How long does it take to speak Spanish fluently???
I have ample time on my hands so I figured I'd learn spanish and learn how to type while I've almost nothing to do. With that being my goal, It seems very far away. How long do you think it takes to speak Spanish fluently?
4 Answers
This question is asked a lot, so if you search for it you'll find a lot of answers. Basically it hinges on your definition of "fluent" and how much effort you put into it. The answer will vary between a few months and a lifetime. I've been studying since 1972 and lived in South America for a couple of years and have Spanish speaking employees and I study a lot and I am not fluent. But don't let that discourage you. My definition of fluent is pretty demanding. I can hold conversations, read books and newspapers, and understand movies and TV shows.
But it's not about the goal, it's about the journey. The longest journey starts with one step. Take the step and see where it goes.
I agree with Kevin's answer here:
Basically it hinges on your definition of "fluent" and how much effort you put into it.
It is also true that if you have the time to do a thorough search and to read all of the answers, you will find that there are many threads that discuss this topic.
That being said, I would just like to encourage you about the fact that even knowing several words and phrases in Spanish can open many doors for you. I thought that it would take several years of intensive study before I could make any real use of Spanish. However, I was able to help people in sticky situations and also make several friends with just a limited amount about a year or so ago.
Just this past month, I have become close to my friend's 87 year old Chilean mother-in-law who is visiting the States for two months. It takes a bit longer to share information about ourselves, but we have had a great time getting to know each other even though my conversational skills are still a bit lacking and she knows very little English. We are going to continue to communicate when she returns to Chile in ten days.
If I had waited until I considered myself fluent, I would have missed out on a great opportunity for friendship. I have also learned so much about her country and her culture. 
I've been working on it all my life. 
HI lib, welcome to the forum, there are many threads where this has been discussed, thanks for making a search
