I appreciate it, and I have bought a CLE grammar workbook to complement my classwork. My aim is in about weeks, to be pushed to a B2 level.
I have to admit, it is becoming harder to see a difference in my French hence why I think I need to start doing things like reading books on a regular basis but if I push hard enough, I think I can up my pace. There is one guy in my class has arguably the widest diction and most advanced grammar who says he takes his notebook to bars in the evenings, and used words he learned in class in his conversations. At the start of one summer when I was a teenager and living in an African country, I was getting SAT verbal scores like I came out on an inner city American education and not doing well.
By the end of the summer, I had an above average prep school score. My brother, on the other hand, did the same exercise and he came out it all with an elite prep school score. Grammar drills. Just do it! In fact, that sentence almost angers me with its blatant ignorance. If you half-assedly study a language for whatever years, then you might learn it eventually and it may take ages, but if you as a dedicated learner really spend time studying it, either in a francophone country or at home, then it will take way less than 5 years.
Take into consideration that, for example, the Japanese government only legally allow you to study Japanese in Japan for 2 years, until they expect you to be fluent and thus ready to move over to Universities if you wish to stay in the country on a student visa I know this as ive lived there for 5 years as a child , and then you expect french to take 5 years?
So i cannot agree less with your article. What angered me a bit is that you incorrectly quoted me and yet you USED quotation marks in your comment. IF you lived in France, Canada, Switzerland, etc… it will obviously take less time. So your Argument about going to Japan for 2 years is an invalid because somebody living in France for 2 years should be fluent by then unless they only spoke English to everybody. I would spend 2 months of my summer in France and advance my language skills a great deal.
Another thing, is please read the definition of fluency again. E, getting by fine as fluent. These are different domains. Do you think that within 2 years of not living in a francophone area you could write.. You can write those in English just fine, could you make clear concise arguments in French? Or could you write a work of non-fiction. Could you read an entire novel? Could you understand French teenagers who use slang expressions and verlan while speaking fast?
Agreeing or disagreeing is perfectly fine. I always appreciate the comments. Does my French patriotism get to my head? Apologies for that incorrect quote, but i figured it would be fine as this isnt a paper for school and wanted to get my point across, albeit a bit rudely now when i look back on it i do admit, and apologize.
As for the definition of fluency, I dont think i misinterpreted it, even though i know many people do. But if it came across that way, im once again sorry.
But again, naturally, French is harder to learn to such a degree than English was for me as a native swedish speaker. But anywho, you say that after 2 years of not studying in a francophone country, could i write a 10 page paper?
I honestly dont know, as ive never learnt a language without some kind of immersion, i must admit. But i guess i incorrectly think i would be able to, albeit maybe not up to a university standard. But this may very well be incorrect and me being too optimistic about human language learning. People may be more or less motivated or have an easier or harder time to learn stuff, but nothing is impossible, and EVERYONE can learn a second language if you just take the time and put in the effort required.
Either way, your friend seems to be rather a smart guy, haha. I could never see myself learning all of that.
So i guess we are rather alike although i have no real french heritage except some relatively far off francophone belgians. I love this site, yet I think your claim about the time it takes to achieve fluency is delirious. Come on, I know people who achieved fluency in all forms of Mandarin Chinese in less than that!
It does take time indeed, but if you take formal classes, I seriously believe two years might suffice. That makes learning French much easier. A true definition of fluency is the way you speak Italian, effortlessly and seemlessly. The problem with articles like this one here is that everybody is learning at a different pace, 5 years is a good average number, but some people it will take them 7 to 10 years believe it or not.
I simply want people to start thinking about their journey in French immersion and know that the road ahead is long. To become an advanced learner in French, you and your friends have talent! Thank you for reading my article, the blog and the comments. I love to know what people think afterwards. Thanks so much for the comment above! It takes time and effort, nobody is going to put all that information into your head. One would be foolish to think high school French can teach you everything — but after my 5 years of High School French, I did feel prepared for the next step.
Working, living, and studying in France for 3 summers in a row. Picking up French as my second major here in the U. My experiences in France have made my studies here 10 times easier.
You may be shy at first but really try to speak and interact with natives… it will be a very memorable experience that way :. Very good points!! I truly feel that immersion is the way to go. Because French was a joke in high school, but once you get competent teachers in college, you realize that you love it and that you may have it in you. Sure, I know the present, past, future, conditional, imperfect, and some of that crazy subjunctive, but i still mess up y and en, and my pronunciation is awful.
If you care, you can do it as quickly as your mindset will let you. Hello, I just want to thank you for sharing your personal ideas with us, and the knowledge that you have acquired while going through the language learning process.
I am just starting to learn the French language, but I am very motivated, I have additional resources as well as I will be attending classes at Michigan State University in the fall. I also have been to Quebec for the first time to visit a friend of mine who speaks the language fluently. I am excited to learn for myself and to one day hopefully be able to communicate in the French language with her.
