How long does it take to learn French fluently?
Let’s start by understanding your objective. If your objective is to sound fluent, then you’ll probably focus more on speaking the language and a little less on reading. If your goal is to understand the language fluently then you’ll focus more on reading and writing and of course, if your end goal is to go completely pro, then you’ll focus on all three equally. Understanding your point of fluency is an extremely important part of figuring out how long it would take you to learn the language in itself.
Let's look at what we are dealing with to begin!
French is the fifth most spoken language and is spoken by more than 75 million as their first language and an impressive 200 million as their second language. The language of love has quite the reputation for being the most exquisite and elegant among all. A language precisely meant to make people fall in love with not just the speaker but also culture. Its one of those languages that you experience rather than learn, hear or speak. While all this sounds magical, in a more rational manner it is important to understand that any language takes a considerate amount of time, money and effort to learn it and at some point you’ve wondered how long does it really take to learn it? It’s always better to set some realistic goals and expectations to match your own situation.
Whats an ideal learning structure?
Here’s how long the language of love would take you considering you put in a reasonable amount of effort into learning it. If you’re considering taking up classes you might be financially concerned. While looking for a trainer, look for one that follows the CEFRL protocol or the Common European Framework for Languages protocol. Understanding the levels offered by CEFRL will also help you gauge how long it would take to understand the language.
A1 is for Beginners, A2 is Elementary, B1 is Intermediate, B2 is Upper-intermediate. C1 is Advanced, C2 is Proficiency.
If your objective was to speak at a normal speed and be heard clearly then B2 is the level for you. But if we consider the textbook definition of fluency, then a C1 level fits the category better
Basics established, let look at the nitty-gritties.
Now that the basics are established, let’s figure out how much does it really take to learn French fluently. The US Foreign Service Institute (FSI) states that 575-600 classroom hours are required to acquire enough French by which we can understand a level equating to B2/C1. This means you can speak fluently and reach a good level within 4 to 6 months. Although it is important to keep in mind that this does not consider the possibility of external factors affection your study schedule like your work schedule. These analytics might apply to a dedicated French student who learns French while in France but when it comes to independent study, for an experienced, motivated language learner studying for an hour a day, six days a week and able to find an environment in which to practise regularly, it would probably take more like a year and a half to two years to reach this level. And if you spend lesser hours or are a little less dedicated then it might even take longer than average.
Finally, we have a fair idea of where its all going.
So, it all comes down to your own ability to grasp and understand, because while it might sound intensive, its all worth it. Especially for a language like French. To understand French is to understand cupid and what’s not to love about that.