I am often asked, “how long does it take to learn Spanish?” I am afraid this is basically a million-dollar question and one for which there is no generic answer.

Unfortunately there are simply way too many variables concerned, in that so much depends on how much effort someone is ready to put into studying the language, and also which method or program they will be using. Add to that the incontrovertible fact that while some individuals may opt to use the services of a private tutor, others will select a classroom environment instead. Actually, some scholars will rather choose using one or other home study program which gets use from books, multimedia, software, and audio recordings. You also need to ask yourself whether the scholar will be learning the language in a country where it’s spoken as the local language, or whether they’ll be learning it in their home country. Furthermore, the standard of a program or the expertise of a teacher will also influence the result.

Because these variables will have such a direct result on how long does it take to learn Spanish, it is simply not possible to provide a single answer to this query. In reality, I have personally been involved with individuals who after six months, managed to communicate confidently in conversational Spanish, but also , I’ve met folks who have studied the Spanish language for a period of years, admittedly on an on and off basis, and yet after many years they can hardly get by.

Instead of attempting to supply a generic response to this question, I’d rather respond with what I feel to be the quickest way of learning Spanish. The most vital step of all, is for a student to seize every available opportunity regarding interacting in the language they would like to learn, regardless of what language that could be.

While you actually do get those that are firm believers in the lecture room approach, I actually feel it takes too long unless it is done in association with another method. In my viewpoint, a self study strategy of high quality is easily superior in that it allows a student to progress at their own speed instead of being tied down to the average study room pace. This is very true with regards to persons who are really serious about learning a language.

In this example, I’d suggest a student to select a reputable program which includes a selection of audio lessons, multimedia lessons, and of course, written Spanish. Additionally, they should select a program which allows for lessons to be downloaded onto a mobile device so that they can listen on their iPod as an example. Remember, if you’re serious about learning a language, then you should aim for being able to not only speak it and write it, but also to read it and understand it. Unless a program covers all 4 of these areas, it must be avoided or at least, you will need some extra material.

As you most likely have already heard, Rocket Spanish is a highly favored program, and not without reason. Considering that it addresses all four of the area’s mentioned, it has gained a name for providing students with a top foundation for basic Spanish which in turn will make sure that you are able to speak confidently in Spanish within a relatively short space of time. Likewise, Rosetta Stone is understood to be nearly as good, in that it also addresses the 4 areas mentioned above. Furthermore, it is available in two versions so that scholars can select between the “Spain” version and the Latin American Spanish version. Judging from testimonials, it would appear that the Rosetta Stone program takes a touch longer to work through, which of course means it’ll take you a little longer before you develop conversational Spanish but generally, it ranks right up there with Rocket Spanish. Also, Rosetta Stone is significantly more expensive.

As you can see, there are too many variables involved for me or anyone else to be in a position to give a simple answer regarding “how long does it takes to learn Spanish. However, you’ve probably also gathered by this point that there are many things you can do in order to speed up the method. Actually, many people go as far as using both the programs discussed with each other to develop conversational skills as fast as possible. However, unless you are steadily exposed to the Spanish language, no program will be capable of making you 100 percent smooth. On the other hand, providing you are at an intermediate-to-advanced level, you might want to consider subscribing to Puerta del Sol Audio magazine which is a Spanish language skills Magazine. Furthermore, you’d be shocked at how much you can get benefits from joining a Meetup group in your area that is focused on learning the Spanish language.