How Long Does it Take to Learn a New Language?

Research suggests that it takes anywhere from 400 to 2,200 hours which could mean a few months or a few years to learn a new language. Unfortunately there’s no simple answer as to how long it takes to learn a new language. There are many factors that can influence the amount of time needed such as the difficulty of the language, the desired proficiency, the attitude and diligence of the user and the method of learning. 

How Much Time Does it Take to Learn a Foreign Language? 

Languages have unique alphabets, rhythms, grammar rules and pronunciation making some much more challenging to learn than others. Chinese and Arabic are most difficult for native English speakers to learn because they share very few common traits with English and have complex rules and structures. The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) places languages into five categories ranked by difficulty (how similar it is to English) to aid in estimating how long it takes a native English speaker to learn. 

• Category I: languages closely related to English that require approximately 575-600 hours of study for proficiency include: European Romance languages (French, Italian, Spanish) and the Germanic ones (Danish, Swedish, Dutch, Afrikaans, Norwegian).
• Category II: languages similar to English, requiring approximately 750 hours of study includes German only.
• Category III: languages with linguistic or cultural differences from English that require approximately 900 hours of study include three languages: Indonesian/Malaysian and Swahili.
• Category IV: languages with significant linguistic or cultural difference from English that require approximately 1,100 hours of study includes Indo-European languages such as Icelandic, Slavic languages (Russian, Polish, Czech) and Greek. It also includes the Finno-Ugric languages (Finnish, Estonian, Hungarian) and many African and Semitic languages (Hebrew, Amharic).
• Category V: languages which are exceptionally difficult for native English speakers and require approximately 2200 hours of study include five languages: Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese and Korean.

Language proficiency measures an individual’s ability to communicate in a language when speaking, reading, writing and listening. Some will be interested in basic proficiency that might allow them to travel to a foreign country easier, while others will desire high levels, up to professional proficiency allowing them to read, write and speak equivalent to a native speaker. The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) offers rating scales to categorize levels of proficiency for new language learners.

• Elementary proficiency: someone able to satisfy routine travel needs and minimum courtesy requirements.
• Limited working proficiency: someone able to satisfy routine social demands and limited work requirements.
• Minimum professional proficiency: someone who can speak the language with sufficient structural accuracy and vocabulary enabling them to participate effectively in most formal and informal conversations on practical, social, and professional topics.
• Full professional proficiency: someone able to use the language fluently and accurately on all levels normally pertinent to professional needs.
• Native or bilingual proficiency: someone who has speaking proficiency equivalent to that of an educated native speaker.

Language proficiency can be developed in a variety of settings, including independent study, one-on-one sessions, group lessons and immersive experiences. Every learner will develop speaking, reading, listening and writing skills at different rates. Whether you’re self-taught or attend classes, conversational experience and feedback is a valuable tool for becoming proficient and the best way to do that is to surround yourself by native speakers. 

How Long Does it Take to Learn a Language Through Immersion?

Again there’s no specific answer here, but one of the absolute best ways to gain proficiency is to study the language abroad. Immersion-based learning means learning a language in the most authentic and natural way possible, ideally living in the country where it is spoken. Immersion is a great way to learn because it allows you to truly experience almost all aspects of life in the language you’re learning. 

Some folks spending time in a foreign country will avoid situations that force them out of their comfort zone due to the language barrier. Immersion is about being engaged. You can surround yourself with something without ever interacting with it; immersion is living in and engaging and interacting with the world through another language. It’s doing all the things you would normally do, only in another language. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that travel brings automatic results, just being there does not make you immersed.

Being able to interact with native speakers and constantly develop proficiency by adding new vocabulary and contexts to your understanding is a big part of the learning process. When you’re learning a new language, gestures, body language and context are also at the heart of language learning. We rely heavily on people’s body language in order to connect with them and understand them better, yet another reason why being immersed in the native culture and communities is such a beneficial way to learn.

Where There Be Dragons offers language immersion trips as a part of our summer abroad and gap year programs. Let us help you decide which of our one of a kind programs is best for you. Call 800.982.9203 or contact us today.