How Long Does It Take To Learn Spanish?

I am often asked, “how long does it take to learn Spanish?” I’m afraid that this is basically a million-dollar question and one for which there is no simple response.

Unfortunately there are simply way too many variables involved, in that so much depends on how much effort a student is ready to put into learning the language, and also which method or program they’ll be using. Add to that the incontrovertible fact that while some students may choose to use the services of a private mentor, others will select a classroom environment instead. Actually, some people will rather select using one or other home study program which makes use of books, multimedia, software, and audio recordings. You also have to ask yourself whether the student will be learning the language in a place where it’s spoken as the local language, or whether they’ll be learning it in their home country. Additionally, the quality of a program or the experience of a teacher will also influence the result.

Since these variables will have such a direct impact on how long does it take to learn Spanish, it is simply not feasible to provide a simple answer to this query. In fact, I have personally met individuals who after six months, were able to communicate confidently in conversational Spanish, but I have also known folks who have attempted to study the Spanish language for a period of years, frankly on an on and off basis, and yet after many years they can barely get by.

Rather than attempting to offer a single response to this question, I’d prefer to offer what I feel to be the fastest way of learning Spanish. The most significant step of all, is for a student to seize every possible opportunity regarding interacting in the language they would like to learn, irrespective of what language that might be.

While you certainly do get those that are firm adherents of the classroom approach, I feel it takes too long unless it is done with another strategy. In my experience, a self study system of good quality is by a large margin superior in that it permits a student to progress at their own speed instead of being tied down to the average study room pace. This is particularly true with regards to persons who are genuinely serious about learning a language.

In this case, I would suggest a student to opt for a reputable program which includes a range of audio lessons, multimedia lessons, and naturally, written Spanish. In addition, they should choose a program which allows for lessons to be downloaded onto a mobile device so that the student can listen on their iPod for instance. Remember, if you’re serious about learning a language, then you should aim at having the ability to not only speak it and write it, but also to read it and understand it. Unless a program covers all four of these areas, it needs to be avoided or at least, you’ll need some further material.

As you’ll have already heard, Rocket Spanish is a highly well-liked program, and not without reason. Considering that it addresses all four of the area’s discussed, it has gained a name for providing students with a first foundation for basic Spanish which in turn will ensure that you’re able to communicate confidently in Spanish inside a relatively short space of time. Similarly, Rosetta Stone is thought to be nearly as good, in that it also addresses the 4 areas discussed above. Furthermore, it is available in two versions so that students can select between the “Spain” version and the South American Spanish version. Judging by testimonials, it would appear the Rosetta Stone program takes a touch longer to work thru, which of course means it’ll take you a little longer before you develop conversational Spanish but generally, it ranks right up there with Rocket Spanish. Also, Rosetta Stone is significantly more expensive.

As you can see, there are too many variables involved for me or anyone else to be ready to give a single answer regarding “how long does it takes to learn Spanish. However, you have potentially also gathered by now that there are several things you can do in order to speed up the method. Actually, many scholars go as far as using both the programs mentioned in conjunction with each other to develop conversational abilities as quickly as possible. However, unless you are steadily exposed to the Spanish language, no program will be capable of making you one hundred percent smooth. On the other hand, providing you are at an intermediate-to-advanced level, you might consider subscribing to Puerta del Sol Audio magazine which is a Spanish language talents Magazine. Additionally, you’d be surprised at just how much you can get benefits from joining a Meetup group in your area that focuses on learning the Spanish language.