- Uriel Benitez
How long does it REALLY take to learn Spanish?
No, not in 3 months….
- “Ummm, well, it depends on many different factors…”
- “It’ll take you only 10 days with our secret method! Learn while you sleep!”
- “You need to study 30 hours a week for 5 years.”
Everywhere you’ll find useless, exaggerated, or simply misleading answers to this question. However, my goal is to provide a definitive answer to this question and clarify some of the contradictory opinions you may have heard or read about this topic. But before doing so, it’s important to establish a clear definition of what we mean by “fluency.”
The Definition of Fluency
Everywhere you’ll find useless, exaggerated, or simply misleading answers to this question. However, my goal is to provide a definitive answer to this question and clarify some of the contradictory opinions you may have heard or read about this topic. But before doing so, it’s important to establish a clear definition of what we mean by “fluency.”
CONVERSATIONAL FLUENCY
Conversational fluency means being able to understand most of what you hear or read about everyday topics, hold a comfortable conversation, and express ideas on a variety of topics without having to stop and think too much. The pronunciation is clear and precise, and you are easily understood by native speakers. This level of fluency is achievable for most people and allows you to enjoy most of the benefits of knowing how to speak the language.
FLUENCY AT THE NATIVE LEVEL
On the other hand, fluency at the native level implies understanding 99-100% of everything heard or read, even jokes and cultural expressions. It also involves communicating spontaneously and accurately in complex situations with native speakers, conveying emotions and subtle nuances of meaning. Although it is possible to achieve this level of fluency, it requires exponentially more effort, and the added benefits may not be worth the effort.
In short, for most people who want to learn Spanish, conversational fluency is an achievable goal and enough to enjoy the benefits of knowing how to speak the language.
Language expert and bestselling author Tim Ferris explains that understanding 95% of a language and having the ability to converse can take several months of intense learning; while reaching the 98% threshold could take a decade.
However, there is a point of diminishing returns where, for most people, it makes more sense to acquire more languages (or other skills) rather than adding a 1% improvement every 5 years.
While there’s nothing wrong with aiming for native fluency, aiming for a more realistic goal as a beginner can reduce pressure and frustration. Therefore, when it comes to answering the question about how long it takes to learn Spanish, we are referring to achieving conversational fluency.
What the Tonic Sellers Will Tell You
For a long time, people have looked for quick and easy ways to learn Spanish. With the rise of apps and software that promise to teach the language in a matter of days or weeks, it’s easy to see why so many are drawn to these tempting offers.
(…All you have to do is take our magic pill!)
The problem is not only that these programs do not deliver on their promises but that they can also have a negative impact on the confidence and motivation of Spanish learners. Lack of progress can lead to frustration, self-criticism, and in some cases even abandoning language learning altogether.
It is important to remember that learning Spanish , or any language, takes time and dedication. There are no shortcuts or quick fixes. Rather than relying on false promises, it’s better to set realistic goals and look for programs and resources that are backed by evidence and have a strong reputation.
Learning a language can be challenging, but it is also rewarding. Don’t give in to unrealistic expectations and misleading marketing. Instead, go ahead with a realistic approach and commit to the learning process for the long haul.
What the experts who only speak 1 language will tell you
Multiple government organizations have evaluated the time needed to learn Spanish. One of the most recognized is the US Foreign Service Institute (FSI). According to their study, it takes 600 hours of classes to achieve conversational fluency in Spanish, and they suggest a 1:1 balance between classroom time and independent study time. However, this statistic can be detrimental to language learners as they paint learning Spanish as a daunting task and discourage people from wanting to learn the language in the first place.
It is important to start learning Spanishwith a positive and confident mindset and not be intimidated by statistics such as those cited by the FSI.
Although learning Spanishis not easy, it is not as difficult as suggested either. Instead of worrying about the number of hours needed to achieve fluency, it is better to focus on the quality of time spent learning the language and finding a method that suits the individual needs of each student.
With a positive attitude and the right approach, it is possible to successfully learn Spanish and enjoy the many benefits that language proficiency offers.
Why are they completely wrong?
Inefficient Methods
Here the validity of the FSI response on the time it takes to learn Spanish is questioned. It is argued that the methodology used based on class time is ineffective.
In a traditional class, there are a lot of students, and you can only get a limited amount of time to practice speaking. In contrast, it is claimed that one-on-one conversation practice is much more effective since you can talk most of the time.
