how long does it take in general to learn another language?

Question

Not master the language but be able to hold a conversation? and understand others around speaking the language eg. Japanese, Chinese, Korean

Sources would be appreicated
Thanks

Answer 1

That all depends on the person who is learning the language. It's just like picking up anything else-some people are slower learners while some people can pick it up so quick it's unbelievable! I studied in Israel for 6 months and I came home able being able to hold a full conversation in Hebrew! I live in South Africa and I learnt afrikaans in school which I can speak now, although all around me are black people who speak other languages such as Xhosa, Zulu, Sotho, etc and all I know in those languages are the the few basics like 'hello', 'how are you?' etc, lol! So as I say, it all depends on the person and especially on the motivation that person has! If you make the effort to learn the language you will pick it up quickly. Good luck;)

Answer 2

It depends on a number of things:
1) How much effort you put into learning the lanuage. If you put more effort into it, you will learn it faster.
2) How much you are able to pratice it - the more you pratice, the faster you learn. Just remember PERFECT practices makes perfect - if you pratice your mistakes, they stay with you.
3) what your intrest in the lanuguage is. This impacts number 1 and 2, as if you are not intrested, your effort will be less, and you will not look for opertunities to pratice it.
People can have a general hold (if they use it a lot) in as little as three or four months. Your understanding of a language often comes a lot faster (and lasts longer) then you being able to speak it.

Answer 3

I took 2 years of french in school and I don't think I could properly hold a conversation even with 2 years of schooling. If you the language your learning is in a latin alphabet, than maybe 2 years if your going to school. If it's in another alphabet such as cyrilic or whatever the chinese and japanese call their alphabet, I would say 3-4 years in school. Look at the people in US today, some have been here years and still don't know any english. I have friends from europe who said they spent years and years learning new languages. One of them spent 5 learning German. She doesn't even remember any of it. She only spent 2 years learning english and has come a long way since first coming to america.

Answer 4

it depends mainly on two factors.......firstly, your personal ability to learn a language.....some ppl can pick a language very easily while others struggle with it.......secondly, the langauge itself may alter how quickly you are able to "pick-it-up". Certain langauges are relatively easier than others......some other factors include:

a) what is your mother-tongue or which langauage do you speak the most........certain languages take their roots from other languages and thus if you know any of those languages you can pick up the related ones easily

b) How are you learning the langauage.....is some1 teaching you the langauge, is that person a good teacher? are you using the best books or techniques for learning?

Answer 5

I used the Berlitz path to be trained Spanish and particularly preferred it. I had attempted a quantity of tapes that did not appear to particularly support, however the Berlitz process, in which you comfortably pay attention to conversations with a few little tips placed me at the monitor lovely speedily. It used to be practically like a recreation...looking to decode the language. It made matters stick alot quicker than the tapes that have been simply memorization...pronouncing a phrase in English after which Spanish, and many others.

Answer 6

its hard to answer...Im in japan,can talk @ understand their language now.When I came here I cant speak nor understand them., I gave myself 6 mons first for studying jap. lessons.It worked but not enough.Then I watch childrens tv programs, movies and make friends who can teach me thier language.Everyday get/pick atleast one word to remember and dont forget to used it .Dont be shy if u dont get the right pronounsations.Try to used their language only if u re w/ them.Just talk and talk to them @ u will learn soon.

Answer 7

Interest and drive...Lots and lots of it...