How long does it take to learn a language and become fluent? (and get to the 3 phases of speaking)

[@BreakOutandSpeak]

Hey language fam! What language are you learning and how has it been so far? Leave a comment below! P.S. Want to speed up your progress TWICE as fast from Duolingo, Babbel or any other language app?? 😃🙌 🔗➡ BREAKOUTANDSPEAK.com/app-hacks -Here I reveal 12 specific hacks you can use to get fluent faster during this freeee Master class!

[@Ecosse57]

signed up!

[@BreakOutandSpeak]

Yay! 😄🥳

[@hcm9999]

It takes EXACTLY 3 years, 4 months, 12 days, 3 hours, 2 minutes, 56 seconds to achieve fluency. Give or take a few microseconds.

[@BreakOutandSpeak]

Hehehe don't forget those seconds! 😆

[@MikeC77]

You have a very engaging style. You make it fun. I appreciate that. The fun aspect is really important. I think for me, language learning often feels like a chore. When learning Swedish, pretty early on i was hit with numerous things i didn't understand & then attempting to converse while in Sweden, the locals could see where it was going so immediately revert to their perfect English lol. This is quite true of most of Scandinavia actually. If you speak broken versions of their language, they kinda look down on it but if you speak native English (I am from England), they respect it. Kinda gets in the way of the progress you are describing in the video. So i would study on apps like Duolingo & Babbel, go out into the real world and bam, get replied to in English :) Compare this to say Italy, where nobody would speak to me in English, ever, so i had no choice but to use my broken Italian and not only did they appreciate it, but i learnt the language way quicker as a result.

[@BreakOutandSpeak]

Thank you! I appreciate that. My goal certainly is to try to make language learning more fun :) Ah yes that is a common predicament unfortunately. You're doing the right thing by trying to use the language in the real world, hopefully you can find some language buddies who are open to speaking it with you! I had a similar experience in Italy, people seemed very open and happy to speak even with my limited Italian at the time

[@davidbrisbane7206]

After years of trying to learn another language, I'd say there are those amongst us that really struggle.

[@BreakOutandSpeak]

Many people do struggle but don't give up! Sometimes it's due to teaching methods or materials that don't fit your learning style and not you. Keep exploring! And try to learn a little bit every day. I believe in you

[@scotthullinger4684]

The average person can get by kinda / sorta well within 6 months. After 12 months, you're feeling quite confident in the foreign language. And after 18 month, you're beginning to feel modestly fluent. But it surely does depend on the person, and on the desire and effort expended.

[@davidbrisbane7206]

What is always missing from these discussions is the natural ability of the learner. Think about it. Two people start learning advanced mathematics. One could master the maths used in General Relativity in a year or so and the other could spend a lifetime and never master it.

[@BreakOutandSpeak]

It's true that everybody has their own topics that seem to come easier to them with others that don't. I'd be the one not mastering math (naturally without a lot of effort) while languages to me are fun. Having a strong INTEREST in a topic will help fuel you, even when things don't seem to come automatically at first

[@davidbrisbane7206]

2:46 These might be for the average person. What would be really useful to know is the standard deviation and how many hours it takes for 90% of the population to reach fluency. Plus these sorts of numbers only refer (presumably) to those who don't give up. So sure, it might take the average person who doesn't give up 900 hours to master German, but maybe 80% of people who started learning the language give up well before they reach this number of hours for many reasons including no doubt the fact that it is just beyond their ability to reach this number of hours.

[@BreakOutandSpeak]

You're right these calculations are made with the idea that you stick with it, but it is also true that the majority of people will take some twists, turns, and breaks in their journey to learning a language before getting there. I know I have at times. The intended idea is that it's a path, that's possible, and if you keep going you'll get there! If you're feeling frustrated that's normal. If you feel like you're learning something but just not there yet that's usually a good sign, but if you feel like you're spinning your wheels then maybe explore different ways to grow the language (ex. videos, guided podcasts etc.) that you might like better!

[@davidbrisbane7206]

@@BreakOutandSpeak If one has language learn difficulties, then it might just not be possible to learn a new language to university level. It took me 5 years to learn to write English properly after I graduated with a maths and science degree because I had a mild language learning disability. Five long years teaching myself English and it's actually my mother tongue. Then I got a research Master in Information Systems, which was all about reading and writing research papers. So it is possible to learn new things even if one is language learning hindered, but it can take an enormous amount of time and effort to succeed doing something difficult in the language. I read, write and understand German somewhere between the B2 to C1 level, but I speak it at around the A2 level and it is going to take me (my estimate) another two years of speaking German with my native German tutor to reach B2 level of fluency speaking. This is after years of learning German already. So, encouragement and platitudes are not the appropriate way to suggest to everyone that if only they don't give up they will succeed. Actually, they might never succeed. That's just life.

[@BreakOutandSpeak]

@@davidbrisbane7206 Thank you for sharing your story. It is very true that everyone's path is different. I hope that you enjoy learning German and wish you the best

[@davidbrisbane7206]

@@BreakOutandSpeak Thank you.

[@Ecosse57]

this seems to confirm my suspicion that i'm not as far along in italian as maybe i should be. i've been at it more than a year and at best i understand a bunch of words and the gist of some sentences. in the begining i was overwhelmed by the number of courses and theories so i just signed up with busuu. my study habits could have been better (not enough time, etc) but i was kind of winging things. i took a bit of a break, researched a whole lot and while i think i'm onto a better plan i still feel overwhelmed by the theories and plans out there. i'm focusing on listening: movies, videos, podcasts, etc, vocab: flashcards, memrise, chunking; then after i feel comfortable i will try rocket italian. it has been frustrating.

[@BreakOutandSpeak]

Hey there, everyone has their own path! It can seem a bit frustrating at times but I'm glad that you found some things that you enjoy and including listening is definitely a good step. You'll get there :)

[@Ecosse57]

@@BreakOutandSpeak thanks for the positive thoughts. in spite of the pace i'm still in love with the language and the experience of learning.

[@BreakOutandSpeak]

Yeah! I'm so glad to hear, that's what it's all about 😄

[@karinbauer2541]

I find those numbers a bit confusing. I know dozens of people right now who are learning european and asian languages and I know no one who can learn to speak a language as fast as the numbers in the videos suggest. In my experience the average person needs about thrice as much time.