{"id":6343,"date":"2023-11-02T11:45:42","date_gmt":"2023-11-02T11:45:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clozemaster.com\/blog\/?p=6343"},"modified":"2023-11-02T11:45:44","modified_gmt":"2023-11-02T11:45:44","slug":"how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-swedish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clozemaster.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-swedish\/","title":{"rendered":"How Long Does It Take to Learn Swedish? Here’s All You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

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One of the first questions people will ask before they start learning Swedish is whether Swedish is difficult to learn. The second one, which we\u2019ll talk about today, is \u201cHow long does it take to learn Swedish?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s an understandable question, although it sometimes amuses me. I think to myself: \u201cYou haven’t even started learning yet, and you\u2019re already thinking about when you\u2019ll be done<\/em>?\u201d That said, it is <\/em>a very human thought process. Before investing time and energy into a new project, we want to make sure we\u2019re setting a feasible goal for ourselves<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

So, let\u2019s settle the question once and for all. In this article, we\u2019ll go through factors that affect how much time you need<\/strong> to learn Swedish, and finally, look at some numbers<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

How long does it take to learn Swedish: 5 Factors<\/h2>\n

How long does <\/em>it take to learn Swedish? The less-than-satisfying answer is “It depends”.<\/strong> Because Swedish learners are different, there are many factors involved that will affect how much time you\u2019ll need before reaching your Swedish learning goals.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll soon get to a clearer answer as to how long it takes to reach certain levels of Swedish proficiency. And I think you\u2019ll be pleased with that answer.<\/p>\n

Spoiler: Swedish is one of the easiest languages for English speakers to learn!<\/strong><\/p>\n

But first, let’s talk about the variables that might affect how long it will take for you<\/em> to learn Swedish:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. What your native language is<\/li>\n
  2. How many languages you speak<\/li>\n
  3. What your motivation is<\/li>\n
  4. How you\u2019re learning Swedish<\/li>\n
  5. Whether you have the \u201ctalent\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Let\u2019s take a closer look at each factor so you can see how your circumstances might affect the time you\u2019ll need to master Swedish.<\/p>\n

    Factor 1: What your native language is<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Yes, one of the most important variables required to answer the question \u201cHow long does it take to learn Swedish\u201d is what your native language is. We often talk about how difficult <\/em>a language is<\/strong>. However, a more appropriate way to talk about it is how different<\/em> a language is<\/strong> from our own.<\/p>\n

    So, the question to ask is how different Swedish is from your native tongue. It will naturally be easier for a German person to learn Swedish, as Swedish is a Germanic language. For a Chinese speaker, it will be more challenging, simply because Swedish and Chinese are very different.<\/p>\n

    The good news is that you\u2019re reading this article in English. This likely means that you\u2019re either a native English speaker<\/strong> or, at the very least, speak English quite well<\/strong>. This will help you, as English is also a Germanic language. As a result, Swedish and English have similar grammar and sentence structures. There are also other similarities you shouldn\u2019t take for granted. For example, the Swedish alphabet<\/a> is similar to the English, apart from its 3 special characters \u00e5, \u00e4 and \u00f6.<\/p>\n

    Factor 2: How many languages you speak<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    The second factor that weighs into how fast you can learn Swedish is how many languages you already speak. Research has shown that bilingual people have an easier time learning a third language<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    Or perhaps you\u2019re not bilingual, but you\u2019ve spent time and energy learning a new language. This is also beneficial. Having experience in learning a language <\/strong>means that you probably already have some basic grammar knowledge, which will help you understand the Swedish structure. It likely also means that you\u2019re more used to memorizing certain rules or even vocabulary.<\/p>\n

    Knowing more than one language helps you be more open-minded when learning<\/strong> a new one. When you know more than one language, you already understand that languages work differently<\/strong>. You can more easily accept that just because something is true for one language, it won\u2019t necessarily be true for another.<\/p>\n

    There are also obvious benefits if the languages you know have similarities with Swedish. For example, if one of the languages you speak is French, you\u2019ll recognize a lot of French loan words in Swedish. All these benefits will add up and help you on your Swedish learning journey.<\/p>\n

    Factor 3: What your motivation is<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Something that might come as a surprise to some is how important learning motivation is<\/strong>. If you don\u2019t have a particular reason for studying Swedish, it will be harder for you to learn, and it will likely take longer.<\/p>\n

    Think about why you want to learn Swedish<\/strong>. Are you in love with a cute Swedish colleague? Or maybe you\u2019re just in love with Swedish culture? Or perhaps you have the dream of working in the country of work-life balance? Whatever your motivation, keep these reasons in mind as you study.<\/p>\n

