How long does it take to learn French? The Gymglish blog (2023)

FAQs

How long does it take to learn French? The Gymglish blog? ›

The FSI states that French typically requires 30 weeks (750 classroom hours) of study to achieve professional working proficiency (B2 on the CEFR scale), “though the actual time can vary based on a number of factors, including the language learner's natural ability, prior linguistic experience, and time spent in the ...

According to the Foreign Service Institute (FSI), French is a category 1 language. This means learning French takes 23 – 24 weeks (575 – 600 hours) for most English speakers. This makes French one of the easiest (and fastest) languages to learn.

You'll find that French isn't nearly as difficult as you've been led to believe. While you certainly won't master it in three months, especially if you can only put a few hours a week into it, you can make sure to be more efficient by following an initial plan of action.

Regardless of your definition of fluency, you'll need to practice the language if you want to master it. If you want a short answer, yes, you can become fluent in French in one year (or even less), especially if you follow the 10 steps included in the next section.

You can learn French in one year. Some people take a decade to learn a language, while others have become fluent in a year or less. It all depends on your discipline.

The amount of time it takes to learn French depends on many different factors. However, if we had to give a general estimate, we would say that it usually takes around 6 to 12 months to reach a basic level of proficiency (with regular studies!), and 1 to 2 years of consistent work to become fluent.

No matter how old you are, you're never too old to learn a new language. However, because your brain's ability to adapt and change decreases over time, you'll probably have to practice more.

Level A1 Discover the language: 90 hours/6 weeks. Level A2 Coping with everyday situations: 135 hours/9 weeks. Level B1 Managing everyday situations: 135 hours/9 weeks. Level B2 Be independent in daily and professional life: 180 hours/12 weeks.

Absolutely. Since you already speak English, learning French is a completely achievable goal. And thanks to countless resources, you can even do it from the comfort of your home. As long as you have a good study plan and determination, you can reach French fluency fast by teaching yourself.

Can I learn French at 40 years old? ›

But research shows that learning a second language offers proven benefits for intelligence, memory, and concentration, plus lowered risks of dementia and Alzheimer's. So what if you are over 40 and want to learn a second language? The good news is, it can be done. I learned French in my 50s.

We see this question a lot and the answer is: yes. Duolingo is a free language-learning platform, and every language and lesson is totally free!

Can Duolingo help you learn French? The answer is yes, but mostly in the early stages. Duolingo French can be a game-changer if you've just started your learning journey. The bright, intuitive interface lures beginners in and quickly expands their vocabulary.

The main difference between Duolingo and Babbel is that while Babbel focuses on a more robust and traditional form of teaching a foreign language through comprehensive lessons, Duolingo tries to gamify your learning and offer a modern experience.

Across multiple sources, Mandarin Chinese is the number one language listed as the most challenging to learn. The Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center puts Mandarin in Category IV, which is the list of the most difficult languages to learn for English speakers.

B2 is the level where a student is considered fluent since their knowledge is advanced but not proficient. This level requires 230 hours of study or eight sessions, meaning one year of complete study (after completing the intermediate).

It is estimated that you have to learn 5000 words to be fluent in French.

All in all, difficulty probably shouldn't be a major factor in your decision, because they're fairly equal in that regard. But you'll probably find that Italian is slightly easier than French. Grammar-wise, they're fairly similar in complexity.

Five or more semesters of French and maybe have lived or studied in France before. C2: You are completely fluent! Enroll alongside French students - you're ready to navigate life with the locals.

Is it possible to learn French at the age of 50? Yes, it is. And it is strongly recommended. Learning French is a very rewarding activity and numerous studies show that after the age of 50 learning a new language helps to combat stress, engages the brain and helps us to concentrate.

Can a 60 year old learn French? ›

Are you ever too old to learn a new language? Well, the good news is that experts say you are never too old. Studies show that anyone at any age can learn a new language. In fact, it is even easier to start speaking in a foreign language now with all the advanced technology available on the market.

People can enjoy learning French at any age, even if their memory is not what it used to be. However, you do need to find the right method and approach to learning French efficiently and fix realistic goals for yourself.

The best way to learn French is to surround yourself with the language as much as possible. Study French vocabulary and grammar in an engaging way - with apps, software, or books. Speak French out loud as often as you can - to native speakers or to other learners. Soak up French books, movies, and social media.

One of the most important things to do when you start learning French is to understand basic vocabulary, phrases, and numbers. Beginners usually start practicing words that will help them when meeting French people, ask basic questions, and introduce themselves.

Reaching B2 is generally considered by most people as having basic fluency. You'll have a working vocabulary of around 4000 words. It's not always effortless and it's not always perfect, but neither you nor your native speaking partners are having a really hard time in most circumstances at this point.

B2 – Upper Intermediate or Vantage: At this stage of French learning a user can: Understand the fundamental idea of a complex text, or technical piece related to his field. Can communicate with a degree of fluency and spontaneity without too much strain for either the learner or the native speaker.

A level of knowledge close to B2 implies an exemplary fluency with the language, which is why possessing this knowledge will enhance any professional career that aspires to develop in French-speaking countries.

Some languages start out quite easy and then get harder as you go along. But French is one of those languages that starts out quite hard, but then gets easier.

French is ranked as one of the hardest languages to learn because grammatical structures are more difficult for native English speakers, such as sentence word order (which can be changed depending on whether speaker or subject is the focus of the sentence), compound nouns, the agreement between adjective and noun which ...

