How Long Does it Take to Learn Spanish (2 Months and Fluent)
In High School, I took Spanish classes. Like all Spanish learning stories go, I took the classes but still couldn’t speak it.
I came across a YouTube video one day claiming you can become fluent in Spanish in 3 months through a course they were selling. That piqued my interest. I’m a fan of shortcuts. My motivation faded and I didn’t end up going through with the course.
It wasn’t until I took a 2-month Spanish immersion in Medellin, Colombia that I finally became fluent in Spanish.
Looking back, I could have achieved results on my own. There are really good systems you can choose to take to learn Spanish at a quicker pace.
The YouTube video course had some really good systems behind the scenes. I looked up their program on Reddit, and I applied a similar approach as I went through with the Spanish immersion.
Conversational Spanish can be achieved within three months of studying 1.5 hours per day. For fluency according to FSI, it will take six months to study Spanish for 3 hours a day. The key to practical fluency will be determined by focusing on conversation practices, which can be done sooner than six months.
Do you speak a language similar to Spanish?
It’s easier to learn Spanish because the pronunciation isn’t that far off. For an American English speaker, the language roots are different. But the influence of Spanish speakers in the USA, familiarizes a lot of words. So you can come in with a good survival base when visiting a Spanish-speaking country.
The lettering is also similar to that of English. You will just have to learn the pronounciation, which shouldn’t take more than an hour to run through.
English has a Germanic root, which differs to the Latin root. So if you’re a native English speaker, it would probably be easier to learn German than Spanish.
What may take 3 months to learn conversational Spanish for English speakers, it may be a bit faster for those who have a good base in a Romance language.
Learning Spanish as a Romance Language Speaker
If you’re a native speaker of French, Italian or Portuguese, it’s really easy for you to learn Spanish. All Romance languages come from the same Latin root and there are lots of similarities in words and vocabulary.
It will be easier for you to pick up pronunciation than an English speaker. But it still takes some time to get used to the pronounciations. You can cut down your learning time by getting used to the pronounciation quicker.
A lot of native Spanish speakers I have spoken with claim that they will be able to understand the main ideas when speaking with a Portuguese speaker.
But more similar than Portuguese is Italian. The Italian language and Spanish both come from Latin. Their vocabularies are similar and they make use of similar words such as numbers.
Anecdotally speaking, Italian speakers who are trying to learn Spanish, will learn it the quickest. Next up would be Portuguese speakers. Then French. And finally English speakers.
How Long it Takes for Each Spanish Levels
The most common framework to determine someone’s level in a particular language is the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
They categorize levels for fluency from A1 to C2. Where A1 is the most basic level, while C2 is considered native level fluency.
CEFR Categories and Fluency Levels
- A1 – This is considered the breakthrough level. You’ll be able to introduce yourself and can answer basic questions about yourself. Interacting is still slow progress at this stage.
- A2 – You can communicate in simple and routine tasks. You’ll be able to describe experiences and events in the past and present.
- B1 – You know enough of a language to understand it when spoken by native speakers without much problem. You’ll be able to handle most situations, but you still need support from time to time for getting things done.
- B2 – You can speak in public on topics familiar to you. You can also communicate with ease if the other person is willing to help out when needed.
- C1 – This is considered mastery level of a language. You’ll be able to express yourself fluently, accurately and spontaneously without much problem talking about complex matters.
- C2 – You can speak the language almost as well as a native speaker.
Most people won’t need to go beyond B2 or C1. And that should only be if you are a professional translator, interpreter or engaging in academic conversations about complex issues.
Below shows you the time frame to get to each level. If you’re curious in going beyond B2 or C1, you can see that it takes a tremendous amount of time to move between those stages.
How long does it take to learn A1 Spanish?
According to CEFR, it takes 120 hours to achieve A1 Spanish; or 3 months an hour per day. A1 level defines a breakthrough level where you can answer basic personal information. Interacting with others when speaking at a slower speed.
How long does it take to learn A2 Spanish?
According to CEFR, it takes an additional 120 hours after the A1 level to achieve A2 Spanish. That is an additional 3 months at an hour per day. At A2, the learner can provide basic routines and speak about the past and future.
How long does it take to learn B1 Spanish?
According to CEFR, it will take an additional 70 hours to get from A2 to B1 Spanish. That is an additional 3 months at 45 minutes per day. At B1, you’ll be able to handle most communication with occasional support.
How long does it take to learn B2 Spanish?
According to CEFR, it takes an additional 120 hours after the B1 level to achieve B2 Spanish. That is 3 months at 1 hour per day. At this stage, you’ll be able to speak confidently in public speaking on familiar topics which require very little support.
How long does it take to learn C1 Spanish?
According to CEFR, it takes an additional 120 hours after the B2 level to achieve C1 Spanish. That is 3 months at 1 hour per day. At this stage, you’ll be able to speak in public on familiar topics and talk about complex matters fluently with accuracy and spontaneity.
How long does it take to learn C2 Spanish?
According to CEFR, it takes an additional 120 hours after the C1 level to achieve C2 Spanish. That is 3 months at 1 hour per day. At this stage, you’ll be able to speak like a native speaker with ease without much problem talking about complex matters.
Learn Spanish Efficiently
Instead of spending a decade learning Spanish, the most efficient way is to dedicate a month of full focus. This is sufficient to build momentum for conversational fluency.
The best way to learn Spanish is by immersing yourself in the language learning process where you’ll be exposed to all aspects of the culture. You can do this by traveling to a Spanish-speaking country, joining an online program, or immersing in Spanish media (podcasts, TV, audiobook, music, books, etc).