    A clear motivation will help you have a good attitude<\/strong> towards studying, even when certain aspects of the language are frustrating. You will always learn more effectively when you view learning Swedish as something you\u2019re excited about.<\/p>\n

    Factor 4: How you\u2019re learning Swedish<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    How long it will take to learn Swedish will depend on how <\/em>you\u2019re learning Swedish. There are tons of strategies and resources to learn Swedish<\/a> efficiently. If you\u2019re taking a Swedish class <\/strong>once a week and not practicing much outside the classroom, your learning isn\u2019t necessarily as effective as it could be.<\/p>\n

    On the other end of the spectrum is a more intensive approach, such as full immersion<\/strong>. If you\u2019re interested in learning Swedish as quickly as possible, nothing will beat going on a trip to the country of lagom <\/em>and experiencing a Swedish environment. Pushing yourself\u2014and the introverted Swedes around you\u2014to interact and communicate is about as efficient as your Swedish learning can get.<\/p>\n

    Whether you have the chance to go to Sweden or not, try to find ways to practice daily<\/strong>. Research has proven that students who study for at least one hour every day<\/strong> will learn the language significantly faster. Watch a Swedish TV series, listen to Swedish podcasts, read Swedish books or practice with Swedish learning apps<\/a> like Clozemaster<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Factor 5: Whether you have \u201cthe talent\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    This final point might be controversial. Don\u2019t get me wrong, anyone can learn Swedish!<\/strong> However, experience has shown that some people seem to have a \u201cfeel or a gift for languages\u201d<\/strong>. Some people have a knack for math. Others can pick up musical instruments quickly. And some just seem to be able to learn languages faster than others.<\/p>\n

    If you feel like you don\u2019t<\/em> have this \u201ctalent\u201d, don\u2019t let that dissuade you.<\/strong> It simply means you\u2019ll have to put in the time and effort<\/strong>\u2014like most of us. Focus on your reasons for learning Swedish and don\u2019t give up.<\/p>\n

    How long does it take to learn Swedish: According to levels<\/h2>\n

    Okay… But how long does it really take to learn Swedish?<\/strong> I get it, you want an answer. As has been stated, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to a question like “How long does it take to learn Swedish?” However, some statistics allow for a general idea.<\/p>\n

    The Foreign Service Institute (FSI)<\/a> famously conducted a study on how long it takes for native English speakers to learn certain languages. The time needed is specified, not in months, but in hours<\/strong>. This is quite logical when you think about it. Someone who studies for 2 hours a day will naturally learn Swedish in fewer months than somebody who studies for 2 hours a week.<\/p>\n

    So, how long does it take to learn Swedish, counting in hours? Let\u2019s look at some approximates<\/strong>, depending on what level you\u2019re aiming for.<\/p>\n

    Level 1: Beginner<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    How long does it take to learn Swedish on a beginner level? If you\u2019re satisfied with reaching a beginner level <\/strong>of Swedish, it can take approximately 200 hours<\/strong> of active Swedish learning. This means that if you study 7\u20138 hours per week, you can reach this level in six months.<\/p>\n

    As a beginner, you\u2019ll be able to have some basic conversations. For example, you\u2019ll be able to greet people, introduce yourself and make simple inquiries.<\/p>\n

    Level 2: Intermediate<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    How long does it take to learn Swedish at an intermediate level<\/strong>? If you hope to reach an intermediate Swedish level, it can take around 350 hours<\/strong> of active Swedish learning. This means that if you study 6\u20137 hours per week, you can reach this level in one year.<\/p>\n

    As an intermediate Swedish learner, you\u2019ll be able to follow simple everyday conversations and communicate with Swedes on familiar topics.<\/p>\n

    Level 3: Advanced<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    How long does it take to learn Swedish on an advanced level<\/strong>? If you are a native English speaker and your goal is to reach an advanced Swedish level, the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) states that you will need about 600 hours<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    Yes, if you start learning Swedish now, you\u2019ll need around 600 hours of active Swedish learning to become fluent. This means that if you study 11\u201312 hours per week, you can reach this level in one year.<\/p>\n

    Hours required to learn Swedish<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
     <\/td>\nBeginner<\/strong><\/td>\nIntermediate<\/strong><\/td>\nAdvanced<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Time required<\/strong><\/td>\n200 hours<\/td>\n350 hours<\/td>\n600 hours<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) divides languages into 5 categories<\/strong> based on how different they are from English:<\/p>\n