How long does it take an English speaker to reach conversational Russian
For an English speaker, reaching a conversational level in Russian typically takes about 2 to 6 months with effective study methods. This stage involves being able to discuss basic topics like hobbies, education, plans, and daily observations.
Achieving conversational Russian faster depends on factors like study time per day, learning resources, immersion, and prior experience with Slavic languages. Intensive daily practice can shorten the timeline, whereas casual learning extends it.
More broadly, to reach fluency or high proficiency in Russian, English speakers usually require about 1100 hours of study, equating roughly to 3 years of daily one-hour practice. This timeframe is based on assessments from the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) and experienced learners’ reports. However, conversational proficiency is significantly quicker and can be attained well before full fluency.