It is normal for people to wonder how long it takes to learn English living in the United States. This is a question based on the belief that by being forced to communicate in a language, we will be able to do so faster than by taking classes in our own countries.
And that belief is true. Of course, learning English takes time and dedication. It’s not a one-day thing, nor are there any magic formulas that will make you speak English in a month.
While everyone learns more or less quickly, on average it takes more than 1,000 hours of study to learn English at an advanced native level.
There are many factors that can impact how long it takes to learn fluent English, for example: the native language and how much the new language is similar to it; the goal to be achieved; where it will be learned; the learner; and the person’s current level of English.
But having total immersion, where you are practicing English all the time, can help you learn faster.
But how long does it take to learn English living in the United States?
Let’s get straight to the answer. If it takes a person 1,000 hours of academic study to learn English at an advanced level, those hours are completed much faster when you live in a total immersion environment, because you are learning practically all the time.
To complete those 1,000 hours in one year, a student must take three hours of classes every day, including Saturdays and Sundays. However, that is to obtain an advanced level, so you can achieve basic or medium levels, but always efficient communication in much less time.
For example, the Intensive English Course we offer at Lingua Language Center lasts 12 weeks, and students receive 18 hours of classes per week.
This means that at the end of the program, the students of our language academy will have completed 216 hours of classes, which represents more than a fifth of the 1,000 hours mentioned above.
These 216 hours will give the student a B2 level of English, which means that he/she will be able to communicate fluently in English and effortlessly with native English speakers.
Of course, the preparation must continue, because in our school we are committed to the constant search for oral and written excellence.
But we know that when students come to Florida, they accelerate all English learning processes to levels that they will not get in any course in their home country for one simple reason: here their brains are adapting and looking to really integrate, and to integrate, you have to communicate.
If you want to learn English in Florida, write to us. We will tell you what to do so that you can start studying at our school as soon as possible.
We have been teaching English and other languages since 1998, and today we do it both in person, bringing students to our Florida locations, and online, through our digital platform.