In addition, evidence is presented suggesting that people remember more information if they actively learn it. Instead of concentrating on outdated and slow teaching methods, students are encouraged to adopt more efficient approaches, such as active conversation practice, to learn Spanish in a fraction of the time suggested in the FSI response.
Fluency is not a test
Most organizations measure fluency based on reaching a certain academic level or earning a certification. So when the FSI says it takes 1,200 hours to learn Spanish, they are actually talking about passing an Spanish test.
Even the most popular software and apps use this as a benchmark. Rosetta Stone, Duolingo, and Babbel have funded their studies, claiming that their app can help you meet the requirements of a college semester of Spanish.
Now, there is nothing wrong with trying to learn Spanish for academic reasons. Still, there are many people who have passed an exam or received a Spanish certification but cannot actually speak Spanish with confidence.
The truth is that the vast majority of people want to learn Spanish for REAL LIFE. They want to talk to and understand REAL PEOPLE, not just fill in the blanks on a test.
As you can see, there is a gigantic disconnect between how languages are taught and the results people are looking for when they decide to learn a new language.
So if you want to learn Spanish for the real world, you need to spend as much time as possible learning through real human interaction.
Intensity vs Consistency
Let’s say you decide to bet on Spanish. You quit your job, fly to Mexico and sign up for a 4 week intensive Spanish course. You study for 5 hours a day until your brain turns to mush. You come home almost having reached the level of conversational fluency.
But then what happens?
You settle into normal life, but suddenly you have other commitments, there are fewer opportunities to practice, and your Spanish starts to slip. This is an example of high-intensity, low-consistency learning.
When you can’t maintain a high level of intensity, you will forget what you learned very quickly because your memory follows a deteriorating curve and needs to be regularly reinforced. That’s why after studying for a college exam, most students feel like they’ve forgotten everything after just a few days.
At the other end of the spectrum, some people have been learning Spanish for years. They spend 5-10 minutes daily with a free language app, and then maybe once every few weeks they go to a Spanish meeting in their town. They have been doing this for 3-4 years and barely converse.
This is an example of low-intensity, high-consistency learning. Since the intensity is low, it is not difficult to maintain it week after week. However, progress is extremely slow, and sometimes this can cause people to give up entirely.
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Consistency is key to achieving success in anything...
Like many things, there is a nice middle ground that you can aim for. In my opinion, that “MIDDLE POINT” is about 1 hour per day of learning time.
Most of us lead busy lives with work, school, family, and social obligations taking up much of our time. However, we should try to learn Spanish with a moderate level of intensity because few people have the patience to wait four years or more to learn a language.
If you can put in more than 1 hour a day, that’s great, but the more time you put in, the harder it is to keep up that pace consistently.
If this sounds like too much of a commitment for you, ask yourself, are you busy just being busy? Most people waste a lot more time than they realize and get busy with “activities” that keep them busy but don’t accomplish what is really important to them. Freeing up an hour a day is not as difficult as you think.
The final result
If you start as a beginner and spend an average of 1 hour per day working on your Spanish, you should be able to reach conversational fluency within 8-12 months. That translates to roughly 250 to 350 hours of dedicated time.
This assumes that you are taking lessons with a Spanish teacher at least 2 times per week and spending the remaining time doing homework and reviewing what you learned. This is by far the most efficient way to learn Spanish. For example, someone learning with Chidolingo might have a schedule similar to the following:
Monday: Lesson from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. , after dinner
Thursday: Lesson from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. , after going to work
Saturday: Spend the morning doing the homework assigned by your teacher with a cup of coffee
Every day: 10-15 minutes of vocabulary practice with a flashcard app
This learning plan averages about 1 hour per day and should fit anyone’s schedule, whether you’re a busy professional or a full-time student.
If you want to learn on your own without a teacher, that’s perfectly fine too. You just need to make sure you get enough conversation practice through language exchanges or meetings and be very disciplined when studying on your own. It will take much longer than if you were learning with a teacher, but it is still possible to become fluent within 1 year.
So how long does it take to learn Spanish? It won’t happen overnight, but it won’t take as long as you think either.
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- First Lesson Is Free
- Native and certified Spanish teachers.
- Conversational focus
- 100% satisfaction guarantee
