Language Learning Difficulty

Brief information

How long does it take to learn a foreign language? Unfortunately, providing a precise answer to this question is impossible due to various factors that influence language learning. These factors include an individual's learning ability, motivation, learning environment, intensity of instruction, and prior experience with foreign languages. Additionally, the similarity between the target language and the learner's native language or previously acquired languages plays a role. Lastly, the desired level of proficiency also affects the time required for mastery. Furthermore, it is important to note that proficiency in a language is not a one-size-fits-all concept. It is typically evaluated based on four essential skills: speaking, reading, listening, and writing.

The levels of languages are influenced by various factors. Linguistic distance refers to the differences between languages and their evolution. Languages from the same language family, like French, Spanish, and Italian, have similarities, while languages from different families, such as German and Mandarin, are more linguistically distant. The farther your native language is from the language you're learning, the more challenging it may be. Grammar rules can also affect difficulty, as different languages have unique grammar structures. Pronunciation plays a role, with tonal languages like Mandarin requiring precise pronunciation and inflection. Writing systems vary, with some languages using the Latin alphabet, others having their own unique alphabets, and some based on distinct writing systems.

This website provides information on language difficulty rankings for English speakers based on the Foreign Service Institute (FSI). FSI is the primary provider of foreign affairs training for the U.S. government that quantifies the "learning time" of various languages to assist American diplomats in becoming proficient in the official language of their posting country. The FSI classifies languages into five general difficulty levels based on their dissimilarity to the United States, specifically considering the average time it takes learners to reach "Professional Working Proficiency". This proficiency level is equivalent to a score of "Speaking-3/Reading-3" (S-3/R-3) on the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) scale, roughly corresponding to a B2/C1 level on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). While there is no definitive answer to which languages are easiest or most difficult, the FSI language ranking system provides a useful starting point by estimating the time it typically takes English speakers to learn various languages.