Many English learners have the goal of speaking fluently – but how many years of study does it take to reach fluency? Every student is different, and the answer depends on three things: your native language, your natural learning ability, and your level of effort and time invested in learning.

Some languages are closer to English in grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure than others – for example, Spanish is more similar to English than Korean is. This means that a native Spanish speaker will have an easier time learning English than a native Korean speaker. For one thing, Spanish and English use the same alphabet, whereas Korean, Arabic, Russian, Japanese, and other languages use a different alphabet.

Your natural ability to learn languages also impacts how long it takes to become fluent in English. Some students pick up languages easily, while others struggle to make progress. One thing that can help you learn English faster is identifying your “learning style.”

For example, some students learn best through a systematic study of English grammar and vocabulary, with lots of practice exercises. Other students find this method boring – they may be “visual learners,” who prefer learning English through reading and pictures. Still others are “auditory learners” – these students like learning English by listening to movies and music, and by practicing it in conversation. Whether or not you are a “natural” language learner, knowing your learning style and following your strengths will make it easier (and more fun) to learn English.

Finally, how long it takes to learn fluent English depends on how much time and effort you put in. A student who takes daily English classes will progress much faster than one who only studies twice a week. Visiting or living in an English-speaking country can improve your English very fast, because you’re surrounded by English and you have to use the language every day. If you can’t go to an English-speaking country, you can still “immerse” yourself in the language by reading in English, watching English-language movies and TV shows, and communicating frequently with an English-speaking friend.

One final tip – most English learners can understand more English than they can produce, meaning they may be very good at reading and listening, but their speaking and writing skills are weak. This common problem usually results from taking in a lot of English, but not using the English language in practice to express your own thoughts and ideas. Putting your English into practice is one of the quickest ways to learn the language well.