How long does it take to be conversational in a language

It takes from 3 months to 3 years to be conversational in a language.  I teach and learn languages and you need about 3000 words to get by and about 5000 words to be conversational, even with no grammar.  You have to calculate how long it would take to master 5000 words.  Calculate this out on a day to day basis and see how many words you can master.  I know people who do it in a few months.  But you have to learn about 70 words a day and feel good about using these words.  Using these words as a reflex, as this is what speaking a language at a conversational level is, an almost unconscious process.    However, most people take about a year of hard study to learn a language.  My philosophy is try to be conversational in 3 months.  You see, time is like air, it can be expanded or compressed to fit your needs.  So why not  Study as hard and fast as you can with a focus on speaking and new words.  If you want to take 3 years, take three years. If you want to take 3 months, just do it and you will be conversational and can practice for the next three years.  Use flashcards or mnemonics or anything that works for you. Flashcards work for me. And if you have a chance to speak with a native speaker in conversation, be fearless and bold and do not worry about mistakes.  It is mostly your attitude that will determine your altitude and get you to the conversational level in a language.

Tags: conversation, conversational, conversational in a language, language, Techniques for language learning