Before tackling how long it takes to become fluent, I first want to establish what is fluency? and talk about how hard the journey may be ahead of you. One of my biggest beliefs about language learning is that it can be fun and anybody can become fluent in French! I hope you're ready to read, because this 2,500 word discussion is about to get started!
FrenchCrazy Fluency Scale:
This proficiency scale is simply a condensed list of items
based upon the Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CEFRL). These standards are more or less widely accepted across Europe. The framework was designed for those who need to certify their level of languages for that way others can recognize the range of your skills easily. Think about the skills in your native language as you read these guidelines. Proficiency levels are not requirements to become a certain level, but rather language skills that people in a certain level are able to perform.
Beginner (A1): a.k.a Tourist Class
A beginner is limited with vocabulary and grammar. Beginners may know simple greetings and phrases (
Hello, how are you? what's your name? how old are you? etc...). They also know numbers, can usually tell time, and talk about the weather. Beginners can ask simple questions about other people (small talk), and express a sense of like and dislike. They may be able to talk to natives with extreme difficulty, and often with aides such as a pocket dictionary or memorization of phrases. Understanding natives is also difficult for beginners in an everyday environment. If spoken to slowly and directly (with conscious effort from a native), a beginner may fare well. Beginners can typically read "everyday signs" such as "no parking", "no smoking", "keep left", etc... However, reading or writing long texts is difficult. An
immersion situation would be difficult for a beginner, but can be done.
Intermediate (A2-B1): Survivor
An intermediate language learner can construct phrases and statements. They can utilize phrases that deal with time, weather, location, desires, and dislikes with little to no difficulty. Intermediate speakers can use the present, past, and future tenses, however they still make errors. They can understand native speakers on certain topics, when spoken to directly. Intermediate learners can have simple transactions in shops, can order something to eat, and can use public transportation. They have sufficient vocabulary to deal with day to day topics, and can describe themselves (hobbies, backgrounds, personal experiences). These speakers can read familiar topics and get the gist about what occurs in a television show or film. Intermediate learners can survive in an
immersion situation; however, they may still have difficulty understanding natives (and sometimes are hesitant to interact).
Advanced (B2-C1): Skilled Survivor
An advanced learner can understand normal forms of media (TV, films, radio, newspapers, music) with little trouble. They can maintain conversation with natives and even be a part of conversations within noisy environments (i.e, more than one speaker or literal background noise). These learners can construct many sentences correctly, and change with a conversation. They have no trouble with the present, past, future, conditional, and imperfect tenses. They may still have some trouble with the subjunctive, but can recognize its use. Advanced learners can use phrases like "that's difficult to answer" to buy time and formulate what to say. They can also keep track of "favorite mistakes" and monitor them from time to time, or correct themselves when a Native doesn't fully understand. Advanced learners can handle reading long, constructed French articles, books, directions, etc. with little difficulty.
For example, read this "advanced-level" passage by Flaubert out loud and really test how much you know: Madame Bovary [extrait].
Advanced French learners could create short, clear narratives or compositions. They have a knack for picking up vocabulary within context, and know some specialized vocabulary for familiar topics. Advanced learners are confident with at least some aspects of their language, and can survive in an
immersion situation with little to no difficulty. These speakers are technically have the ability to communicate with Natives almost effortlessly.
Fluent (C2): Please read this carefully
A fluent learner can understand all forms of media, converse with natives, be understood, and figure out context with little to no difficulty. They can talk in vibrant situations and can express themselves. They understand everyday language used by native speakers. Fluent individuals have a good accent (although it may not necessarily be native) and could understand some dialects. They are capable of reading long texts.
Fluent learners can express themselves in writing, where their language skills do not hold them back (imagine writing something in English, in French). A fluent speaker thrives in an
immersion setting, because they essentially have the tools to communicate with those around them on a daily basis.
Native: Mother Tongue
The language is either your first, or you've been speaking it for the majority of your life. You understand vocabulary, you can make conversation effortlessly, read and write. Effortlessly does not mean you hesitate or you don't need to use a spell checker, it simply means you can carry on at a level that most other native speakers do so. You could still have an "accent" depending on where you learned the language. Nevertheless, this language is yours.
So What REALLY is French fluency?
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| Je n'aurais jamais cru que vous vouliez apprendre le français. |
So now that you read those guidelines, how do you feel about where your level of French stands? Would it surprise you that according to those guidelines, it would take you
10,000 hours to become fluent?!? Don't panic, I'll refute that number below, keep reading. Fortunately, (or unfortunately) Fluency is a subjective term for everybody. Honestly by me writing out that fluency scale simply uses my opinion (and CEFRL standards) over someone else's definition of the same word. To some people, fluency is an end-all, mystical point which can never be achieved. To others, being fluent in French is
simply communicating with people in everyday interactions. Additionally, there are a million different factors as to why someone becomes French fluent in 2 years as opposed to someone in 10; no two personal situations are equivalent.
What you need to realize is what values are most important for you and your French. If you want to be able to read great works by Hugo, Voltaire, or
Flaubert then you’ll need to focus on improving your reading skills, French vocabulary, and grammar. If you simply want to be able to
order a meal in France or buy tickets for something, you can pick up any type of phrase book and do this type of task within
minutes.
Fluency does not mean that you have to have perfect pronunciation, or you can never make mistakes. It does not mean that you do not hesitate or have a native pronunciation. It does not require fancy vocabulary on topics like engineering business, and politics, or hour long discussions in French. It means you can communicate with people and understand things which are important to everyday life in France. However, my version of French fluency places emphasis on all aspects of the language: reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
The problem about the French teaching culture in America is that nobody is ever good enough, and French people often dislike their language being mangled. Nonetheless, it’s your standards that really matter. If you want to learn a language in 3 months and call yourself fluent, by all means do so. If you realize that after you take two years of French,
you may not be fluent, but you have plenty of tools at your disposal to go out and use the language, then more power to you.
How long to be French fluent?
Here's the million dollar question (finally). So how long does it take to become Fluent in French? With French learning programs now named "Instant Immersion", "5-Minute French", and "French in 10-minutes a day", it's no wonder people misconceive how long it takes to become French fluent.
I’m not going to lie to you and tell you that French fluency can be achieved in 3 months (without immersion) because
if you have these sort of expectations with your language learning endeavors, you’ll become discouraged when it takes longer. Short time spans are feasible if you pack up your belongings and you are residing in a country where the target language is spoken, or you work with the language often. These situations are called
Immersion more or less and not many people can refute it's language learning power. However, the type of fluency which many people ultimately want to achieve is a matter of years as opposed to months. Realistically, without being in an immersion environment, I stick with the number of
5 years (talking good courses while supplementing your knowledge with native speakers).
A study by Horwitz asked undergraduate students: "If someone spent one hour a day learning a language, how long would it take him/her to become fluent?". Forty percent of the students questioned believed it would take 1-2 years. Horwitz describes this "unrealistic" and indicates that students "who anticipate fluency in two years are destined for severe disappointment and thus would seem likely candidates for dropping out." Keep in mind, this study was performed on University students in Texas, taking formal courses.
A crêpe is a wonderfully pancake-like French dish that's conveinent for anytime of day! I personally prefer crêpes in the morning; yet, they can be stuffed with virtually anything and eaten at anytime. I know several popular crêperies that typically open for lunch time, serving any type of crêpe you can imagine! Miam! 
