Code-switching is a feature of language that describes how people can switch between different languages or dialects depending on the context of the language interaction.
Some linguists take a slightly narrow view of code-switching and see it as only concerning a switch in language within, say, a single sentence, while others distinguish this as “translanguaging.”
Code-switching in casual conversation exampleImagine two Czech students talking in the corridor of their international school. One of them might say, “Zítra se musím setkat se svým vedoucím ohledně mé extended essay,” (I have to see my supervisor about my extended essay tomorrow”) or “Jak palivo uvolňuje energii, kvalita energie se snižuje v důsledku heat transfer do okolí,” (“As a fuel source releases energy, the quality of the energy decreases due to heat transfer to the surroundings”).
In this example, the student uses the English phrases “extended essay” and “heat transfer” in an otherwise Czech sentence because the vocabulary used is specific to the educational context.
A wider view of code-switching is that we adopt dialects or languages to fit in with our interlocutors, adopting more formal or informal dialects according to the context.
Code-switching in literature exampleIn Donna Leon’s novels featuring her detective character Guido Brunetti, he frequently switches between Italian and Veneziano (the Venetian dialect) where appropriate, recognizing the advantages of conversing in a dialect more familiar to the person being spoken to:
“He switched to the softer, more inflected language of the Veneto. ‘Excuse me, signora, but perhaps you could help us?’”—Friends in High Places, Donna Leon
Language proficiency levels—such as “Intermediate High,” “B1,” or “Professional Working Proficiency”—describe your practical abilities in a language on a clearly defined scale. They’re used by employers and educational institutions to specify language requirements for jobs and academic programs. You can take a standardized test to certify your proficiency level in a language and include the result on your resume.
TipQuillBot’s free AI cover letter generator can help you craft a cover letter that includes clear and compelling descriptions of your language proficiency levels.
In language learning, speaking is one of the four core skills, along with writing, reading, and listening. Lessons and courses typically include activities designed not only to present and practice vocabulary and grammar but also to practice “doing” one or more of these skills.
If your goal is to improve your English speaking skills, focusing only on vocabulary and grammar isn’t enough. To build English speaking fluency, you need English speaking practice—opportunities to actually use what you know in meaningful ways as part of spoken interaction.
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The question Is English hard to learn? doesn’t have a simple answer. When considering whether English is a difficult language (and therefore how long it takes to learn a language like English), much depends on the learner’s first language: If English is relatively “close” to someone’s mother tongue, learning it will typically be relatively easy.
Like every language, English has both complicated and simple features, with the more difficult ones balanced out by the easier ones. As the well-known linguist David Crystal observes:
“All languages have a complex grammar: there may be relative simplicity in one respect (e.g. no word endings), but there seems always to be relative complexity in another (e.g. word position). People sometimes think of languages such as English as ‘having little grammar’, because there are few word endings. But this is once again the unfortunate influence of Latin, which makes us think of complexity in terms of the inflectional system of that language.”
Motivation also plays a key role in how easy a language is to learn. For many learners, English isn’t just another foreign language—it’s a necessity. Its role as the world’s predominant lingua franca provides a powerful incentive, and its global reach makes it easy to find engaging learning resources and opportunities to practice.
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The time it takes to learn a language can vary a lot, but if you’re an English speaker tackling a fairly similar language (like French, Italian, or Swedish), a good ballpark figure is:
190–250 hours to reach CEFR A2 level (roughly equivalent to Intermediate Low on the ACTFL scale)—a level where you can understand sentences and frequently used expressions about familiar topics, handle simple routine exchanges of information, and describe basic aspects of your life and environment in simple terms
530–750 hours to reach CEFR B2 level (roughly equivalent to Advanced Mid on the ACTFL scale)—a level where you can understand the main ideas of complex texts, interact fluently and spontaneously with native speakers, and produce clear, detailed writing or speech to explain viewpoints and discuss advantages and disadvantages of different options
These figures come from a Cambridge University Press research paper called How long does it take to learn a foreign language? (2018). The hours include both class time and self-study, and they assume good levels of motivation, an effective teacher, and solid learning materials. To put it into perspective, 250 hours is the same as doing two hours of class plus two hours of homework each week for about 63 weeks, while 750 hours works out to about 188 weeks.
TipLearning a language takes time, and QuillBot Translate—with support for over 50 languages—can help you make the most of the valuable time you set aside for self-study.
Published on
September 4, 2025
by
Tom Challenger, BA
Revised on
October 6, 2025
The internet is often the first port of call for language teachers and learners looking for resources like vocabulary and grammar activities and worksheets, lesson plans, and teaching and learning tips. However, the quality of online resources can be very mixed.
This list of 10 top English learning websites will help you find reliable, high-quality resources to support your teaching or learning.
