For many, learning a language is as much about the journey as it is the destination. If you decide to study Spanish, for example, then your ultimate objective is, of course, to learn Spanish fluently. However, the learning process itself is something to savour, as it can teach you a lot about yourself and help you develop many other skills that are valuable on both a personal and professional level.
That said, many students want to know exactly how long it takes to learn Spanish before embarking on this fulfilling language-learning journey. In this post we’ll explain and break down the answers to the questions “How long does it take to learn Spanish?” and “How hard is Spanish to learn?”. For those seeking an “easier” language to learn, the answers should be encouraging!
If you’re wondering how hard Spanish is to learn, the good news is that Spanish is considered to be one of the easier languages that you can study. According to a report published by the United States Foreign Service Institute (FSI), Spanish is a Category 1 language for native English speakers. This means it is one of the top 10 easiest in the world to learn.
What does it mean for Spanish to be an easier language to pick up in terms of how quickly you can learn it? According to the same report from the United States Foreign Service Institute, the average student can achieve general professional proficiency in Spanish in under 750 class hours.
The report does point out that the number of hours you need to learn Spanish can vary depending on a few factors, such as prior linguistic experience, learning ability, duration of your course, whether you have an in-person or online Spanish course.
It’s also important to understand that learning a language is not a binary process. It’s not simply a matter of either speaking Spanish or not. Mastering a language exists on a sliding scale, with many waypoints between being a beginner and attaining an advanced level. Therefore, the question of how long it takes to learn Spanish also depends on the level of proficiency you’re aiming for and how you’re approaching the challenge.
If, after reading about how long it takes to learn Spanish, you decide you want to accelerate the process compared to the average learning time, then there are a few things you can do. By truly immersing yourself in the Spanish language and culture, you can absorb additional Spanish language knowledge outside of the classroom.
For example, you might decide to watch movies or series with Spanish audio or subtitles, or listen to podcasts in Spanish on subjects that interest you. Additionally, if you choose to learn Spanish in Madrid at one of the IH Madrid centres, you’ll learn so much more Spanish just by walking the streets of the Spanish capital than you will at a language school in your home country! So, don’t stress about how quickly you can learn Spanish. There are many paths you can take once you decide to join the millions of Spanish speakers in the world.
