How long to be conversational in a language
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
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December 13, 2008at 2:50 pm
I am not that conversational in my native language of English. At least I don’t make small talk very well. But I have found that getting a native speaker of Spanish to talk with me one hour per week has made a huge difference especially in listening, which is the most difficult skill for me. I get rusty though if we miss one of our weekly sessions. I have tried watching spanish TV but pretty much can only understand the regular news hours where the speak slower. I have never been in a Spanish speaking country for more than a day at time, so I suspect spending a month or two in one of these could really make a difference on listening skills, at least that is what I am told. I estimate I know over 40,000 words and phrases. I used to think that if I new every spanish word in most dictionaires that I would comprehend the spoken spanish better, and I can tell you this huge vocabulary I have built up through flash cards and throug Supermemo, has not helped me understand the spoken voice as much as I had at first hoped.