How Long Does It Take to Learn a Language?

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.

How long does it take to learn a new language?

How long it takes to learn a new language is a tough question because there are so many different factors at play, and a lot of them are very tricky for researchers to measure. For instance, it’s very difficult to pin down the effect of:

• Your first language: Similarities and differences in things like grammar, vocabulary, and writing system
• Your motivation: How engaged you are, whether in class, studying on your own, or using the language in real life
• What you do outside class: E.g., reading, watching shows, or using the language in everyday life
• Teaching methods and resources: What works well for one person might not work as well for someone else.
• Your age: Children, teenagers, and adults often bring different strengths and challenges.
• Your confidence: Anxiety about making mistakes can sometimes get in the way.
• How consistent you are: Keeping up a regular habit is usually more effective than stop-start bursts.

And, of course, we also have to ask what it means to “learn” a language. What level of proficiency are we talking about? What do we mean by “fluent”? It’s also worth remembering that speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills don’t usually develop at the same pace.

Estimated time to learn a language

The US Foreign Service Institute (FSI), which trains diplomats and government employees for overseas postings, published estimates of how long it takes to learn a language on its language programs in a paper titled “Lessons learned from fifty years of theory and practice in government language teaching” (Jackson & Kaplan, 1999). They reported that adult learners with strong language-learning aptitude whose first language was English typically needed about 575–600 hours of study (around 23–24 weeks of full-time intensive instruction, including self-study) to reach Level 3 on the ILR scale when studying languages relatively similar to English (e.g., Spanish, French, or Dutch).

At level 3 on the ILR scale (Professional Working Proficiency), you can speak and understand a wide range of everyday and professional topics with ease, although you may still have occasional gaps or need to search for words. It’s roughly comparable to a high B2 level on the CEFR scale (Independent User) or Advanced High on the ACTFL scale.

The following table shows learning rate estimates for adult learners whose first language uses Latin script and who have good motivation levels, effective learning materials, and well-trained instructors.

Hours to learn a language

Frequently asked questions about how long it takes to learn a language

How long does it take to learn Spanish?

If you’re an English speaker, learning Spanish is relatively quick compared to many other languages.

The US Foreign Service Institute (FSI), which trains American diplomats and government employees, categorized Spanish as a Category I language in a paper titled “Lessons learned from fifty years of theory and practice in government language teaching” (Jackson & Kaplan, 1999)—placing it in the first of three categories, among the languages considered easiest for English speakers to learn.

According to the FSI, English-speaking adults with good language-learning aptitude usually needed around 575–600 hours (roughly 23–24 weeks of intensive classes plus self-study) to reach Level 3 on the ILR scale in Spanish.

If you’re learning a language, Translate—QuillBot’s free AI translation tool—can help you with your self-study.

How long does it take to learn Japanese?

If you’re an English speaker, Japanese is considered a very difficult language to learn.

The US Foreign Service Institute (FSI), which trains American diplomats and government employees, categorized Japanese as a Category III language in a paper called “Lessons learned from fifty years of theory and practice in government language teaching” (Jackson & Kaplan, 1999)—grouping it in the hardest of the three categories.

According to the FSI, adult learners with strong language-learning aptitude typically needed around 2,200 class hours (about 88 weeks of intensive study, including self-study and considerable time spent in-country) to reach Level 3 on the ILR scale in Japanese.

Translate—QuillBot’s free AI translator—is a valuable self-study tool for language learners.

How long does it take to learn French?

For English speakers, French is considered relatively quick to learn.

The US Foreign Service Institute (FSI), which trains American diplomats and government officials, categorized French as a Category I language in its paper titled “Lessons learned from fifty years of theory and practice in government language teaching” (Jackson & Kaplan, 1999)—the first of three categories, which includes the least challenging of the languages it taught.

In the experience of the FSI, adult English speakers with strong language-learning ability usually required about 575–600 hours of study (roughly 23–24 weeks of intensive classes plus self-study) to reach Level 3 on the ILR scale in French.

Translate—QuillBot’s free AI translation tool—supports over 50 languages and can help you with your self-study if you’re learning a language.

How long does it take to learn German?

German is considered a relatively easy language for English speakers to learn.

The US Foreign Service Institute (FSI), which trains American diplomats and government employees, categorized German as a Category I language in a paper called “Lessons learned from fifty years of theory and practice in government language teaching” (Jackson & Kaplan, 1999)—the lowest of the three categories of difficulty for English speakers.

The FSI reported that English-speaking adults with good language-learning aptitude typically took about 575–600 hours (roughly 23–24 weeks of intensive classes plus self-study) to achieve Level 3 on the ILR scale in German.

Translate is QuillBot’s free AI translation tool. It supports over 50 languages and can help language learners with their self-study.

How long does it take to learn Mandarin?

For speakers of English, Mandarin Chinese is considered a very hard language to learn.

The US Foreign Service Institute (FSI), which trains American diplomats and government officials, classified Mandarin as a Category III language in its paper titled “Lessons learned from fifty years of theory and practice in government language teaching” (Jackson & Kaplan, 1999)—the most difficult of the three categories.

The FSI estimated that the adult students on its programs with good language-learning ability required around 2,200 class hours (about 88 weeks of full-time study, including self-study and a significant amount of time in-country) to get to Level 3 on the ILR scale in Japanese.

QuillBot’s free AI language translator, Translate, supports 52 languages and is a valuable self-study tool if you’re learning a language.