How long does it take to learn French? If you want to learn French, this question is going on in your mind. Then, you will get all your important answers here regarding learning French. However, learning French will give you a marvelous experience. There are more than 220 million people all around the world who speak French.

It is among the most applicable foreign languages. But, when you frame up your mind to learn it. The question of, how long will it take? Is valid. Here, you will be able to find your satisfactory answer further in this article.

1. How Long Does It Take To Learn French?

Well, setting the right goals will lead you to learn French easily if you want to learn French just because you are traveling to France. Then, learning the basics, like greetings and introductions, will merely take a week. But, if you want to be proficient in French, you will have to be committed for a long time.

Though, you are here for a satisfactory answer in numbers. According to the United States Foreign Service Institute, learning French effectively will take around 23 weeks or 5-6 months. However, this is an estimated time. Further, it all depends on your consistency and how much time you will invest every day.

For ease of understanding, given below is the estimated time for you to invest.

• If you can give an hour to French learning daily. Then, you will be qualified to learn French in 1.5 years.
• However, investing 6 hours daily can make you proficient in French within 100 days.
• Also, if you spend only 20 minutes learning every day, it will take approximately 4.5 years for you to become fluent in it.

Moreover, this is a fact estimation. The rest will entirely depend on your way of learning and how considerate you are to learn it efficiently.

2. Levels From A Beginner To An Expert?

Even if you are not a native speaker of French. You must know another language. But for speaking French, you are a novice. There are certain levels for everything you begin learning. These levels vary from novice or beginner to expert level. So, these levels are briefly described below. 

2.1. Beginner Level

As a beginner, you must start with learning basic phrases like greetings. Any language becomes easier when we try to communicate in it. However, initially, nobody knows the language. So, we better start with basics like how to greet somebody. Also, greetings are a quick way to indulge in any language.

When you start greeting in French, you will get the vibe that you are a French speaker. It will help you upgrade your confidence as a beginner. Even though you can speak faster, you’ll get better sooner too. Afterward, start learning the accent of the alphabetic letters. How to pronounce the words? Because each language has its different way of pronunciation, and so on.

2.2. Advanced Beginner Level

Moving on from the beginner to an advanced beginner level. Here, you can understand the basic French phrases and expressions well. You can also start communicating about your scheduling. As it is a little up from beginner, so as your skills. The more you communicate in French, the more you will realize your shortcomings. It will help you realize and correct your shortcomings.

At this stage, you must work on your basic grammar. Start a conversation in French with the help of appropriate grammar. However, it is natural that you are not a native speaker. So, you won’t be able to put everything in an exact way. But don’t worry; you can get better with your everyday practice. 

2.3. Intermediate Level

You can be known as an Intermediate French speaker if you can make your sentences better in the French language within minimum time. Here, you should also know how to make proper and longer sentences. Moreover, you must be able to understand the opinions and thoughts of other French speakers as well.

Though to reach here, it takes proper practice and effort to learn. Upgrading your vocabulary takes time and effort. If you can properly invest your time upgrading your vocabulary and grammar, too. You can become an Intermediate French speaker soon. 

2.4. Advanced Level

Advanced Level is like a higher level in any field. Here, you’ll be able to understand the complex topics. As an advanced-level speaker, you can communicate freely with native French speakers as well. An advanced-level speaker can precisely express their thoughts and opinions in French easily without hesitating.

This is the stage where you have already built your confidence to stand between French speakers. However, it is not easy to reach at this stage. You have to clear all the previous three stages to become an advanced-level French speaker. So, “Bonne Chance” (Best of Luck).

2.5. Expert Level

Meanwhile, if you are an expert already, then you don’t need to make any effort. Because you have already worked a lot to reach this stage. An Expert level person is already considered equivalent to a master’s in the French language. Here, you are qualified enough to express your opinions and thoughts flawlessly.

Following is the list of what an expert French speaker can do:

• Understanding complex texts and native words of the French language.
• Fluent in both formal and informal speaking.
• You can better understand what you hear in French easily.

Overall, you are a master of the French language as an expert.

3. Factors That Affect Learning French

Many factors will affect your learning of French. Whether you are learning offline or online. These factors are thoroughly discussed below:

3.1. Attitude and Consistency

Your attitude towards learning is the most important. However, if you are learning with a positive attitude, then you can learn French faster. With a positive attitude, learning anything becomes fun and easy. A positive attitude makes you open to learning anything.

On the other hand, consistency is among the important factors. If you are consistent in learning, you will learn French sooner than you think. Your consistency defines whether you are actually interested in learning or not. It will help maintain a prominent study schedule to learn anything new.

