How many people self thought themselves to become fluent in another language?

[Deleted member 2382]

Self thought meaning you never learned the language in school
If so, how long did it take you?

I'm two weeks into a pimsleur course going at a rate of one lesson per day and one week into using duolingo for at least an hour per day and I am starting to recognize words now when I look at other sources where the language is used/people having text discussions in the language.

I spent 6 years in school learning french and I wasn't anywhere close to being fluent and there are just a few phrases that still remain in my mind being a decade removed from school

I believe that with self learning and an actual motivation to learn due to desire to relocate to the country of the language I'm learning, I can probably learn 5 times faster than I "learned" a language in school

 

[Gengar’s Ghost]

I did. English for me. I had a pretty good grasp of it already by the age of 9. I learned it by watching TV. I watched American TV shows mainly, so that's why I use the American style instead, even when I speak it.

 

[Gengar’s Ghost]

I also re-taught myself the Persian alphabet.

 

[Ultimate Subhuman™]

 

[Deleted member 2382]

I did. English for me. I had a pretty good grasp of it already by the age of 9. I learned it by watching TV. I watched American TV shows mainly, so that's why I use the American style instead, even when I speak it.

well done, I'm moreso looking for guys who did it in adulthood in a short space of time for the goal of geomaxxing with the disadvantage of being older and having a less sponge-like brain

 

[Gengar’s Ghost]

well done, I'm moreso looking for guys who did it in adulthood in a short space of time for the goal of geomaxxing with the disadvantage of being older and having a less sponge-like brain

Ahh ok. Have a bump.

 

[Deleted member 65279]

Ignore the words and the time it takes as everyone is different and some languages are easier to learn as an English speaker. For example you will have an easier time learning Afrikaans then Arabic

But this is the language level. Duolingo will get you to a B1 maybe B2. But the only way to get to C1-C2 is having a conversation with someone fluent in the language. Or THE BEST THING POSSIBLE go to the country for a holiday and try to speak to as much people as possible. They will try to correct you as you speak. Like you can say “Where’s the Eiffel tower” if they understood you and tell you where it is you passed. If you mess up then they will more than likely correct you

 

[Deleted member 81734]

I really don’t think it’s actually harder as an adult unless you’ve experienced some kind of cognitive decline(which some people do by their 30s admittedly). It’s just that the conditions are harder since you already have a language you’re using, no free time, higher stress, etc.