How long does it take to learn?
Answers in hours, with their sources, and how long each level takes at the time you have each day.
- How long does it take to learn a language?
About 200 hours of guided study per level, by Cambridge English’s estimates. That is 350 to 400 hours from scratch to B1, and 1,000 to 1,200 hours to C2. For English speakers, the US Foreign Service Institute plans 24 weeks of full-time training for languages like Spanish or Dutch and 88 weeks for Japanese, Korean, Arabic or Mandarin.
- How long does it take to learn Spanish?
About 1,200 hours of study for an English speaker to reach professional working proficiency. The US Foreign Service Institute plans 30 weeks for Spanish, each with 23 hours of class and 17 hours of self-study. At an hour a day that is a little over three years, and you can follow learner-friendly Spanish after about 150 hours.
- How long does it take to learn to drive?
50 to 65 hours of supervised practice before the road test, if you are under 18 in California, New York or Pennsylvania. California asks for 50 with 10 at night, New York 50 with 15 after sunset, and Pennsylvania 65. At three hours a week, 50 hours take about four months.
- How long does it take to get a pilot license?
At least 40 hours of flight time for a private pilot certificate in the US, but about 75 hours on average, according to the FAA. At four hours a week that is about four and a half months. A commercial certificate takes at least 250 hours, and an airline transport pilot certificate 1,500.
- How long does it take to become a chess master?
About 11,000 hours of deliberate practice on average. In a study of 104 Argentine players, those who reached master level had put in 11,053 hours, but the fastest needed about 3,000 and the slowest more than 23,000. At two hours a day, 11,000 hours take about 15 years.