So, you've always wanted to learn a new language.
You fantasize about feeling like a native in a far off land or impressing the server with your flawless order.
You want that rush of excitement and well-founded pride that comes from overhearing a casual conversation and realizing, “I understood that!”
You're ready!
There's only one problem: you're afraid of the commitment.
Like all of us, you've got a busy life and learning a language seems like a huge undertaking. Maybe you could better spend your time elsewhere? It's easy to let these fears creep in.
How long it takes to learn a new language depends on the level of fluency you'd like to acheive, your experience working with languages, your chosen target language, and how much time you have to study each week. For example, an average person will need between 600-750 hours to learn a European language, and 2,000 hours of study to learn Arabic, Korean or Mandarin.