Hey Veeky Forums, I have a language related question. How long would it realistically take an individual to be able to read a book in a foreign year? As in, how long it takes to acquire the necessary skills to be able to read smoothly in a different language.
I've been studying French for about a semester. However, I did not try that hard, usually just taking the classes and not studying at home, so I didn't really learn a lot from that. However, for the past week, I've been devoting 2 hours per day to practicing grammar, solving exercises and whatnot with a grammar book I've bought long ago but never used. So, if I keep it up, what do you think'll take me to be able to read something like The Stranger? I don't mean to be capable of understanding every single word, but like, with the help of a dictionary. That's all, thanks lads.
If it helps, I'm fluent in english and in portuguese (mother tongue).
Reading really isn't too difficult, I'd say it's probably the easiest out of reading, writing, and conversing.
t. someone who reads French fluently but struggles to buy a baguette.
Zachary Robinson
Well, guess I might be a brainlet. I'll see a year from now if I'm capable of doing it.
Samuel Bell
My advice, start reading early. Even if you're just understanding half the stuff that you're reading its the best way to pick up the language without having someone to speak to
Tyler Lopez
French is pretty close to Portuguese isn't it? Vocabulary should be fairly easy and basic grammar can be learned in less than a year.
Christopher Lewis
Don't listen to them lol. I'm french, and moved to the US as a teen (so I spoke and wrote in english all day long). I could 'read' books by the end of the first year but DEFINITELY NOT on a level where I would flow through the pages and enjoy what I was reading. Now French is about a 100 times more 'literary' than english so don't expect results like the bullshitters. I also have a 150iq (actually tested by a psychologist) so take that as you wish, but I'm certainly not dumb or slow.
