How long does it take to learn a language?

How long does it take to learn Spanish? How long do I need to stay to become fluent? These are questions we often hear when people are trying to figure out how much time they should spend abroad.

My first answer would be to tell you to stay as long as you possibly can. But, since most people don't really like that answer, I will give you a solid idea based on my personal experiences and what I have read.

1. You should have a solid base of the language. This is includes grammar, basic vocabulary, you know, this is what you usually get after having studied the language for several years in your basic high school/university classes. And although may parents like to boast "my kids speak Spanish because they have studied it for 5 years", my direct thought is.. "no... no they don't".  I can say that confidently because I had studied Spanish for 5 years before coming to study Spanish in Spain, and although I had a basic grasp on grammar and stuff.. well.. let’s face it, I couldn't speak to save my life. Well, maybe a little bit, but I certainly didn't understand what people were saying.  A common thing you hear, regardless of what language one is learning, is that "they speak sooooo fast!". When I hear this the translation that directly comes to mind is: "you don’t speak the language".. which means that automatically they sound like they speak at a rapid pace. 
2. Now that you have the basics, my next thought may not be that popular with everyone. I sincerely believe that in order to SPEAK a language you MUST immerse yourself in it. Sorry to all of you who have picked up a thing or two from tapes, videos, or computer software. Your brain really needs to be immersed to connect all the dots and start to think in a new language. Thinking is required for pure fluency, you cannot be thinking in your language, translating and then talking if you want to be fluent. That requires too much lag time. Fluency means you don’t have to think about what you say, you just say it.
3.  Once you are studying abroad, do your very best to separate yourself from people who speak your language! This is harder than you may think, especially for English speakers who often find themselves surrounded by foreigners who are happy to practice their English skills with them. You may have to be a loner for awhile, but the reward is well worth it!

When I first got to Spain, wow, they sure did talk fast (ha ha)! I couldn't understand hardly anything. So much for 5 years of studying, huh?

One day, about 6 months into my stay I walked into the living room where the news was being broadcasted.  I remember how ecstatic I was to realize that I could finally hear where every word started and ended. I could hear the SPACES between each word instead of a an incessant rambling of blllahh blaaahh blahh blahh...

My brain had flipped a switch! I started understanding things without even trying.

I would be walking by and hear a mother say something to her child and I understood it, without even focusing or even listening to the conversation.

Once you understand, you start to talk. Some people don’t get this. They think that someone who does not speak well does not understand. All I can say to this is: When you are a child learning your first language, do you understand and then speak or speak and then understand? Point made.

So, the answer, in my opinion, is that if you have a solid grammar base then if you immerse yourself in a language you should be understanding pretty much everything within 6 months and speaking pretty fluently within 6 more months.  Total time? ONE YEAR.

This of course varies based on learning abilities, level of immersion, previous practice, etc.  But I think students who decide to take the plunge and study abroad should dedicate a solid year to the endeavor. I promise you a couple of things:

1. It will be the experience of a lifetime
2. It will change your life
3. Your language skills will definitely improve which will significantly help you in your future
4. You will never regret that year that you "invested" in yourself.

My advise? Study abroad in Spain or Latin America. Study for at least 6 months, preferably a year. You can go home saying you are fluent :)