Estimates for native English speakers based on FSI research data. Enter your target language, current level, and weekly study hours — no sugar-coating.
Our estimates are based on data from the Foreign Service Institute (FSI), the U.S. government's primary language training institution. Since the 1960s, the FSI has tracked how long it takes native English speakers to achieve professional working proficiency in dozens of languages. If your native language is closer to your target language (e.g., Spanish speaker learning Italian), your timeline will likely be shorter.
FSI data assumes intensive study (25 hours/week with classroom instruction). We adjust for self-study learners studying at lower intensities, adding a 20% efficiency factor since independent study typically requires more review and lacks the structure of formal instruction.
| Category | Hours to B2+ | Example Languages |
|---|---|---|
| I — Closely related | 600–750 | Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch |
| II — Similar | 900 | German, Indonesian, Swahili |
| III — Linguistic differences | 1,100 | Greek, Russian, Hindi, Polish, Turkish, Finnish |
| IV — Exceptionally difficult | 2,200 | Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean |
Everything counts — and that's the point. Reading a book in your target language, chatting with a tutor on iTalki, watching a show without subtitles, doing Anki reps, writing in a journal, even talking to yourself on a walk. The best language learners track all of it because consistency across diverse activities is what drives real progress.
The #1 trending post on Reddit's r/languagelearning this week? "I was forced to speak in a foreign language — it works better than any app." The lesson isn't that apps are useless. It's that real practice comes in many forms, and what matters is that you show up and do it every day.
Research on deliberate practice consistently shows that you can't improve what you don't measure. Tracking study hours gives you:
• Motivation — seeing hours accumulate is powerful on slow days
• Accountability — a streak you can be proud of (not a gamified trick)
• Insight — which activities do you actually spend time on?
• Realistic expectations — you'll know exactly where you are on the journey