Thanks again for all of your information. Regardless, it does give you some knowledge of where you are in terms of learning a language. Good luck with your studies, hopefully your friend will be impressed!! Your email address will not be published.
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. How long does it take to become fluent in French?
Beginner A1 A beginner is limited with vocabulary and grammar. Intermediate A2-B1 An intermediate language learner can construct phrases and statements. Advanced B2-C1 An advanced learner would be considered fluent because they can understand normal forms of media TV, films, radio, newspapers, music with little trouble.
Fluent C2 A fluent learner can understand all forms of media, converse with natives, be understood, and figure out context with little to no difficulty. They can talk in vibrant situations and can express themselves.
These people understand everyday language used by other speakers. Fluent individuals are capable of reading long texts and can express themselves in writing. A fluent speaker thrives in an immersion setting, because they essentially have the tools to communicate with those around them. You understand vocabulary, you can make conversation effortlessly, read and write.
You could still have an accent depending on where you learned the language. Nevertheless, this language is yours. Are you curious what your current level of French is? How Long to be French Fluent? Studies have shown that earlier introduction gives speakers a better pronunciation. I give scientific sources below. For more information, read more regarding this Critical Period Hypothesis. How much time and effort you put into learning French.
Motivation is a HUGE factor in learning a language. Practicing everyday versus weekly, taking formal classes, and the quality of said classes all play a role.
Think about this, somebody who spends an hour a day should learn more than a person who commits an hour a week. How capable you are at learning another language. Everybody can learn another language however some people just have better methods for learning them. There are people out there who can speak four, five, or six different languages meanwhile there are some who struggle at their mother tongue.
The thing you may not realize is people who speak multiple languages did not magically gain them, they put time, effort, or hard work into obtaining those extra languages. Likewise, you can gain an upper hand at learning French if you previously studied another romance language Spanish, Italian, Romanian, Portuguese, etc because the rules and vocabulary can overlap.
Generally speaking, studies have shown that learning a language before your 15 improves your pronunciation in that foreign language. It just means you might have to work harder to become fluent and you will most likely have a thicker accent than your younger counterpart.
I know plenty of Anglophones, Spaniards, Germans, Dutch, Haitians who speak French almost flawlessly but have thick accents when they speak French.
Look at Antonia Banderas and Gerard Depardieu. They have accents when they speak English but they get along just fine despite their accents. Most people would find it charming. One last thing. You can also head over to Youtube and watch some videos made by French creators. Another idea is to watch an exercise video in French like yoga. You already know the story and as you listen to the story, your brain somehow makes connections with the meaning of each phrase in context with the story. Many countries have different takes on common Christmas traditions, and France is no different!
Kids can be French fanatics too. From 3D Eiffel tower puzzles and French flashcards to cross-stitch maps and macaron cooking sets and more, here are over. The grade levels for preschool through secondary school in the French school system can be a little confusing. Some grade levels are names. Some are abbreviations. A common misconception is that you need to learn French perfectly to be understood. Get better every day by speaking in front of a mirror to get you used to the way your mouth moves.
Get used to the rhythm of the language by watching French series on Netflix with both French audio and subtitles. Why do you want to learn French? Learning a language can be hard, but focusing on your end goal will help you stay motivated. It can also help you choose study topics that are interesting to you.
Singing along to music is a playful way to learn new French words, immerse yourself in French culture and get in touch with your inner romantic. The French use a lot of filler words to punctuate their sentences.
Playing games is a fun way to learn French passively. But how long does it take to learn French — and what are some ways to speed up the process? The time it takes to learn french fluently depends on how you define fluent. For example, you may hope to gain enough French skills that you can ask basic questions, and find your way around when traveling.
Or, you might hope for a more advanced skill level that allows you to engage in meaningful conversations. Whatever your goals may be, its important to note that there are different levels of fluency. The CEFR is a reliable source for evaluating French language proficiency because it is the most commonly used standard across Europe. Its also a great way to set realistic goals and determine an achievable plan for reaching them.
However, if you plan to achieve an advanced level by studying and practicing french for multiple hours a day, over the course of three months, that might actually be doable. Beginner French language learners can understand and use basic phrases and familiar expressions.
The advanced beginner can also understand basic phrases and expressions, as well as those related to everyday life. They can engage in the direct exchange of communication with others, and provide simple details about their surroundings and daily schedule. Advanced speakers of French can understand abstract and concrete topics, including those in complex and specialized fields. At this level, its easy to articulate clear opinions, advantages and disadvantages regarding a topic or situation of any kind.
As suggested by the name of this level, the expert French speaker has essentially mastered the language. They can express themselves in a wide variety of nuanced ways, and they can read and consider detailed texts. They also can use language in a more flexible way, depending on social or professional contexts.
0コメント