Once you’ve achieved conversational fluency, you can maintain your ability to speak Spanish by watching Spanish TV shows in multiple episodes, attending Spanish expos in your area, or even traveling in Barcelona for a couple of months.
Hours to Learn Spanish
You can get to a survival level of Spanish with 120 hours of classroom time. But the goal of learning a language should be to communicate with native speakers. And more often than not, the classroom cannot take you there.
You won’t have a native language level after only the first 120 hours. But your Spanish language skills within those few weeks will achieve fluency enough to have basic conversations.
To be efficient, it’s better to learn Spanish via conversation partners. And write the words you do not know down. A lot of times words you learn in books or in the classroom are not normally used in everyday conversation.
The opposite is also true, a lot of the conversational syntax and words are also not found in books or through formal studies.
Fluent in Spanish in Three Months
To get a conversational fluency in Spanish, it is necessary to have a couple of conversations per week. That’s a total of 4 hours per week if each conversation averages an hour long.
If you want to become fluent in 3 months or less, plan ahead and set up 2-3 weekly meetings with 1-2 people via Skype. It is possible to learn Spanish in 1 month if you have 4 conversations per week, but it is better for retention to do 2 months.
The Advanced Fluency Stage
To keep your ability to speak Spanish after your 3-month immersion program, it is necessary to watch at least one movie in the language every day. And read a page of a book in Spanish every day.
Finally, it’s also necessary to do conversation practice with a conversation partner once per week. One hour is sufficient.
Best Way to Learn Spanish on your Own
The best tool to use for Spanish learning on your own is a computer. It’s the optimal way to get significantly better at conversational Spanish, and can also help you become proficient in advanced topics if done correctly.
There are 2 ways to do this:
- With a mobile app on a mobile phone – Such as DuoLingo
- With a computer – Watching Spanish movies on Netflix, and practicing conversations on websites like iTalki.
You can use Anki as a computer program based on the frequency of words and sentences you can use to supplement your language learning process.
To learn how long does it take to learn Spanish efficiently, it is important to follow directions and meet deadlines. If your goal is to converse in Spanish by the end of 3 months, set dates for practice sessions and be sure to stick with them. You do not want to be learning Spanish one day and forgetting it the next.
Learning Spanish efficiently is all about retaining what you learn through repetition, but not only that – it’s also important to get out of your comfort zone by using what you are learning in real-life conversations with live people.
The most important step to learning the Spanish language efficiently is finding a language buddy that will help you along the way and encourage you when you want to give up. It takes a lot of patience and dedication, but with the right mindset anything is possible.
The truth is that the Spanish language learning journey may be tough. There might be days when you feel like giving up because of frustration or fatigue. But don’t let these feelings deter you from reaching your language goals, instead, let them motivate you to work even harder at becoming fluent in Spanish!
Ways to Learn Spanish Faster
To learn Spanish faster, take a Trip to Spanish speaking countries and meet Spanish friends.
Spending time in Spain is always a great way to learn Spanish. You can hang out with native speakers, go shopping etc… But most importantly, you will be immersed in the language 24/7.
If you’re wondering how long does it take to learn Spanish, this will bring what would take 3 months to learn without immersion to 1 month learned from immersion.
If traveling isn’t an option for you right now, there are many other ways to immerse yourself in the Spanish language.
Watching Spanish movies is a great way to do this, not only will you learn from the dialogue, but also by listening to the Spanish accents and inflections.
Another important tip to know about when it comes to learning Spanish faster is that one of the most effective ways to retain vocabulary is through word association. So if you learn the Spanish word for a flower, make sure to try and remember what color flower it is by.
The main idea is that immersion by a Spanish Language Classroom, a Spanish tutor, speaking practice, listening skills or watching movies, etc will allow you to jumpstart your journey to learn Spanish fluently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Spanish easy to learn?
It certainly is easier than other languages. You can learn basic Spanish within 1 month, but full fluency usually takes between 3-6 months depending on the language learner’s effort and dedication.
Do I need to speak Spanish to go to Mexico?
No! Most people in the tourism industry are fluent English speakers. However, it is easier to communicate with locals if you know very basic phrases.
If I go to Mexico, will people be able to understand me?
Mexicans will certainly understand you better than other Spanish speakers, but don’t expect everyone to speak perfect English. They do appreciate it when tourists show an interest in learning their language though!
How long does it take to learn Spanish?
It depends on the language learner’s effort and dedication, but most people can expect to see results within 3-6 months. It takes at least that long for foreign sounds of words making sense.
How long does it take to learn Spanish?
On average, becoming fluent in a language can take between 6 months to 1 year depending on your mood, effort and dedication.
How hard is Spanish?
Spanish grammar is very easy because it doesn’t change according to the subject of the sentence. There are some exceptions though! The pronunciation is also very simple compared to some other languages, but you will need some vocabulary words in order to sound fluent.
When learning Spanish, is it better to use a book or an app?
Both methods have their pros and cons! A book is great because you can read it at your own pace and go back whenever there’s something you don’t understand. Apps are very convenient as well because they give you the opportunity to listen to real-life conversations between native speakers. They also have lots of exercises to test your knowledge!
How do I start speaking with a native speaker?
Start by learning some basic vocabulary and then practicing what you’ve learned through listening to the conversations in the app or book you are using. You can even record yourself saying the words or phrases from the book, this way you can listen back and improve your pronunciation by imitating the native speaker.
How easy is it to travel with a phrase book?
A phrase book is very convenient because you can learn some basic conversation in advance which will come in handy when traveling. It’s important to remember that the more effort you put into learning Spanish, the better your language skills will be!
