Hi Language Buddy!

I want to address an age-old question: "How long does it take to learn a language?" We've all heard many variations of this question, such as "How long does it take to learn German?" or "How long does it take to learn Vietnamese?" In almost every case, I believe this is the wrong question to ask.

The only time this question might be valid is if you have a specific time constraint, like needing to travel to Vietnam next week and wondering if you can learn the language by then. In most cases, the answer is probably no, but you might be able to learn a few useful phrases.

Typically, when people ask this question, they want to know the answer for one of two reasons. First, they want to know how long they have to "suffer" before reaching conversational fluency. Second, they might be curious about how long it would take to learn multiple languages, based on their current rate of progress.

Both of these reasons stem from impatience. People often want to achieve the end result without putting in the necessary work. Instead of asking how long it takes to learn a language, a better question might be, "What can I do to make my language learning experience enjoyable, so it becomes a daily part of my life rather than something I have to suffer through?"

For example, when learning Russian, I found that having positive exchanges with my teachers and fellow learners made the process more enjoyable. I learned a lot about the country and its culture, and I didn't want the experience to end. When you enjoy the process and establish a rapport with your instructors and fellow students, the time spent learning a language can feel like it flies by.

The question we should be asking is, "How can I make this experience more enjoyable and integrate it into my everyday life?" By focusing on the joy of learning rather than the "prize" of fluency, you can create a fulfilling, enjoyable journey from start to finish.

So, that's my advice for you. If you think I haven't addressed this topic properly or have any additional thoughts, please feel free to send me feedback. In the meantime, I wish you all the best in your language learning journey!