How many hours of classroom teaching does it take to learn a language?

Answer 1

Most estimates that I have seen grossly underestimate the number of hours necessary to acquire a foreign language. However, as a foreign language teacher, I would say that a good student with some talent for language acquisition can become somewhat conversational in a language after about 500 classroom hours or 10 courses at the university level. To become truly fluent, you'd have to double that at least, and in most cases, some sort of exposure to the language in a natural environment (rather than a classroom setting) would be necessary.

Results can vary greatly from person to person, however.

Answer 2

That's not an easy question to answer, and depends on many things.

First, I've been "learning" the English language for over 40 years, and I know that I haven't learned everything about it yet, however I've reached a high level of fluency in the language. So the first point would be how high a level of fluency would you have to reach before you would say you have learned a language?

Second, you can't truly achieve fluency studying a language in a classroom setting, to achieve fluency, you must actually use the language, preferably with a native speaker.

Third, your experience in languages, and how similar the language is to a language you currently speak fluently.

Having said this, assuming that you:

1. are attempting to achieve complete fluency reading, writing speaking and listening in the second language.

2. are willing to do what it takes to learn the language (including getting some speaking practice with a native speaker)

3. natively speak English and are wanting to learn another European language as a second language.

I would say about 500 hours of class time, and as much face time as you can get. at least 100-250 hours.

Answer 3

Learning a language and being fluent in it are two totally different things. To "learn" a language, which means being able to speak it well enough to get around in a country where that language is spoken and to be able to handle almost all everyday situations with relative ease, the Foreign Service Insitute and the Peace Corps indicated that a minimum of three hundred hours of intense immersion in the language in a highly structured class where only that language is spoken is required. I have taught such classes in two languages: English and Spanish. I thnk that 300 hours is absolutely the minimum, but it's more like 450 to 500, close to the number of hours someone else here advocated. My experience has been that, if you really want to learn another language well, do not take college classes. Instead, go to the country of the language of your interest and learn the language there, then study it there.

Answer 4

It depends on many, many factors, such as what language you're learning, what level of fluency you're aiming for, the type of classroom environment you're learning in, and even whether or not you have the talent to pick up on foreign languages.
And of course, what level of work and effort you'd be putting into it.

Answer 5

well actually depends on the person. if the person really wants so learn a language, he will research the language, and spend extra time. If you really do not want to learn a language, you most likely will not]

Answer 6

It actually depends on which language you're learning...... but im pretty sure it takes a whole fours years to FULLY learn a language.