How many years does it take to be fluent in a language?

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Cystomatic

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Dec 11, 2012
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Title says it all. Although I should probably define fluent. With fluent I mean being able to speak in a proper business/finance language with all the professional terms and whatsoever.

I now speak English for 3 years (native German) and am doing fine all am just missing is to be able to speak without interruptions and in a "professional" language. But I guess the only true way to fully learn a language is to live abroad.
 


In my experience, immersion is the best way to become fluent in a language - but only if you make an effort to learn it. Watching TV programs, reading books and other media will help tremendously.

In your original post, you do a pretty damn good job of writing in English. Take a month-long vacation out to the US where we bastardize the English language and I think you'll be set for a while.
 
Dwight Schrute said:
In my experience, immersion is the best way to become fluent in a language - but only if you make an effort to learn it. Watching TV programs, reading books and other media will help tremendously.

In your original post, you do a pretty damn good job of writing in English. Take a month-long vacation out to the US where we bastardize the English language and I think you'll be set for a while.
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Immersion in cocks made Dwight fluent with gays.
 
Dwight Schrute said:
In my experience, immersion is the best way to become fluent in a language - but only if you make an effort to learn it. Watching TV programs, reading books and other media will help tremendously.

In your original post, you do a pretty damn good job of writing in English. Take a month-long vacation out to the US where we bastardize the English language and I think you'll be set for a while.
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I intend to register my first company in the UK soon and probably go to Ad4u Expo in Amsterdam this summer. I'm still pretty young so I guess I got time to improve over the years ;)

Just the first few months and first few meetings will be awkward. Guess I'll have to get a translator app ready to translate words I didn't understand.

But the best teacher in my life was the internet (and raging at kids on COD4). I probably speak better than my actual teacher who always say "you are go out now". But o'well, I'm not here to judge people.
 
I think your English is fine man.

I work with a lot of European clients who aren't native speakers. Very smart/successful people too. 99% of communication is flawless. If there's any confusion it's not a problem to sort it out.

I never really worry about it.

I have a long-time partner/client who's a native German speaker. He speaks English very well. He's always afraid of writing or speaking in public in English, he thinks people will make fun of his English or his accent. I'm like "dude, you speak English more fluently than most Americans, you're fine."

Just reading your posts I'd say you're fine. Personally, and I'd say most people in business feel the same, I'm impressed with people who can speak multiple languages. And I certainly won't judge someone who isn't a native speaker for making the occasional mistake.
 
jorarulit said:
Like 4 years to become fluent, living in the country where they speak that language.
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Not with English for German speakers. Should be much faster.

His writing is already fine. I sorted out most talking issues during 1 year shared between Australia and NZ. Still got a little accent of course but nowhere as bad as other people I've met during traveling.

OP is still a faggot though, not sure how he got outta red that fast.
 
Cystomatic said:
Title says it all. Although I should probably define fluent. With fluent I mean being able to speak in a proper business/finance language with all the professional terms and whatsoever.

I now speak English for 3 years (native German) and am doing fine all am just missing is to be able to speak without interruptions and in a "professional" language. But I guess the only true way to fully learn a language is to live abroad.
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Given the poor command of the language that most native English speakers have, I wouldn't worry about it too much,
 
Depends how much time you put into learning, whether or not you live in a country that speaks the language you're learning, etc.

General consensus is learn 3000 words, and you're good to go. To become 100% fluent though, you need to know about 30,000 words. If you want your accent to go away, if you're an adult it's not happening, so get used to speaking with an accent. :)
 
PS. It also totally depends on the language. For example, for romantic languages (Spanish, French, Italian, etc.), the US military gives 3 months training. For Thai, they give 12 months training.
 
Mormons become conversational in the language they learn to go spread their nonsense in about 6 weeks.
 
Cystomatic said:
I intend to register my first company in the UK soon and probably go to Ad4u Expo in Amsterdam this summer. I'm still pretty young so I guess I got time to improve over the years ;)

Just the first few months and first few meetings will be awkward. Guess I'll have to get a translator app ready to translate words I didn't understand.

But the best teacher in my life was the internet (and raging at kids on COD4). I probably speak better than my actual teacher who always say "you are go out now". But o'well, I'm not here to judge people.
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Fuck that, move to California so you can learn normal English and not that fruity UK jolly ol' accented shit.






I've been drinking.
 
Hello friend,

When young children can learn new language fast. But I think as get more old take more long for learn.

It also depend what language know and what language want for learn. If know English it more easy to learn other language that use alphabet like Spanish or French then language like Chinese or Japan.

Good luck bro
 
I speak and write a better English than most Americans.

The first foreign language shouldn't be difficult. It's learning a third or fourth where it gets difficult to find the desire and need to actually put in the effort.

Only speaking one language is kind of colonialist though if you're from the US. At least learn spanish so you can go get all those fine mujeres south of your border.

Last but not least, could you Americans please lower your voice in public when you're visiting civilized European countries?
 
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