The language learning goal of many students is fluency.
Why learn a new language if you can’t be proficient enough like a native speaker?
Achieving fluency is not so simple and involves a lot of factors.
It’s not impossible, so don’t be discouraged!
There are so many people who are fluent in more than one language, about half of the world actually!
What Is Language Fluency?
Language fluency is being able to speak with a native speaker or read a text with minimal effort and enough accuracy to be easily understood.
There’s speaking fluency, reading and writing fluency, and overall fluency.
In this post I’ve defined what is fluency based on dictionary popular definition and personal experience.
How Can You Become Fluent?
Short version; becoming fluent takes a lot of time and effort
Long version time; becoming fluent takes patience, a lot of effort, the right resources, practice, and support from friends and family.
Achieving fluency requires:
- Determining your goals, you can refer to this post for more information. But your goals determine your next steps! If you’re planning to travel you need different resources than if you’re studying it at the college level for credits.
- A little bit of planning. Once you have figured out your goals, the next steps are to gather resources, schedule time to learn and practice, and follow through on your plan!
- Next, find your resources. Blogs, books, podcasts all count. The resources you need depend on your goal. Like a college that offers German if you need the credit or a pen pal if you want to practice writing.
- You will need to set aside time to learn your skills and practice. This sounds obvious but even listening to a podcast in your target language on your commute counts. 20 minutes is better than 5 minutes but if you only have 5 minutes a day then make it count!
- Learning your skills to practice. While practicing might only need a few minutes a day, learning a new skill can take a little more time. In fact, practice should be more than a few minutes a day. You can split up 20 minutes of practice every
These steps are not absolute. They are a guideline to learning a second language. You might have already completed some steps before reading this post (like goals and some resource collection!).
How long does second language acquisition typically take?
There are many programs and products that promise fluency in your target language in so many months, but in reality, it’s years.
For a quick comparison, think about how long it takes a child fully immersed in their first language to really be fluent in it. to speak without grammar mistakes or missing vocabulary. It takes them Years, right?
While adult learners can pick up the second language faster than children can pick up their first because children are learning their first language and language in general, it still can take a long time. It also depends on how much time you invest every day, yes daily, into learning your target language.
Use your resources
A resource is anything or anyone that helps you learn foreign language.
This blog counts as a resource for a foreign language. We mainly teach German, but many of the blog posts can apply to learning any language.
Other resources available depending on your goals include: Duolingo, Drops, Rosetta Stone, your local community college, pen pals, YouTube, children’s books, and even tv shows.
Each resource is valuable but not every resource will meet your needs.
Review your goals and choose accordingly! If you need college credits, then Duolingo will not provide that, but it’s perfect for a fun low stress introduction.
Achieving fluency in another language is possible, with time and effort!
What language do you want to be fluent in?
