How long does it take to learn French?
People who are planning a trip to Paris or going for further studies or a job in France may want to learn French. So you have thought about mastering the French language as quickly as possible. But do you know how much time it takes to learn it?
Well, there are many factors that impact time. Firstly, it is a complex process to learn a new language. Secondly, how fast you can grasp the language, its grammar, and the terms may depend from person to person.
Here let us look at the major factors that decide how fast you get a hold of French.
Earlier experiences of learning a new language
People who know different foreign languages or speak them or are bilingual can take less time to learn French according to various studies. This is because they are used to grasping new languages. Also, it becomes easy for them to achieve fluency. They can quickly develop skills in one language if they have one in another.
If you know the initial step of learning a language or how a language is made, things become quite smooth. You need to understand the unique linguistic aspects that language possesses.
If you have come across studying foreign grammar, facing a new language is easy. Also, those who are good at memorizing vocabulary and are eager to learn language through sounds can learn French faster.
Method of Learning
Fast learning also depends upon the method you choose. You may take longer to learn if you are learning French in a classroom setting. However, if you are also learning through digital platforms that have French classes, then you can learn in less time. There are many options that you can try like listening to eBooks or audiobooks, watching French movies, reading books, traveling to a French-speaking country, writing, and more. All these steps can enhance your learning and thus, speed up the process.
The time you can spend learning French
This part is quite crucial and it is connected with the method which you follow. If you are planning to learn a basic level of French, spend at least 15 minutes daily.
However, if you want to master it, you need to spend more time.
As per the study, it takes time to learn French
- 3-6 months. Those who speak English or similar languages spend 3 hours studying.
- 1 year. Those who are able to spend 1 hour daily for a year learning French.
- 2-3 years. Those who can give 15 minutes daily to study French.
Your eagerness and attitude towards learning French
It is true that to learn a new language you need motivation and a positive attitude. Those who have achieved success in learning French are the ones who always stay motivated to learn new languages. This in turn makes the learning fast and you are eager to complete the different levels of learning. You need to keep reminding yourself how learning French will make your life better or how it will help you in your future plans. Apart from that, even if you fail at times, you need to stay positive while learning.
The Language You are aware of
There are various foreign languages that you feel are not your cup of tea. You may find them different but still, they are similar if they have the same roots. If the language you want to learn is the same as your native language you can save a lot of time. This is because when you learn a language the main areas are grammar, vocabulary, alphabet, and pronunciation.
The base of English is Latin and so you can learn any language which has the same base as French. Also, many such European languages share the same evolution and history as English.
You must be knowing a few French words even before you have started learning it. These words are called cognates. If you know English or Spanish, these cognates can help you learn French faster. For example attention and direction exist in French whose ending alphabets are similar but have different pronunciation.
These cognates are your friends and can make learning French much easier and faster.
Final Remarks
From above it must be clear to you how long it takes to learn French. But the fact is you can never stop learning French if you want to use it while travelling or for settling in Paris. Learning a language is ongoing. This is because everyday you learn something new. It requires practice to get the hold of a language. You cannot stop in between or if you have done so you may start again. It also depends upon how much you are interested and motivated to learn French.
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