Language learning time calculator
Choose the language, your current and your target level and how many hours a week you can study. The calculator estimates the hours still needed and how long it will take.
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🔒 Runs entirely in your browser – nothing you enter is uploaded or stored.
How to use it
- Pick the language and your current level (– if you are a complete beginner).
- Choose the target level – for example B1 for everyday conversations or B2 for work.
- Enter realistic weekly hours including self-study – the result shows hours, weeks and months.
Last checked: October 2026 · Based on: Cambridge English Support: guided learning hours (A2–C2, cumulative; A1 about 90–100 h); US Foreign Service Institute (FSI) difficulty categories I–IV. Found a mistake? Use the form below – we fix confirmed errors and update the date.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to reach B1?
For English, Cambridge estimates about 350–400 guided learning hours from zero. At 5 hours a week that is roughly 1.5 years; languages that are harder for you take longer.
Which languages are hardest?
For native English speakers the FSI puts Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and Korean in the hardest category – about three times the hours of Spanish or French.
Do one-to-one lessons speed things up?
Speaking practice with feedback is hard to get from apps alone. Many learners combine an app or book for vocabulary with regular conversation lessons; the total weekly hours still matter most.