How long does it really take to learn Spanish?
Ive been studying spanish using this website for about 12 months now and although Ive learnt alot I dont know that I would be able to survive in a strictly spanish speaking country. I still have alot of difficulty expressing myself as well as understanding a native spanish speaker. Can anyone share how long it has taken them to become totally proficient in spanish? And also what might be the quickest way to learn short of actually living amongst spanish speakers?
18 Answers
I'm not sure that there are short cuts. However, people take to languages differently. I've been studying Spanish on and off for about 10 years and I don't think my Spanish is very good, particularly in conversation. A guy that I met recently from Germany spent a while living in Barcelona and he said it took him about 2 months to get to a proficient conversation level. We spoke Spanish together and his ability / knowledge far exceeded mine. Is that because he lived there, or is that because he speaks 5 other languages and one could say that he's developed an ear for them?
I progress better when I practice more - which stands to reason. So living in a Spanish speaking country or area would help enormously. You just have to practice and not worry about making mistakes.
If you're getting frustrated - join the club. However, we've all learnt at least 1 language already, so it's possible. 
For listening I recommend watching TV or listening to radio And not just a little bit, but keep at it. I recommend starting with news because the anchors and reporters are trained to enunciate
i have been syudying spanish for 3 years. i believe it is not a matter of how long but it takes an everyday effort to learn it. everyday you learn new things about the language. just practice
Well guys I have been laening english for the last 2 years and i moved to a english speking country, at the beginning was really frustrating and it is still (i have cried because sometimes i feel so studid) but i think something good to do for all of us who are learning another language is to take a spanish/english course that will help alot, and i do agree with Margaret watch TV listening to the radio will be a source of learning, something that happens to me is that I can understand everything but when i have to speak that is when the problem comes, i can understand more than i can speak, but can mantain a conversation fine i dont know if that has happened to any of you.
recomendations.
Watch TV in the language that you are learning have a another person who wants to learn your language and you his, like spanish/english exchange (i do that, it has been very helpful) talk and talk no matter if you make mistakes that will help you for the future
Learning Spanish takes exactly x amount of time where x is a unidentified value between 1 minute (on very rare occasions people have been known to wake up from accidents, fluent in languages they didnt speak before) to 100 years (just a big number i can safely assume wont be surpassed).
There are several factors:
- some people are more talented.
- some people invest more hours per day.
- some people try to do it on their on without help. (They don't get good qualtiy instruction).
there are a lot of reaons, you can probably make up some of your own.
In otherwords, as said before, it depends.
Four short words:
Depends on the person
Well, it depends on how much you want to learn it and some confidence. This is my first year taking SpanishDict and I think I can live with it. So, it depends on how much time you're willing to give to Spanish. The quickest way: I like doing hands-on stuff. So, find a Spanish speaker and talk to him/her. So what if it you can't speak it very well? Try your best!
Gracias todos. Estas sugerencias fueron muy útiles. (These suggestions were very useful) Hope my spanish was correct with the verb choice for "were"
Hey everyone I'd like to answer this question because I am a native English speaker. I am African American(23 years old) born and raised in Miami FL. I started studying Spanish 3 years ago now and it took me 2 years to become fluent. I decided I wanted to learn Spanish at the age of 20 but couldn't afford the schooling or travel expenses to do so. I studied first intensively through YouTube videos ("Spanish lessons for beginners") and other methods came along the way that were also resourceful. What's important though is that I've never been outside the country in my life except as a child and that was to the bahamas for 1day. So again to the question it takes 2years for an English speaker to learn Spanish fluently
Clearly the ideal situation is to live in a Spanish community. A subtle but important reward for this is that because the language is all around you unconsciously as well as consciously soak up the language. You somehow soak up the ambience, the atmosphere which encourages you to start thinking in the language.
Another thing I found useful was to read trashy, usually aimed at women, magazines such as Hola! or OK. When commuting on the train was ideal although I was sometimes aware of people giving me funny looks as I avidly perused these rubbish publications. 
Of course I had no idea who the "stars" they discussed were but the literacy level required was pretty minimal and that way you can build up vocabulary and grammar quite painlessly. The recipes were quite helpful too. The experience helped me to graduate fairly easily to say, El Pais etc.
If you get the opportunity the best thing is to experience "total immersion". Another thing I found useful was to pretend not to speak English so I could ensure all my conversations were in Spanish
Exactly 743 days. You wake up on the 744th day and you magically know Spanish.
Spanish, Isn't hard, in my opinion, but it is not easy. The good thing about it is that some of the words are easy because they look the same! 
I think speaking with natives helps the most. I've been studying Spanish for three years and I felt I was improving faster when I practised with a native speaker. Now I understand him very well, although speaking is a little worse. And if you want to speak, you shold practise constantly, not now and then. Besides, I am sure that deep learning is the best way to remeber things for ever!
In my experience it depends on your age as well as effort and mode on instruction.
I've noticed that people who moved to the States before turning 13 speak English with a perfect accent, and those who were over 30 struggle forever. I learned to speak Spanish in a month at the age of 17 in Salamanca after taking 3 years of high school Spanish. I learned Polish at the age of 25 and lived in Krakow for 5 months and studied for one full year and my Spanish is still better even though I practice Polish more. I'm thinking of having my children study abroad before the age of 10.
