Today, it seems that you’re forever bumping into somebody who wants to find out how long does it take to learn Spanish. Unfortunately, this is a query for which there’s no single answer, just because there are way too many variables.
What’s the language ability of the student learning the language? How much effort will the person put into actually learning Spanish? What Spanish language learning program will the student use? Will the student study with a personal tutor, in a tiny class environment with other persons, in an enormous university type class, or with a study at home type program that uses books, audio, multimedia, and computer software, or does the student learn the language while living in a place where the language is spoken natively? How good is the tutor, teacher, or program being used?
Because the answers to the above questions will essentially determine how long it takes to learn Spanish, there is simply no way to give a simple answer to the question. While certain people will learn a significant amount of conversational Spanish within as little as half a year, others will fail to reach the same level even after twenty or 30 years.
So, instead of trying to come up with a specific period of time to answer the question, “how long does it take to learn Spanish?”, I will offer what in my experience is the swiftest process for learning Spanish. And the first tip is a student of any foreign language should attempt to use as many occasions to have interaction with the language as possible.
While you definitely do get those that are firm believers in the classroom approach, I personally feel it takes too long unless it is done in association with another technique. To my mind, a self study method of high quality is by far superior in that it allows a student to move forward at their own pace instead of being tied down to the average lecture room pace. This is very true regarding students who are really intent on learning a language.
Furthermore, an individual should use a reputable program which includes not only written Spanish, but also multimedia and audio lessons. Of course, it is even more advantageous if the audio lessons can be downloaded onto a mobile device such as an iPod. This is largely because when an individual attempts to learn a new language, it’s best if they can read it, write it, talk it, and understand it (listening skills). Unless a program includes each these areas, it shouldn’t be used as a stand-alone program.
Rocket Spanish is as an example a very suggested program, and naturally, it addresses all four of the areas just discussed, and as such, it is obviously one of the best programs out there for providing a solid foundation of basic conversational Spanish. In addition to this program, Rosetta Stone is also highly respected and just like with Rocket Spanish, Rosetta Stone also addresses all 4 areas. Furthermore, this program also offers 2 different versions and you can choose between Latin American Spanish and the “Spain” version. On the downside, Rosetta Stone is slightly more costly than Rocket Spanish and it will possibly take a little while longer before you develop a suitable level of conversational Spanish, but as far as Spanish language programs are concerned they are both quality programs.
So while there’s no express answer to the question, “How long does it take to learn Spanish?” there are things you can do to maximize the rate with which you learn the language. If you really want to learn Spanish quickly, Rocket Spanish and Rosetta Stone Spanish taken together will work synergistically to quickly develop your language talking skills. But no program will make you a truely smooth Spanish speaker on its own. Continued exposure to the language and practice with talking and reading it are required. One means of attaining this and continually augmenting your Spanish language abilities is to subscribe to “Puerta del Sol Audio Magazine” or “Think Spanish Audio Magazine” that are for intermediate-to-advanced Spanish language learners”, and to join a Meetup group near you that is focused on learning Spanish.
