“How long will it take me to learn Spanish?”
“Will I be fluent in German in 6 months?”
“Is French harder than Japanese?”
If you’ve ever asked any of these questions, you’re not alone. As language learners, we love timelines. We want a finish line, a number, a roadmap.
The truth is: language learning takes time — but not nearly as long as you might think.
And with the right structure, strategy, and daily routine, you can cut that time in half.
Let’s break it all down.
The Honest Answer: “It Depends.” But On What?
Let’s be transparent upfront:
There’s no one-size-fits-all number of hours.
It depends on:
- Your target language
- Your native language
- Whether you’re learning full-time or part-time
- Your motivation
- Your consistency
- And most importantly: your learning method
But instead of giving vague answers, let’s anchor our expectations with real data.
The Numbers: How Many Hours Does It Take?
According to the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) — which trains U.S. diplomats — here’s how many classroom hours it takes for an English speaker to reach “Professional Working Proficiency” (roughly B2–C1):
| Language Group | Examples | Hours (B2–C1) |
| Category I (Easy) | Spanish, French, Italian | 600–750 hrs |
| Category II (Medium) | German, Hindi, Indonesian | 900–1,100 hrs |
| Category III (Hard) | Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean | 2,200+ hrs |
Keep in mind — this is classroom time. With a smart routine and immersive methods, you can often progress faster.
But What About A1 or A2? (The Beginner Milestones)
Here’s a breakdown using CEFR levels (A1 to C2):
| Level | What You Can Do | Estimated Hours |
| A1 | Basic phrases, greetings | 60–100 hrs |
| A2 | Daily conversations, shopping, and simple grammar | 180–250 hrs |
| B1 | Travel, work, personal stories | 350–400 hrs |
| B2 | Debates, emails, interviews, articles | 500–600 hrs |
| C1 | Academic fluency, nuance, native-level reading | 700–800 hrs |
| C2 | Near-native mastery | 1000+ hrs |
Key tip: The jump from A1 to A2 is MUCH easier than from B2 to C1. Early progress feels fast — and that’s great for motivation.
Realistic Timelines (Based on 30 Minutes a Day)
Let’s assume you study 30 minutes per day, 6 days a week — a pace many Our Polyglot students follow. That’s 3 hours/week, or roughly 12–14 hrs/month.
At that rate:
- A1 → 2 months
- A2 → 6 months
- B1 → 10–12 months
- B2 → 16–20 months
- C1 → 2+ years
BUT — if you add just 1 hour of speaking or live tutoring weekly, you can cut your timeline by 25–30%.
The Language You Choose Does Matter
Some languages are simply closer to your native language.
If you’re an English speaker:
- Easiest: Spanish, French, Dutch, Italian
- Moderate: German, Russian, Hindi
- Hardest: Arabic, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean
But don’t let “difficulty” scare you. The real secret to speed is:
👉 consistency, not ease.
Factors That Make You Learn Faster (or Slower)
✅ You Learn Faster When You:
- Use live conversation sessions regularly
- Watch content in the target language
- Use spaced repetition tools like Anki or Quizlet
- Take frequent mock tests to stay exam-ready
- Stick to a daily micro-routine (like our 30-min method)
❌ You Learn Slower When You:
- Focus only on grammar books
- Avoid speaking until “you’re ready”
- Cram once a week instead of short, regular sessions
- Don’t track your progress or goals
- Keep switching between languages or methods
4 Tips to Reach Fluency Faster
1. Start Speaking Early
Don’t wait until you’re “ready.” Real fluency begins with messy conversations.
2. Track Progress in Levels
Use CEFR as a roadmap — aim for A2 in 3–6 months, then plan for B1/B2.
3. Use Real-World Content
Watch movies, read tweets, listen to podcasts. Learning only from textbooks slows you down.
4. Stick to One Language
Multilingual goals are exciting, but one language at a time is key to real depth.
Final Thoughts
Learning a language isn’t about how smart you are — it’s about how smart your strategy is.
Yes, it takes time. But not a lifetime. With 30 focused minutes a day, plus the right tools, you can:
- Order coffee in Paris in 60 days
- Interview confidently in German in a year
- Argue about politics in Spanish in 18 months
At Our Polyglot, we help you do just that — step by step.So the real question isn’t “how long will it take?”
It’s “how soon can I start?”