How long does it take to learn Spanish?

Spanish is a great choice of language to learn! Spanish is spoken in 20 countries in the world meaning that if you enjoy travelling to foreign countries, talking to the locals and learning about the culture and gastronomy then this is an ideal language to learn.
The question many people ask is how long will it take to be able to speak Spanish? Although becoming fluent in a language takes time, the good news is that you do not need to know every word in a language to be able to communicate effectively and make yourself understood to local people during trips abroad.

In this blog post we will look at how long it takes to learn this amazing language and how to speed up the process so that you are soon able to speak in Spanish.

Why learn Spanish?

1) Learning Spanish enhances travel experiences.

Local people really appreciate it when tourists try to speak their native language. This can help you make friends as well as learn about traditions and customs, find the best restaurants, bars and other places to visit. Knowing Spanish can help you deal with problems, illness and emergencies whilst abroad.

2) Boost your job prospects

Being able to speak a second language shows employers that you can compete on the world stage, that you are capable of dealing with foreign speaking clients, suppliers and colleagues. It has been found that people who speak another language earn more than their monolingual peers.

3) Work abroad

By learning Spanish you open up a world of opportunity which otherwise would be closed off to you. You could find a job in any Spanish-speaking country and start a new life abroad. Similarly if you learn Spanish to a high level you could become an interpreter or translator which could involve travelling to different countries to work for governments, businesses or private clients.

How long does it take to learn Spanish?

“How long is a piece of string?” comes to mind whenever I am asked this question. The answer depends on multiple factors that vary person to person. It all depends on how long you have to spend on learning the language, if you have a native speaker to practise with, how good your memory is at retaining information, what methods you use and if they are the right ones for you.

If you use the right strategies and stay consistent you can easily reach a good conversational level within 9-12 months. However if you want to get to a higher level then you would need to study for 1.5-2 years.

If you wish to pass an official exam such as the DELE exam then you would need to study for several years to reach the intermediate levels B1 and above.

Read more about how long it takes to reach various levels of Spanish here, “How long will it take to learn Spanish?”

Which learning method to choose?

Learning alone: If you are a very self-motivated person and do not mind studying alone then you will perhaps get on better learning on your own. Even if you prefer this method try to find someone to practice what you have learnt with or get a native speaker to check your work.

Attend a course: the good thing about attending a course is that you meet other people who are also learning Spanish who can help keep you motivated, often some people are more advanced than others and can help answer your questions. The downside is that learning tends to be much slower as you may miss some sessions and it is hard to catch up. Also the lessons are not tailored to your specific level and goals.

Learn with a tutor: this is one of the fastest ways to learn a language. The tutor tailors the sessions to your level. You can ask questions or for extra help on areas where you struggle. You have individual attention therefore gain much more real practice.
Learning with a language exchange partner: this is good for conversational practice although the sessions are not likely to follow a logical structure. This is more beneficial for people who have already studied the language and want to practise their speaking skills.

Immersion school in Spain: this is often the quickest way to learn a language however due to the expense, most people can only attend for a few weeks at a time. Normally you sit a test to find out what level you are at so that you are placed in the correct group. Lessons take place entirely in Spanish, you have the option of living with Spanish people and you also have the opportunity to learn about the culture from the many excursions and trips that they organise outside of class time.

Conclusion

To sum up, the time it takes to learn Spanish depends on your individual circumstances, how much time you have available to invest in studying as well as the method that you choose to learn.

Whichever method you learn, the key is to stay consistent, don’t give up and find ways to enjoy learning; this may be through listening to music, podcasts, TV shows, films, reading articles in Spanish, chatting to a native exchange partner regularly, writing a daily journal in Spanish or following Spanish recipes.

¡Suerte y disfruta!