Say, you have six months to learn a new language. How much of it can you realistically learn in that time span? The answer, of course, as with many things is “it depends.”
What factors will affect how well you learn a new language?
- Previous exposure. Based on what languages you already know, a new language may be easier or harder to acquire. If your native language share the same traits as the target, then six months can be enough to leave you conversationally fluent. If not, then you should lower your expectations just a tad.
- Immersion. How easy will it be to immerse yourself in the target language? If you’re living in a country that speaks it (e.g. you’re learning Portuguese and you’re in Brazil), then your opportunities are abundant. If not, then you’re missing out on one component that can seriously force you to learn at a rapid pace.
- Primary learning material. How good of a fit your learning material is will obviously be a factor. If you learn best in an intimate setting and choose to enroll in a class with 40 students, then your chances may not be optimal. Pay for time with a private tutor or use a personal language software, however, and you’ll increase your likelihood of learning more in the six-month span.
- Time. How much time you can devote to learning and how well you use it are also important factors. The more time you can spend on any activity, after all, the more ground you can cover. More importantly, it gives you more chances for practice – a necessary component if you’d like to use the language in real-world settings.