How long it takes to learn english

Disclaimer: these are ballpark figures; it could be slightly less or slightly more. Everyone is different.

One would think that this is the most common question I get asked, but it isn't. Rather students come to me telling me they want to be fluent without knowing what that requires. Most do not continue studying long term. So if you want to be fluent, keep this in mind.

Whether you want to learn a new language for personal or work-related reasons, you may be wondering: How long does it take to learn English fluently? Of course, this is an incredibly difficult question to answer as many different factors need to be taken into account, but let’s delve a little further into this issue and take a look at some benchmark figures.

It takes a lot of hard work and patience to perfect reading, writing, speaking and listening skills – so how much time should you set aside to learn English properly? Well, according to English UK – a trade body for language colleges – you need around 120 hours to progress from one level to the next. Cambridge ESOL on the other hand believes it takes somewhere near the 200 hour mark to show significant improvement.

Of course, students learn at different speeds and this makes it hard to calculate exact figures, but here’s a European framework of guided learning hours for adults:

Pre-Intermediate (A2): 180-200 hours

Intermediate (B1): 350-400 hours

Upper Intermediate (B2): 500 – 600 hours

Advanced (C1): 700 – 800 hours

Proficiency (C2):  1000 – 1200

While it’s true that adults take some time to become fluent in English, children tend to be much quicker at picking up a foreign tongue. They will probably be talking with English-speaking friends before you’ve even finished the third chapter of your workbook.

How long does it take adults to learn English? Well, as previously mentioned, this depends on the individual. Everyone is different, but here are several factors that could impact your studies.

  • Motivation

If you have a particular goal in mind such as applying for your dream job or enrolling in an English-speaking university, you may be motivated to push yourself as hard as possible. Enthusiasm will help you study harder and this should result in rapid progress. Even a 2 week course can greatly improve your skills, so go ahead and try your best!

  • Time and budget

Wouldn’t it be great to pack your bags and study in an English-speaking country for a year? Of course! But not everyone has the time and money to pursue their dreams. If you want to know how to become fluent in English fast, you must find something that works for you whether it’s paying for an hour long session here with a teacher or practicing with your English-speaking friends on Skype or Facebook.

  • Languages you already speak

Do you speak a language with the same alphabet as English? If so, you have an advantage as languages such as Spanish, French, German and Swedish share many grammatical features with English as well as similar sounding words. If your native language is, say, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese or Turkish, you may find the initial stages of learning English a challenge, but with some determination,you will develop your skills.

For further reading, here is an article about this by the BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-23407265

I hope that this acts as motivation for you to start learning today! There is no time like the present! If you want to start this journey today, sign up for a trial lesson with me.

If you have set yourself the goal of improving your job or opting for new job offers, you know the importance of learning another language. Of course you may be wondering How long does it take to learn English?

There are several ways to get to speak english fluently, and each of them takes some time. This post will help you with the most convenient method to study the language in the shortest possible time.

How long do you need to learn fluent English?

Accurately determine the time to learn fluent english It will depend on many factors, such as the level of knowledge you have about the language, the number of hours to dedicate to the study of it, and the perseverance in completing the English classes or courses.

If a person with a beginner level dedicates at least 1 hour of classes daily for 6 months, they will be able to begin to relate to their environment, since they will have the ability to express their ideas. In 10 months you will overcome all the basic structures of the past, present and future.

Mastering a language will require 1-2 years to reach an intermediate level. After that, the person will be able to use the language fluently, whether it is spoken or written.

However, learning times may vary according to ability, dedication and interest shown to learn English.

The estimated time to learn English depends on the hours of study dedicated to it and changes with each level: 

To know how to express yourself with effortless fluency and spontaneity, between 500 and 1,200 hours of study will be required, which varies according to the level sought: if it is high midium, with between 500 and 600 hours you will be able to speak fluently and naturally and communicate effortlessly with some native speakers.

With a advanced level It would take between 700 to 800 hours of study, which would allow him to know how to express himself fluently and spontaneously without effort to find the right word.

For a high advanced level, it is recommended to study between 1000 to 1200 hours and thus be able to understand easily by practicing everything you hear. Know how to construct informative sentences and arguments from various sources, both in spoken and written language. In addition, they can be expressed in a coherent and summarized way.

In this case, the person can express himself spontaneously with great fluency and with a degree of precision that allows him to differentiate the different nuances of importance even in the most complex situations.

Factors that influence your language learning process

The main factors that influence the time to learn fluent english are:

1. Age

Although a person of any age can learn a language, the earlier you start, the more fluency you will have in its pronunciation.

2. Motivation

When you have the desire to master a new language, the time to learn fluent english It will be well used by that person.

3. Learning strategies and techniques

In the process of learning a second language, the chosen strategies and techniques will be of great help to improve English language skills.

Tips to learn fluent English in a short time

When it comes to learning another language, most people want to get it done fast. However, knowing how to speak and write a new language well is not something that can be achieved overnight.

Mastering a new language takes time and depends on the factors that we explained at the beginning of the article. So, instead of constantly wondering how long it takes to learn English, try to focus on the learning process.  

Although there is no magic formula to learn English fast, there are strategies that will shorten the study process; In addition, they will also allow you to achieve greater fluency in the language.

Here are three tips to learn English fluently and in less time:

Have discipline 

Discipline is essential when it comes to reaching a goal and practice is necessary to create a habit. For example, you can set a daily time to study your English notes. The ideal would be to get up early in the morning, when there is silence and tranquility in the house because time is better used. In addition, at this time it is usually more productive for study and concentration is at its best.

If you can't get up early, try to start studying when everyone is asleep.

Organization 

A good idea is to write in a visible place the tasks that must be carried out daily, whenever possible and when some are fulfilled, those carried out should be crossed out to encourage study.

The most important thing is that you prioritize tasks. Decide what is most important and define what can be postponed. Create time to study during the day. Take study as a responsibility and set aside time daily.

expert advice 

All the tips that you can implement to learn English faster are valid. However, if you are looking to accelerate your learning, ideally you should have the guidance of experts.

How long does it take to learn English with the help of professionals? 

With the guidance of expert teachers, you can become fluent in English and make progress much faster. This is because the experts can easily identify your weaknesses and work on the specific flaws.

In addition, a teacher can guide you with the use of tools adapted to your time and lifestyle that will support you. For example, translators and applications to practice the language and expand your vocabulary.

Set goals and objectives 

Sometimes the people who are studying do not achieve their goals; This is mainly because they do not focus on their studies and they do not invest the estimated time to learn English. That's why we have to propose solutions, for example: advance in the levels, schedule the necessary time for that and do whatever happens.

Much of learning depends on the commitment we make to ourselves to constantly work on mastering a new language. Interest and motivation will play a determining role in defining the time to learn fluent English.

When you get through a level, celebrate it, but then move on to the next one and don't leave it for later. Remember that the person who will benefit the most from the advance obtained will be yourself.

Conclusions

In this post you were able to learn the importance of learning English for your personal and professional development, with the use of some tools for learning in the shortest possible time.

Focusing on knowing how long it takes to learn English will only put more pressure on you and lead to frustration. Remember that the most important thing is not to do it faster, but to learn the language in a comprehensive and effective way.

Practice discipline, organize your study schedule and set measurable and achievable goals. These are essential strategies to improve your language learning.

If due to labor issues you want to learn the language in a short time, turn to expert advice. Teachers know the best way for you to write and pronounce English like an expert and at your own pace 

In english2go We have personalized courses so you can learn English in an innovative and effective way. Enter our website and select the training that best suits the needs of the organization.

You may also be interested in:

  • Choose the best English course according to your needs?
  • How to memorize English words quickly?
  • Tips to make the most of your distance English classes

Can I learn English in 6 months?

Complete immersion is the key to mastering English in as little as six months. Listen to radio programs and videos in English and read English text. Through total immersion, you can learn to speak English in a few weeks, and you will become proficient in six months or less. Remember, total immersion means just that.

Is 3 months enough to learn English?

An average learner, who has some knowledge of the basics, can learn to speak English in three months. There may be other reasons to learn in such a short time span as well: job related needs, travelling and so on.

Can I learn English in 30 days?

Unfortunately, there is no quick fix or easy go-to solution to learn English in 30 days. However, you can vastly improve your English language skills with a little bit of motivation and a lot of dedication. You won't be fluent in English in 30 days - but you could be a lot closer to your goal than you are today.

Can I learn English in 1month?

Now, if you want to become fluent in English (roughly B2) in a month, then that's highly unlikely, since you would need to spend at least five full days every week taking classes and doing homework without rest.