How Long Does It Take to Learn German (And Why?)

How Long Does It Take to Learn German (And Why?)

Exact Answer: About 30 weeks

Versatility in languages is considered an elite skill and is seen as a mark of intelligence. Different language skills will not only cast a very good impression but will also come in very handy in many different scenarios.  It is easier to learn a new language at an early age but it gets more difficult and tiresome as adults.

Learning a new language thus becomes a very impressive skill. Be it for a new outlook on the resume, lifestyle changes, educational purposes or simply as a hobby, learning a new language can be a tricky and challenging but equally fun activity to undertake.

How Long Does It Take to Learn German

How Long Does It Take to Learn German?

German is a language that is widely popular but also considered to be complicated and difficult to get the hang of. Over 200 million people speak German, which makes it one of the most popular languages in the world.

Knowing the German language will more than not prove to be a very impressive skill. It is said that German is a very difficult language to learn but the truth is with enough practice and hard work it can be mastered.

Many factors determine how difficult or easy learning a new language might be. The Foreign Service institute or FSI has made it easier to track such things here in this case. It grades languages into certain levels based on how difficult they are to learn.

Learning German may take longer depending on:

English Speakers

English and German are somewhat closely related languages. They have descended from the same family of languages – the Germanic family. Hence it will be comparatively easier for people who speak English to learn German. English speakers can learn German in about 30 weeks or approximately 750 classroom hours.

Non-English Speakers

For people who do not speak English or do not have a strong foundational basis in it, it might take much longer to learn German because the entire concept will be entirely new for them. In this case, it will take much longer than 30 weeks to learn German and it will require much more hard work.

Language BasisTime
English speakersAbout 30 weeks or 750 hours
Non-English speakersMore than 30 weeks

Why Does It Take So Long to Learn German?

German has been graded a level 2 language by the Foreign Service Institute or FSI. This means that compared to some other languages such as Mandarin, Japanese, Arabic, German is easier to learn and takes much lesser time to master.

Many factors influence how long it takes to learn the German language. Studies and experiments performed on this basis have confirmed these as well. The motivation behind learning a language determines how long it takes to learn a language. This inspires the curiosity and hard work implemented in the process.

The amount of time spent in learning the language also determines how well and how fast one can learn the language. Most people can spare a few couple hours every day at most, and if this is by the standard set by FSI then the best results can be guaranteed.

Many methods can be employed as well to get maximum exposure to language and imbibe it as quickly as possible. Some of these include reading more books in German, watching German movies, listening to German music.

Which course to learn from or which tutor to choose can speed up the process. There are some great websites, courses, and apps available that can be effective. Most importantly, practice plays the biggest part in learning a language. Interacting with the language and exploring it as much as possible is the best possible way to learn it very fast.

Conclusion

Learning German can be a fun and exciting experience depending on how it is done. It takes approximately 30 weeks or 750 hours to learn German. This process can be sped up depending on the other methods the user implements. There are many things the user can do to make it faster like being more indulgent in the process and exposing themselves to the language more. taking in more content in that language and medium is a very good way to familiarize oneself and get acquainted with it. Moreover, finding a good teacher and working hard with enough practice is the best way to go about it. 

References

  1. https://www.utpjournals.press/doi/abs/10.3138/cmlr.62.2.285
  2. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1191/0267658306sr275oa
dot 1
One request?

I’ve put so much effort writing this blog post to provide value to you. It’ll be very helpful for me, if you consider sharing it on social media or with your friends/family. SHARING IS ♥️

Avatar of Nidhi

AboutNidhi

Hi! I'm Nidhi.

Here at the EHL, it's all about delicious, easy recipes for casual entertaining. So come and join me at the beach, relax and enjoy the food.

22 Comments

  1. Learning German will be a great addition to my lifestyle, I appreciate the information about how long it takes to learn.

  2. Learning a new language has always been a daunting task for me, but I find it intriguing. This article offers some good advice.

  3. Learning a new language is an enriching experience, I’ve been wanting to learn German for a while now and this article has given me a lot of insight into the process.

    1. I have found that immersing myself in the language and culture has been very helpful. Practice is everything!

    1. I completely agree, I now have a more informed idea about what I’m heading into with this learning journey.

    1. I think the emphasis on the learning process and methods is quite refreshing, it’s all about the journey.

  4. I appreciate the insights into the learning process, it has given me a clearer perspective on the process.

  5. The process of learning German is indeed challenging, but the reward is definitely worth it. I’m looking forward to the journey.

  6. The article raises some good points, I think having the right approach to learning is of paramount importance.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *