HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO LEARN FRENCH?

Learning a foreign language is not a finite process with an end date and if you live abroad in France, you might get the question, "How long does it take to learn French?" pretty often. But there are better, more helpful questions that can help someone get a feel for what language learning is like.

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Salut! I'm Diane, an American who has lived in France since 2012 and the creator of the blog/YouTube channel Oui In France. My channel's focus is "Everyday French life and beyond." I make videos on French culture topics, France vs. US culture comparisons, food, travel, language, and give you my thoughts about what it's like living in France as an American in the Loire Valley. Thanks for being here and if you enjoy this sort of thing, please share with friends and subscribe!

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[yohanannatanson]

I learned English at school (I'm French). I always loved it and never stopped improving my knowledge, although I'm far from fluent.
Today, I spend a lot of time translating from English to French.
I'd say that learning a language takes an entire life. And that includes your mother tongue!

[amyspeers]

I have studied French in 3 different times in my life. I took 2 years in high school, I took 2 classes in my late 30’s and I took 2 years of classes in my 50’s while living in France. Even though I was living in France, I found it more difficult in my 50’s. I am now navigating medical French as I deal with a new diagnosis. I pleased when I can understand more than I think I do. I’m not able to completely answer back correctly, but I am able to get my point across. I do find I am exhausted after speaking French for a few hours.

[garyk]

Diane, I can’t even begin to tell you how much you have helped me in my journey to learn about French language and culture. As an American planning to retire in France in the near future I have taken your advice and continue to learn as much as I can about these things to help better prepare for the transition. As I am just beginning to move into the intermediate level, I realize that there is still so much more to learn and that it is a life-long process. But that excites me! People are always so quick to want everything to happen overnight and nothing in life works that way! I just wanted to let you know that you make this such a great experience for so many of us and we appreciate it so much.

[FrenchTwist]

Raised by a French Canadian grandmother I grew up hearing bits here and there. Then, 2 years of high school french I sometimes dream in french but am FLUENT in my What a joy

[punditgi]

It varies. But total immersion and the right support tools really help a lot. Bonne chance a tous!

[PatriciaBrooksCourageCatalyst]

I studied French in high school and college but I didn’t believe I would ever be fluent. I took it just for the grade. But many years later when I decided to move to France my motivation was very different and I'd experienced success in doing a variety of difficult things in life, so it was easier for me to stay the course even when it felt hard. Now I'm happy to say I passed the TCF exam which will allow me to apply for a 10 year resident card or French citizenship, should I decide to go down that path.😀

[JeDindk]

I am convinced that learning a new language will take the rest of your life, no matter what language we're talking about. There will always be some obscur expressions, some seldom used words and some nuances that you'll only learn after many years of practice.
It might not take very long to learn enough to get by, but you will always be able to learn something new. 😀

[jeromemckenna]

When I studied German in high school the goal was learning to read German and learn how to look up German words one didn't learn in school. As an older adult, I've find that my goals are more related to learning to understanding spoken German and speaking it. That is a very different task.

[blktauna]

I began learning French in 1967. I am fairly fluent but language changes over time. I'm doing duolingo and Rosetta Stone as review and what they teach now is subtly different than what I learned. (which is why I'm refreshing) Its a process that doesn't end.

[thedavidguy]

Hi Diane, as you pointed out, there’s no universally agreed on definition of fluency. My definition is being able to converse with native speakers on a wide variety of typical topics without significant difficulty on either side. My French language exchange partners tell me that I’m fluent and a few different French teachers have told me that my French is advanced. But I still make mistakes and I’m still constantly learning. It took me 4 to 5 years and I started when I was 62. However, I am retired and have spent thousands of hours learning French. I have a lot more time than most people so my results are not typical. I also have a kind of obsessive personality, which drives my wife crazy but is useful for language learning.

[blaire]

Very well put Diane. It's like how long is a piece of string and just how motivated are you. We just immersed in it by only watching French TV which helped and speaking to our neighbours. There's no definitive answer, everyone is different. I'm learning every day and that's after 16 years here.

[rebeccascheer]

Terrific post! So many of the comments prove how spot-on you were with this topic. All of us who have been studying French for years know it’s never over! It’s a complicated language that even the French admit is a challenge! And languages have so many layers to success - written, oral, reading. Je ne parlerais jamais “couramment”, mais j’aime le défi de faire de mon mieux!!

[meganmartinaux]

Your videos are always so timely and on point. Thank you Diane. Hope life is treating you well.

[AnnaLauraBrownHealthCoach]

Great answers. I lived in France for a year and a half, have a masters degree in French and have taught it. I am more or less fluent but still am learning and will come across words and expressions I don’t know. It’s always a journey. That said with some topics like you said, I don’t even know all the words in English and it’s my native language. 😂 I would say most people need to expect to study a language for at least a year to get to the point where they are reasonably comfortable. I’ve also learned Spanish not as well as French, and that’s about how long it took for me to communicate with native speakers at a decent level.

[silviahernandez]

France is such a beautiful language . I took 5 years in school in my elementary years. Don’t remember much . Going to Paris 1st time last year I loved how beautiful the language is and I was so surprised how soft they speak and so elegant . 💝

[alancabra]

You’ve nailed this. I’m 53 and I know I can’t get by in French and even make jokes but I still can’t read a poetic description of the sea in French without checking the vocabulary. Everyday language is usually intermediate plus.

[stayfocused]

You nailed it: the person asking that question never learned seriously a foreign language. Especially French. It is not only about language. Once you learned basic French, it becomes mostly a question of cultural codes. Using the words and expressions that correspond to the cultural "moment". Yes, fluency requires to live abroad. Otherwise, even fluent, you are a robot. Fluency also requires reading and writing in the language. It is true that some people have a more malleable brain for language than others. Finally, the highest level in your native language will result in higher level in your foreign language.
Let's not forget that languages are alive and evolve. The French language that many young people speak today, and I mean youngsters from French origins, is different than the rather formal French language I spoke when I was growing up in France. In high school, we had to learn Ancient Latin and Greek for 4 years, had 2 mandatory foreign languages and one optional. Every week we had to return a hand-written 3 pages dissertation. This level of education is gone in France.
Also, French society is still very much class stratified, and the language used in working classes, in middle classes or the one used in upper-class or old families milieu will vary, sometimes drastically. People in France will not tell you, but they will "evaluate" your social class by evaluating your language. It is mostly for Native French people. French language will also vary from one region to another. Northern France, Alsace, Brittany or the Riviera have not only strong different accents, but also different terms, expressions and words.

[caramia]

I have been exposed to Italian for 4 years and I’ve been living in Italy for almost 2 years. I’m confident in communicating with Italian friends and I can walk in to any business and somewhat confidently explain what I want/need. Understanding Italians on the phone? That’s another level and may take a bit more time.

[fabiannikolett]

Hi there!
I really loved your video as I've been through conversations with similar questions as you mentioned. I've first moved to France in 2019 for 7 months. Back then I was 22 and I intended to learn some French, but only to make my life easier there. Since that, I've been moving back and forth between my country and France as my boyfriend is French. And we fell in love, he proposed me, so I will permanently move to France. And for me it basically took 1, 5 years from level 0 in 2019, to eventually start speaking with people. Until one specific moment I just listened, and then something just clicked in my mind, and I started speaking at a soirée. And everyone was just looking at me like wooow. But until this point I had so many headaches at the end of the long days that I spent by listening to the language. And I truly agree, it's really a life-long process and there is always something new to learn!

Really great video!!

[Lacrete]

I think it's a journey, not a destination! Great content as usual! :-)