At what age does learning a language become difficult? ›

They concluded that the ability to learn a new language, at least grammatically, is strongest until the age of 18 after which there is a precipitous decline. To become completely fluent, however, learning should start before the age of 10.

Duolingo vs Rosetta Stone, which is better for travel? If you are going to be travelling and want to learn a language at a beginner to intermediate level, we believe Rosetta Stone is a better option than Duolingo. Their lessons are more comprehensive and you will learn more quickly.

The answer is an emphatic yes, especially if you're new to a language and want to develop a strong base of vocabulary and grammar. It's well structured, clear, and moves at a deliberate pace. Use Rosetta Stone faithfully for a few months and you'll learn to speak, read, write, and understand basic words and phrases.

At Duolingo, we're developing our courses to get you to a level called B2, at which you can get a job in the language you're studying. Reaching that kind of proficiency requires dedication, varied practice opportunities, and a lot of time.

To optimize your learning, aim to spend between 15 and 30 minutes on the app each day. If you're struggling to commit a decent amount of time to your learning, try breaking the time up throughout your day.

So, can Duolingo make you fluent? By itself, no. But when used in the right way, I would say it can — but this will depend entirely on your definition of fluency, the quality of your language course, and whether you actually use the language away from Duolingo.

How Many Hours Does 1 Language Take to Complete on Duolingo? Sooooo, on Duolingo French there's 155 modules. At 2.5 hours per module, that's 387.5 hours to complete one language.

Can you become fluent with Babbel? You will most likely not become fluent with Babbel. It's a solid language app and can give you a strong foundation in your target language, but to achieve fluency, you'll need to use other resources.

Each level takes between one and two months to complete. You can expect to be able to start speaking Italian after the first level and progress to a high level of fluency after around six months. Babbel Italian has a tracking feature that allows you to follow your progress as you go through the levels.

How long does it take to complete Babbel French? ›

Category I: Spanish (24 weeks), French (30 weeks) Category II: German (36 weeks), Indonesian (36 weeks) Category III: Russian (44 weeks), Greek (44 weeks) Category IV: Arabic (88 weeks), Chinese (88 weeks), Japanese (88 weeks)

According to a UNESCO survey, Bengali has been classified as the sweetest language in the world. As a language, Bengali is widely spoken all over India, including Assam and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The sweetest language in the world is also recognized in the Constitution of India.

French is a Category I language, so it's relatively easy to learn for native English speakers. It will take approximately 580 hours or 23 weeks of study to reach complete French fluency. Which we could break down as the following: If you study for 1 hour every day, you can learn French in 1.5 years.

Estimates say it takes about 90 hours of study to reach a basic level of proficiency in French. This averages out to about 30 minutes a day for six months. Of course, this is just a general estimate and your mileage may vary. Some people may be able to learn French quickly, while others may take a long time.

Depending on your goals, native language, study method and time, and motivation, within 6 months to 3 years you should be able to speak French at a good level. It will take longer if you're following a secondary school curriculum or want to totally master French for a career in something like interpreting.

Becoming fluent in French requires around 800 hours of study, and the United States Foreign Service Institute says that you can learn to speak the language in 600 hours. Therefore, it is not about the length of time of your study, but on how often and how hard you do.

Level A1 Discover the language: 90 hours/6 weeks. Level A2 Coping with everyday situations: 135 hours/9 weeks. Level B1 Managing everyday situations: 135 hours/9 weeks.

B2 is the level where a student is considered fluent since their knowledge is advanced but not proficient.

What is the 20 80 rule learning French? ›

Maybe you have heard about the 80/20 rule, or also called the Pareto principle: in short, 80% of the effects are made by 20% of the causes. You might ask, "how does this apply to language?", well languages are very rich.

It will take approximately 580 hours or 23 weeks of study to reach complete French fluency. Which we could break down as the following: If you study for 1 hour every day, you can learn French in 1.5 years. If you spend 6 hours every day learning French, you can learn it in less than 100 days.

In their language difficulty ranking, the Foreign Service Institute puts French in the top ten easiest languages to learn for English-speakers, alongside notoriously easy languages such as Spanish and Italian.

Spanish is simpler to pronounce and most English speakers will find it easier to learn speaking fluently Spanish than to learn speakinf fluently in French. In terms of vocabulary, French and English are very close due to their shared history.

Contrary to what other people believe, learning French on your own is pretty achievable. With the right amount of motivation and commitment, a healthy learning habit, plus the right tools and method to guide you, yes you can teach yourself French.

But research shows that learning a second language offers proven benefits for intelligence, memory, and concentration, plus lowered risks of dementia and Alzheimer's. So what if you are over 40 and want to learn a second language? The good news is, it can be done. I learned French in my 50s.

C1, your French CEFR level is “advanced”

You can express yourself spontaniously and fluently. Your use of French is efficient and flexible in all areas of your life: professionnal, social, accademic. You can speak about just about anything, including complex topics in a well structured way.

C1 and C2 French Levels

Communication is fluent, appropriate and well organized—you develop ideas in speech clearly and coherently.

As many language communities are still yet to be studied, it's difficult to say exactly how many people in the world speak two languages fluently. However, current estimates predict that around 43% of people are bilingual, with a further 17% being multilingual.

Can Duolingo get you to B2 in French? ›

At Duolingo, we're developing our courses to get you to a level called B2, at which you can get a job in the language you're studying. Reaching that kind of proficiency requires dedication, varied practice opportunities, and a lot of time.