Welcome to another week of Dear Duolingo, an advice column just for learners. Catch up on past installments here.

Hi, everyone! You might be familiar with some of the myths about language learning, and this week’s question brings up a classic misconception. Let’s dive in!

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This week’s question:

Illustration of a letter to Dear Duolingo that reads: Dear Duolingo, I’ve been learning Spanish for over two years now, but I’m still a ways off from being conversational. I’ve heard stories about people who became fluent after only six months—but is that actually possible? How long does it really take to learn a language? Thank you, Am I There Yet?

I’ve heard this too (and seen the ads, and watched the videos), and I’ve got both good and bad news for you:

You cannot learn a language in six months.

This might sound like bad news at first, because wouldn’t it be great if we could? But it’s also good news: You’re not falling behind just because you still get tripped up in your new language—it happens to everyone!

It also brings us to this week’s other question…

How long does it *really* take to learn a language?

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The amount of time it takes to learn a new language depends on a number of factors, including the similarities between your first language and the one you’re learning, as well as how much you’re exposed to the language.

To make matters even more complicated, different people mean different things when they say they’re “fluent” or that they “know” a language. I always say I know two languages—Spanish and English—even though I can have conversations in many others. But is having a conversation the same as “knowing” a language? For example, I had many conversations in Italian while in Italy, people understood me, and I mostly understood them—but I can’t read Italian books, understand Italian news programs, or do my job in Italian. So do I really know Italian? 🤷‍♀️ I would say no, but it’s subjective!

In any case, the amount of time it takes to make progress in a new language will depend on a combination of these factors:

  • How similar your new language is to a language you already know. A language that’s more similar to the one you already speak will take less time to learn.
  • Your motivation for learning a new language. Simply put, most people learn faster if they have a good reason to!
  • How much time you’re able to dedicate to learning. More time learning = more progress.
  • Whether you already have experience studying languages. Often, learning a third language (or a fourth, or a fifth…) feels less daunting and goes more smoothly once you know what language learning entails!
  • What kind of learner you are. Different people have different learning styles, and language learning can come more easily to those who are willing to make mistakes and step outside their comfort zone.

Even if you feel like you’ve been doing all of these things but you’re still not where you want to be, don’t be too hard on yourself! It’s difficult to know you can express yourself fully, quickly, and creatively in one language, and then feel limited in a language you’ve put so much time and effort into learning, but this is absolutely normal.

What *can* you learn in six months?

One way to measure your skill level is with the CEFR system, which is a standardized way to define language proficiency. There are six different CEFR levels, and here’s what you can expect to be able to do at each:

Table titled “CEFR levels, with 6 rows divided into 3 sections. Rows A1 and A2 are in the “Beginner” section, B1 and B2 are in the “Intermediate” section, and C1 and C2 are in the “Advanced” section. Each row has two example skills of what can be achieved at each language level, ranging from “You can introduce yourself and say what you do and where you live” and “You can use basic expressions to order food and drinks” in A1 to “You can adapt smoothly to conversations on unfamiliar topics, even in environments with a lot of background noise or distractions” and “You can improve a text in your target language on a complex topic, making it more natural and succinct” in C2.

With the right resources, a language learner can almost definitely get to CEFR level A1 within six months, and likely to A2 if they’re dedicating enough time to it. B1 is trickier, especially if you’re not immersed in the language or if your new language doesn’t have much in common with a language you’re already proficient in. This means that reaching a B2 or C1 level within that time frame is highly unlikely. C2 includes skills that are even difficult for many adults in their first language, and that lots of language learners may never reach—which is completely okay!

You can use a system like the CEFR to set concrete, short-term goals. Build your language skills step-by-step at a comfortable pace, and celebrate every achievement!

Can you speed up your learning?

Most people who *look* like great language learners are just really good at putting their language into practice. We don’t typically see what these language learners are doing during those first weeks and months, so it can be deceptive to hear about them much later. But some people really do make incredible progress in a short period of time. How do they do it?

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The learners who seem to learn so much so fast excel at putting themselves out there.

They speak from day one.
In order to get to a conversational level, they use the language early on, when they still hardly know anything! Just getting comfortable using a very limited vocabulary and a handful of grammar rules is a skill in itself—but it’s absolutely worth the discomfort to start making real progress.

So don’t wait until you “know enough”… otherwise, you’ll never feel ready!

They excel at making mistakes.
Yes, these enviable learners are mere mortals just like the rest of us! Not only do they make mistakes, but they don’t shy away from them, and they know that mistakes are totally natural—and even necessary—for progressing in a language.

What’s more important than 100% accuracy is being able to use what you know and to describe things you don’t know: That’s what will help you work through doubts, get better at forming sentences, remember vocabulary more easily, and get more input from native speakers.

They immerse themselves.
No matter where they are, they find ways to surround themselves with the language—and test out using only the new language. The people who learned the most on my study abroad trips abandoned the group, made local friends, and never looked back. (Note: This was not me! Do as I say and not as I did… 🫣)

From your own home, sing along to music in the new language, watch your favorite show with dubbing and subtitles, or write mini dialogues using only words you know. Start small—read or write for 2 full minutes in the new language, then 5 minutes, and so on. Talk to a friend, to your dog, or to the mirror, using only the new language. See how long you can go!

They are exceptional language learners.
Yes, it’s true that some people are exceptional, but not many! Most people are just regular learners—that’s why the exceptional ones are the exception.

Jump into your new language!

The lesson we can learn from the fast learners—and the rumors about them—is to start using the language as much as possible, as soon as possible!

For more answers to your language and learning questions, get in touch with us by emailing dearduolingo@duolingo.com.