How long does it take to learn a language

NOT RARELY I see people selling language courses trying to convince possible clients that with their method it would be possible to learn a language in, let’s say, three or even six months.

In fact, chances are that in six months of deep studies and dedication, you will potentially be able to produce decently in the foreign language. However, we all know – including those who keep insisting on miracle – that the process of learning a second language includes not only internalizing most-used vocabulary or learning some verbs. Besides, considering a language is a living thing, you should not call yourself fluent in so short period of time.

Indeed, we must clarify what does it mean being fluent. 

As a polyglot, I understand by fluency the capacity of explaining yourself about the same subject in different ways, softly, which means being able to pull away from difficult situations by using different vocabulary for the same thing. Also, knowing the extension of the grammar, with its formal and informal perspectives. 

A fluent speaker is always someone active in the language, able to use a very large number of words and syntax constructions to express feelings, ideas or reading a complex poem, for example, even if this person is not able to understand the complexity of what is written. 

By far, there are a plethora of tests to measure the level of fluency a person possess. But we don’t have to go too far to visualize it. Just start a conversation with someone in a foreign language and note how far you can go expressing yourself to this person and understanding.

As someone who studied Linguistics and Literature in Portuguese language, working as a language teacher for some years, I consider myself fluent, of course because I am a native speaker of Portuguese, but more than that, because I feel totally comfortable with the language I have, what does not prevent myself from making mistakes or not knowing the meaning of a word. 

Said that, we can conclude that the idea of learning a language from scratch in three or six months is – let’s say – difficult, nearly impossible. But we never know the limitations people have.