It will take approximately 580 hours or 23 weeks of study to reach complete French fluency. Which we could break down as the following: If you study for 1 hour every day, you can learn French in 1.5 years. If you spend 6 hours every day learning French, you can learn it in less than 100 days.
Estimates say it takes about 90 hours of study to reach a basic level of proficiency in French. This averages out to about 30 minutes a day for six months. Of course, this is just a general estimate and your mileage may vary. Some people may be able to learn French quickly, while others may take a long time.
The short answer is as much as possible.
Realistically, however, at least 20 minutes per day should be dedicated to learning a new language. The ideal amount of time to spend on daily study, if you can find the time, is an hour, but you don't need to cram it all in at once.
It is estimated that you have to learn 5000 words to be fluent in French. Be selective and learn the 5000 most used words in French! Think about it. Some words are more valuable than others.
The 80-20 rule, invented by economist Vilfredo Pareto can be used when learning French. Now, you may be asking yourself, what does an economist know about language learning? Well, when applied to language learning, his theory suggests that 20% of words are used in 80% of conversations!
French is a Category I language, so it's relatively easy to learn for native English speakers. It will take approximately 580 hours or 23 weeks of study to reach complete French fluency.
According to the research, the ideal amount of daily study time for rapid language learning is around 1 to 2 hours per day. This may seem like a small amount of time, but it's important to remember that quality is more important than quantity when it comes to language learning.
B2 is the level where a student is considered fluent since their knowledge is advanced but not proficient.
According to the Alliance Française, it takes between 560 and 650 hours of lessons to reach a B2 level in French. However, this estimate doesn't take into account many of the possible variables. So in terms of months and years, this estimate could vary wildly depending on the intensity of study and other factors.
C2 level: 1000 to 1200 hours of learning. This level is focused on mastering the language, making you able to communicate in really specific situations and fields of study.
In other words, if you are a complete beginner, it will take you between 60 to 100 hours to complete A1. This translates as one year on the basis of 2h30 hours of week of tuition.
At Duolingo, we're developing our courses to get you to a level called B2, at which you can get a job in the language you're studying. Reaching that kind of proficiency requires dedication, varied practice opportunities, and a lot of time.
A2 French Level – Intermediate Level
A2 French level refers to above beginner, intermediate level French knowledge. You can easily make simple sentences and simple daily conversations at A2 French level. A2 French level is the second level in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
B2 – Upper Intermediate or Vantage: At this stage of French learning a user can: Understand the fundamental idea of a complex text, or technical piece related to his field. Can communicate with a degree of fluency and spontaneity without too much strain for either the learner or the native speaker.
Based on this instant analysis of vocabulary level of each word, we can see that it should be relatively easy for a reader with a B2 vocabulary should be able to understand this text without much effort but could be a slight challenge for a B1 level learner.
Students scoring 180 or above on the B2 First will receive a Cambridge English Certificate for level C1.
On the CEFR, French C1 means you can understand longer and challenging texts, speak fluently without searching for words and expressions, and understand implicit meanings. The advanced C1 student is also able to use French for business and academic purposes.
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The Half Hour Theory
Learning a language has a lot of similarities to learning to play an instrument, and many music teachers advise practicing for about 30 minutes per day. Shorter periods of learning have the added bonus of making you more likely to stick with it and keep up a consistent schedule.
Duolingo can aid in your journey to become fluent, but if you aren't actively practicing the language with a native speaker or practicing your comprehension skills by listening to native conversations (like using movies, podcasts, Youtube, etc), then you will not become fluent.
Three months is a short amount of time, but it's more than enough time to learn the basics of a new language. If you're dedicated to learning French, you can easily achieve your goal in just a few months. The key is to create a study plan and stick to it. Start by finding a good French textbook or online course.
And knowing how much time you need to reach your goals can help you stay motivé. The Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CEFR) estimates it takes between 60 and 100 hours to reach A1 French and a further 100 hours to reach A2.
So, is it possible to learn a new language after 30? Yes, it is. Lastly, at the end of your life, what will matter most is the investment in the activities that you love. If you look forward to learning a new language as an adult in your 30s, consider doing it now is the best for you.
True fluency can take years of dedicated learning. Ideally with ample opportunity to put that learning into practice. Duolingo claims users can reach B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. B2 is upper-intermediate level or basic fluency.