese
Understanding Different Language Proficiency Scales
If you move somewhere and need to learn the language, looking up the local rating system used for proficiency and fluency is important. This will give you an idea of how long it takes you to learn each language level and provide insight into language requirements for visas, jobs, or even daily life. The most common scales include:
Common European Framework of References for Languages
The Common European Framework of References (CEFR) for Languages is one of the most commonly used tools to help you estimate how long learning a European language takes. The CEFR for Languages is used for the Indo-European language family. It increases from A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2, which is considered proficiency.
On this scale, tourist language needs would be A1, while "working knowledge" can be A2 or B1. To reach higher fluency, you would need to advance into C1.
The FSI and Interagency Language Roundtable Scale
The Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) Scale is a common proficiency scale used in the US to describe the difficulty of a language for English native speakers. Level 0 indicates no proficiency, whereas level 5 indicates bilingual or native language proficiency. The benchmark is that fluency is essentially reached at level 3, as it's enough to communicate in professional working settings and amongst friends. There are also + levels that people can achieve when they're in between proficiency levels.
On this scale, tourist language needs would be 0+/1, while "working knowledge" can be 1+/2. You would need to advance to 2+ or 3+ to reach higher fluency.
Tips to Help You on Your Language Learning Journey
Taking a language class is a great way to improve your fluency, but if you want to apply what you've learned, you need to interact with native speakers. At Tandem, we believe the best way to achieve fluency is to start speaking!
To help you connect with native speakers and practice what you've learned, download Tandem today. With millions of members worldwide, you can match with a speaker of your target language regardless of where you are. Having real-world conversations with like-minded individuals will help you build your skills, from basic pronunciation to slang words and more. Who knows, you might even make some lifelong friends along the way!
All you need to do is create a profile, match with a native speaker of your target language, and start communicating. Sign up for Tandem today to join our community and improve your fluency.
