Frequently Asked Questions

As many as you can! It generally takes around 1600 hours of language sessions to build a vocabulary of 10,000 recognizable words. This is when we start to understand most of what we hear around us. The more hours you spend learning language daily, the faster the “wall of noise” around you will become more familiar sounds and the more you’ll grow in your sense of belonging.

We recommend taking 20 hours weekly for your first year of sessions to fast-track your learning and the first 2 years if possible. But we will help you regardless of how many hours you can devote to your language and culture learning.

As soon as possible. Language learning should take priority. It is never a bad time to start learning a new language and there is no time like the present. So call us up and let us get you started learning Arabic or Kurdish.

Part of the answer to this question is how do you define fluent and what are your goals/timeline?

If we relate fluency to being an expert in something, then we can go by what author Malcolm Gladwell said about a study highlighted in the Harvard Business Review about the concept that has become known as the “10,000 hours to become an expert rule.”  Gladwell explains the research behind the idea that true experis is achieved after investing 10,000 hours in learning and practicing a skill. This is true whether it is a sport, a musical instrument, or the study of a specific topic or field.

So, if we consider fluency to be the same as being an “expert”, then over time a learner should invest 10,000 hours in their language efforts. 10,000 hours seems like a lot of time. Probably more than you feel like you have. There are many ways to define “fluency.”  If we think of fluency in light of the question, “How long until I understand most of what is happening around me and people can understand me?”  In this case, it’s necessary to become familiar with at least 10,000 vocabulary words in any given language.  We find it takes most people around 1600 hours of language sessions to reach 10,000 vocabulary words.  Depending on how many hours you are committing to, this can be reached in as few as 16 months.  We encourage language learners to set aside two years for full-time language and culture immersion if at all possible.

At Culture Collective our efforts focus on helping you understand the world around you and develop relationships as quickly as possible. For that reason, beginning in Phase 2, we start with practical skills you need fast, like reading words on signs and text messaging friends.

Your language program can be personalized and adjusted to your abilities and goals. For example, some people have high ambitions for their reading and writing. Others prefer to strengthen conversational skills as their primary focus.