How Long Does It Really Take to Learn German from Scratch?

Learning a new language is often seen as a marathon rather than a sprint – and German, with its distinct grammar and pronunciation, is no exception. But exactly how long does it take to become proficient if you’re starting from scratch? At Olesen Tuition, we’ve helped thousands of learners in London and abroad progress from absolute beginners to confident speakers. Here’s what our experience – and the research – shows.

Understanding what “learning German” really means.

The time required depends on what you define as “learning.” According to the Foreign Service Institute (FSI), German falls into Category II for English speakers, requiring approximately 750 classroom hours to reach professional working proficiency. That’s roughly half the time needed for languages like Arabic or Mandarin.

However, these are averages. Motivation, consistency, and teaching quality make a significant difference. At Olesen Tuition, we find that most dedicated beginners achieve conversational fluency in 9 to 12 months through structured German lessons in London or learn German online programmes.

The importance of structure and teaching quality

German’s complexity lies in its grammar – cases, gender, and word order – areas where guided teaching is invaluable. Learners who study independently often take twice as long to reach the same level because they lack systematic correction. Our Oxford-educated founder, Jens Olesen, designed our curriculum around measurable milestones aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), from A1 to C2.

How Olesen Tuition accelerates learning

• Native-speaking tutors: Every lesson exposes you to authentic pronunciation and idioms.
• Personalised pathways: We tailor each course to your purpose – relocation, career, or exams.
• Small group sizes: Our German classes in London ensure individual attention.
• Blended learning: Combining live sessions with online reinforcement dramatically increases retention.

Studies by the British Council confirm that immersive practice and regular tutor feedback can reduce time to fluency by 30–40%.

The key takeaway

So, how long does it take? With regular lessons twice a week, most learners at Olesen Tuition progress from A1 to B2 within a year. The journey isn’t just about hours logged – it’s about the quality of each hour. With experienced native tutors, you can achieve genuine fluency faster than you think.