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Is it possible to be fluent in 3 months? Do you really think that it is possible to speak a foreign language fluently in only 3 months? Benny Lewis (the Irish polyglot) ensures this... I've been living in a foreign country, which I think is the fastest and most efficient way to learn a language as you are immersed 24/7. Believe me, after 3 months, I still didn't speak fluently! Was I able to speak? YES, of course. Did I speak fluently? Well, NO, at least not according to the way I define fluency!!! I'm curious, what is your opinion about it?
Jan 15, 2015 5:41 PM
Answers · 24
4
You have read Benny's own words on this, haven't you? :) (Your use of the word "ensures" made me wonder.) http://www.fluentin3months.com/defining-fluency-to-achieve-fluency/ So, what is your own definition of fluency? :) As someone also living away from their homeland, I find that while the opportunity for immersion is there, you don't learn the language by magic or osmosis. It's quite easy to build your own isolation-bubble, avoid the language and effectively sabotage your progress. Even with native speakers to talk to, without some real guidance you're just pecking at crumbs. I've had students who had spent a year in the UK or the US, and were still struggling at elementary level. These were the same students who thought it was OK to speak their own language in English class. No surprises there.
January 15, 2015
2
The real answer to this question begins with another question: "What is fluent?". I think it is possible for the average human being, with the right resources, the right training, the right dedication, to become high conversational in a second language in three months, but not fluent. To me, fluent is at least a C1 under the European framework, which is a much more useful measure of linguistic ability.
January 15, 2015
1
what language tests did Benny Lewis pass learning the language during 3 months?
January 16, 2015
1
I think no, no matter how immersed in the language you are. Unless you're a genius. Just picture the whole vocabulary of that language and the whole grammar with its rules and exceptions of the rules, and idioms and everything... I don't think that I would even have the time to utter every (relevant) word of that language once in that short period of time, let alone to know its meaning.
January 15, 2015
1
I don't think you can be fluent in three months. For me fluency means being able to read, write, and speak comfortably, and being able to engage in complex academic or professional activities. Basically what is defined as level C1 by CEFR is fluency, in my opinion. I don't think that level can be achieved in just 3 months. However, if we define fluency as being conversational and communicative without any noticeable pauses, I guess that can be achieved in 3 months after 24/7 immersion.
January 18, 2015
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