How much time do I need to spend learning Hindi?
Hindi, has been strongly influenced by Sanskrit. Its standard form is based on the Khari Boli dialect, found to the north and east of Delhi. Braj Bhasha, which was an important literary medium from the 15th to the 19th century, is often treated as a dialect of Hindi, as are Awadhi, Bagheli, Bhojpuri, Bundeli, Chhattisgarhi, Garhwali, Haryanawi, Kanauji, Kumayuni, Magahi, and Marwari. However, these so-called dialects of Hindi are more accurately described as regional languages of the “Hindi zone” or “belt,” an area that approximates the region of northern India, south through the state of Madhya Pradesh.
We all live in a time when things move at breakneck speed. There are so many things to do and so little time to do them in, and in the midst of it all, we are all aiming to do things quickly and flawlessly. Persistence, on the other hand, is the key to learning a language!
According to the US Foreign Service Institute (FSI), it would take 1100 classroom hours to learn enough Hindi to understand a level equivalent to B2/C1. That means you’ll be able to communicate fluently in Hindi in a year to a year and a half. These figures apply to a dedicated Hindi student learning Hindi while in India, but even for an experienced, motivated language learner studying for an hour a day, six days a week, living in a non-Hindi-speaking country struggling to find an environment to practise regularly, it would most likely take longer. It is important to note that this time estimate does not take into account the possibility of external factors influencing your study schedules, such as your work schedule, including how much time you commit each day, your attitude, your conviction, your reason to learn, the environment around you, your cognitive abilities, grasping capabilities, the support you enjoy with regard to the internet, people, resources, and if you’ve had any previous experience, responsibilities you are shouldering, availability of a tutor, and what types of methods you are using to learn, and much more.