3.2. Way of Learning

To achieve fluency in French swiftly, your way or method of learning is also a prominent step. It depends on your limitations if you only study this in the classroom. But, you do not practice outside. Then, you might not be able to learn French as perfectly and swiftly as possible.

You can try following the steps given below to get French efficiency faster:

• Start reading e-books or hard copies of French books.
• Speak French outside your study hours, too, and continue practicing.
• Watch French movies and series, especially with subtitles. It will help you catch the exact pronunciation of words and accents.
• Meanwhile, you can also travel to the country with French speakers.

  

3.3. The Time You Invest

Time is an important factor. Learning the French language highly depends on the time you invest. If you invest more time, you will speak French more efficiently. Even though, if you invest less time in daily learning, you’ll be able to master French one day too. It will just take a few years to become flawless in French.

If you are thinking of pursuing French for your career, then you must invest more time every day. Also, if you can give more time to anything, you are learning. Your concentration does not break. As a matter of fact, it helps keep your mood stable in learning as well.

If you start giving less time, it might be possible that you will lose concentration and may give up in the future. Therefore, it’s always better to make a proper timetable for learning. So you will be able to invest enough time in learning French.

3.4. Native Language

Apparently, languages look distinct. But many languages are similar in many ways. You can learn a language faster, which is quite similar to your native language. In this case, you can save your learning time. It makes learning grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation easier.

If you are a native speaker of  English, then learning French will be easier for you. This is because these languages share the same roots as Latin. So, you can also try to learn a language that is similar to your native language. 

3.5. Motivation and Determination

When you start learning a new language, it takes motivation to hold on to it. Determination is also one of the significant factors that will make you serious about learning. To keep your determination and motivation active always, you better remind yourself of the advantages of learning French.

Also, you can motivate yourself by saying why it is important for you to learn French. Motivation and Determination come from inside. You may get distracted while learning a new language. This is when you must keep motivating yourself to regain focus. Furthermore, you should be determined for what you start. Finally, if you have started something, you must finish it with encouragement.

4. How Long Does It Take To Learn French For English/Spanish Speakers

It is always better to learn a language that could be similar to your native language. English and Spanish are two languages that are quite similar to the French language. These languages share Latin roots and alphabetical style so, it will be easy for you to learn.

4.1. For English Speakers

For English speakers, learning French is a bit easier than for other language speakers. It is because their writing style is similar and their pronunciation as well. However, the accent and meaning differ for both languages.

You might get confused with the pronunciation and meaning. Eventually, it will help you differentiate between these two languages.  

4.2. For Spanish Speakers

French is also easy to learn for Spanish speakers. Spanish is a language which has many similarities with the French language. These similarities include grammatical structures and vocabulary words. It also has several cognate words. But with practice, you can learn anything. Moreover, these words also help you learn French faster. 

5. How To Learn French Swiftly?

You can learn French swiftly with the ways given below. However, along with these methods, it highly depends on the 5 factors listed above. Out of which, time investment, determination, and consistency are important.

5.1. Online Learning

Online classes in French learning are the best option for those who can maintain a perfect routine. Reviews on the Internet will help you choose the best online classes for French to learn.

Also, it determines which course is suitable for you. The course also depends on the time and money you have to invest. Besides, if you are low on budget, online courses may not suit you because these can be expensive and time-consuming as well.

5.2. Learning French with Games

Learning games that are related to language learning could be a fun option. This way, you will not get bored and keep learning French. The cloze test game is one of the brilliant games for learning French. In this game, you have to find the missing letters and words in a given passage. It will help you update your grammar in French. Also, the level of the game depends on your skills, which vary from easy to hard.

5.3. Practice Conversation in French Language

Practicing Conversation in the French language is the best method to learn French faster. Having regular communication in French can speed up your learning process. You can find your partners as per your skills to communicate with them on online platforms. They can be found offline also in classes like classmates and teachers.

6. Conclusion

The French language is one of the most renowned languages. It is mostly popular among native English and Spanish speakers. Learning French is an exciting task. However, learning anything new still takes a lot of encouragement and determination. Besides, there are many platforms to learn French nowadays. So, learning depends not on the platform but on your learning method.

Also, to learn the French language, you must give it sufficient time to learn properly. If you can invest enough time and use the correct methods of learning, you can become fluent within 5 to 6 months of learning. However, if you give less time, it might take years to become efficient.

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Last Updated on August 12, 2023 by Janhavi Ramesh Kowligi