How Long Does It REALLY Take To Learn a Language?

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🕰️ TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 - How long does it REALLY take to learn a language?
0:23 - Category I
7:07 - Category II
10:45 - Category III
14:29 - Category IV
20:22 - Category V

🎬 Video Clips:

[hijackbyejack]

"Do you recognize... THIS language?"

*says "easy Italian" in the upper right hand corner*

[Oliwia-cq]

I've been learning Chinese as my 3rd language and my friend was learning Dutch at the same time for a few years. I was always curious as to how did she manage to learn it so fast. Now I know 😂
Learning Chinese has been a struggle, but worth it

[robinknight]

Let's be honest, thats 3 hours a day and every day. On average, no casual learner who is spending 15 minutes every day will become fluent in less than a decade.

[antonboludo]

Once you have learned a few you know what to look for in a new language, even if it is completely different from the ones you know already.

[AmethystsArePretty]

Im a native arabic speaker and i can confirm that even us arabs face difficulties in our language 😂

[VeroraOra]

Currently learning Japanese and I'm having a blast! It's a journey, not a rush :)

[Joshua-whJ]

I've been studying Finnish every day for hours for 5 months and I'm barely A2...

[codyscott]

I initially thought Tagalog but the different script threw me off and stumped me 🤣 good one, Olly!

[sidharth]

I'm truly a StoryLearning veteran now Olly. I've finished French Uncovered till B1, four books (Short Stories Simple, Intermediate, Conversations Simple and Intermediate) and am currently enjoying Subjunctive Made Simple. I also correctly guessed Tagalog and already speak two category IV languages - Hindi and Marathi. My aim is B2 Spanish post B2 French!

[alexshewan]

I've recently picked up your Short Stories in French book! Looking forward to implementing that read & practice into my studies. Great video!

[Beryesa.]

Don't forget that these won't apply to you if your native language isn't English though!
I.e. French and Portuguese are probably Category 4 for me, while Mongolian and Korean are Category 1, as a native Turkish speaker.
But it'll of course be easier to learn German and Dutch after learning English either way, let alone the availability of high quality resources.
Take your own language and also the ones you've learned so far into account before approaching such lists :)

Lastly, don't get lost in such details, just learn whichever the one that motivates you the most!!

[candidakang]

This is an EXCELLENT video. I enjoyed it immensely. I hope people from all around the world watch it!

[bonesawmcgraw]

I think they should create a category VI just for Navajo. That language is completely insane.

[elisabethgronlund]

My native language is Swedish and when I was a kid we started to learn English in school at ten and the third language at 13. I was pretty tired of school by then so my choice was German since I was told it was easier than French. I didn’t really want to learn German so I later studied French for a year. During that year we had classes several hours a week and used a studio to practice speaking and listening. So in a year my French surpassed the four years of German I had studied earlier. This was in the 1980s something so I don’t speak either language today. But, I had use of both languages alongside Spanish, Italian and Latin while I was studying classical singing. And I am very grateful for my teachers in German for their persistence in teaching the importance of grammar and usage, which benefited me greatly when I later took English at university level, and when learning to understand and sing in new languages

[lucwivr]

As a second language learner of English, I put in my best effort to learn, but I often face challenges and setbacks. Your advice is truly motivating and gives me hope. I've heard about an extension called Immersive Translate from some YouTuber's comments, and it sounds quite intriguing. I'll give it a try and hope to make significant progress in this area.

[wallysonguimaraes]

Imo there is no such thing as a "difficult language", the difficulty depends on your mother tongue (or the languages you have already learned)

[mikkins]

One never really finishes learning any language even your native one.

[patriciaesguerragalan]

I knew it was Tagalog because I’m a native speaker. I want to say though that in the Philippines it’s officially known as Filipino, which is the national language based on Tagalog (the biggest ethnic group and situated around Manila, the country’s capital) but which incorporates elements from Spanish, , English, Chinese and other languages. It’s a beautifully expressive language but I agree it can be a challenge for anglophones to learn. (I have C2 English and B2 French, currently learning Spanish).

[lucwivr]

My study journey was unbearably lonely without a peer. Your vlogs alleviated that, but language barriers hinder me. Now, I'm using Immersive Translate to enhance my language skills and hope to comprehend your videos independently.

[whokidd]

What a coincidence I’m learning Tagalog right now (the mystery language)😂😅 I have an advantage knowing a regional Filipino language Bisaya, but Tagalog has more complex conjugations and stricter grammar rules. I’m struggling a little bit but I’m pushing through! Thanks Olly for always coming out with motivational language learning content.