Last updated: October 2026
Why I am the wrong person to brag about this
Let me be upfront: I suck as a language learner. After seven years in the country I moved to, my language skills had not gone beyond basic conversation. I could order food and handle small talk, and that was about it.
I have excuses, of course. I was teaching English most of the time, and many people around me spoke English, so I rarely had to switch. But that’s on me. Nobody stopped me from studying.
Did it ruin my life abroad? No. I built a decent social life and a job I liked. I got friends, you know. But I am sure I could have had more: more friends outside the international bubble, more job options, and fewer moments of nodding along without understanding. If you want to learn a new language properly, learn from my mistakes and from my friend’s success below.
How my friend learned German in nine months
A friend of mine moved to Germany and went from zero to a B2 certificate in about nine months. She proved you can learn a new language as an adult in under a year. She did not have a secret, just a timetable she stuck to.
- Intensive classes: four hours a day, five days a week.
- Homework: about two hours every day on top of class.
- Modules: A1, A2, B1 and B2, each lasting about two months, with an exam at the end of every module before she could move up.
- Final exam: a B2 certificate exam covering speaking, writing, reading and listening.
Passing with good grades opened the door to applying to university in Germany, where many public universities charge no tuition fees for degree programmes taught in German. It is worth knowing the details before you copy her plan, though. Many German-taught degrees ask for C1-level proof (such as DSH level 2 or TestDaF level 4) by the time you enrol, and some accept B2 only for a conditional offer, as the University of Augsburg explains on its admissions page. Tuition is not free everywhere either: universities in Baden-Württemberg, for example, charge non-EU students €1,500 per semester for bachelor’s and consecutive master’s programmes.
She also told me something I wish I had heard years earlier. There are accredited language schools that run at different paces, and there are informal schools that are fine if you only want to speak socially or at work. But if you intend to settle, there are no shortcuts. Aim for B2 or C1.
How long to learn German, realistically?
Her timeline is fast but not magic. Four hours a day, five days a week, is about 20 hours of class a week before homework. The Goethe-Institut’s rough guideline puts B2 at roughly 450 to 600 hours of instruction, so nine months of intensive study adds up. If you can only manage a couple of evening classes a week, the same journey could take several years. The question of how long to learn German really comes down to how many hours you can put in each week.
What the A1 to C2 levels actually mean
Before you learn a new language for study, work or residence, you need to understand the scale everyone uses. Most European schools, exams and immigration rules refer to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), published by the Council of Europe. It has six levels in three groups. The descriptions below are short summaries of the Council of Europe’s global scale; the instruction hours are the Goethe-Institut’s rough guide for German.
| Level | Group | What you can do (summary) | Rough hours of German instruction |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | Basic user | Use everyday expressions, introduce yourself, and interact simply if the other person speaks slowly and helps. | About 60–150 |
| A2 | Basic user | Handle simple, routine tasks such as shopping, basic personal information and directions. | About 150–260 |
| B1 | Independent user | Understand the main points on familiar topics, cope with most travel situations and describe experiences and plans. | About 260–490 |
| B2 | Independent user | Understand complex texts, including technical discussion in your field, and talk with native speakers without strain on either side. | About 450–600 |
| C1 | Proficient user | Understand demanding, longer texts and use the language flexibly for social, academic and professional purposes. | About 600–750 |
| C2 | Proficient user | Understand virtually everything heard or read and express yourself very fluently and precisely. | 750+ |
The Goethe-Institut stresses that these hours are a rough guideline. Your commitment, languages you already speak and hearing the language outside class all make a real difference.
How to learn a new language faster once you arrive
Classes give you structure, but daily life is where you really learn a new language. These are the habits that helped me most, and the ones I should have pushed much harder.
- Speak to locals in their language. Order in restaurants, ask questions at the market, greet your neighbours. Most people appreciate the effort.
- Watch the news and listen to local radio. You will not understand much at first, but your ear adjusts to the rhythm long before you catch every word.
- Rewatch films you already know. Pick familiar films dubbed or subtitled in the local language. Knowing the story lets you focus on the words.
- Book real hours, not good intentions. My friend succeeded because her week was planned around classes and homework. Put your study time in your calendar like a shift at work.
- Use apps as a supplement. Apps are useful for vocabulary on the bus, but on their own they rarely get anyone to B1. Combine them with a course and real conversation.
Want to learn Lithuanian? Here is where to start
Most of our readers are heading to Lithuania. Lithuanian has a reputation for being difficult, and many people in the cities, especially younger people, speak English. That makes it very easy to end up like me. Do not. When you learn a new language that few foreigners bother with, people notice the effort.
The good news is that there are several free or low-cost ways to learn Lithuanian if you live in the country. Places fill up quickly, so check each provider’s page for the next intake.
- Vilnius city courses: Vilnius runs free Lithuanian courses with Vytautas Magnus University for non-EU citizens and stateless people who hold a Lithuanian residence permit and have registered their address in Vilnius. Each course is 75 academic hours and ends with an academic certificate with ECTS credits. Details and registration dates are on the City of Vilnius page for foreign residents.
- Free online courses for third-country nationals: a national project run by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Social Security and Labour, with Kaunas University of Technology as a partner, offers free online A1 and A2 courses for 2026–2028. When we last checked, registration was closed because the groups were full, so watch for new intakes.
- Courses at your university: many universities offer Lithuanian classes for their international students. Vilnius University, for example, runs a 50-academic-hour Lithuanian course for its foreign students in the autumn and spring semesters. Ask your international office what your university offers.
Choosing where to live also matters. Our guide to the best cities in Lithuania for students can help you compare.
Do you need Lithuanian for work or residence?
Increasingly, yes, depending on what you do. Since 1 January 2026, foreigners who sell goods or provide services in Lithuania must speak Lithuanian at A1 level during the first two years after their residence permit is issued, and at least A2 after that, according to the State Language Inspectorate. That matters if you plan to work in a café, shop or other customer-facing job while you study. Our article on job opportunities in Lithuania for students covers the wider picture.
The National Education Agency runs the state language exams. In Vilnius, the A1 exam costs €52 from 1 January 2026, according to the city’s foreign residents page.
For a permanent residence permit, Lithuania currently requires you to pass checks of the Lithuanian language and of the basics of the Constitution, according to a December 2025 Lithuanian Government document. Parliament has also been considering stricter rules. In June 2026 the President submitted amendments that would require a Lithuanian language exam for people applying for a residence permit for the third time within ten years. We could not confirm whether these had been adopted at the time of writing, so check the Migration Department website for the current rules before you plan your stay.
In short: if you want to stay in Lithuania long term, the time to learn a new language is your first semester, not your fifth year.
Choosing language courses for foreigners in Europe
Whether you are in Vilnius, Berlin or anywhere else, language courses for foreigners in Europe tend to fall into a few types. The right one depends on why you want to learn a new language.
| Course type | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Intensive accredited course | University entry, settling, career goals | Takes most of your day; hard to combine with full-time work |
| Evening or part-time course | Working people and full-time students | Progress is slow, so expect to take much longer per level |
| Free city or government course | New residents on a budget | Limited places, eligibility rules and waiting lists |
| University course for international students | Students who want credits and a routine | Often covers beginner levels only |
| Informal school or conversation club | Social and workplace speaking | May not lead to a certificate that institutions accept |
If a certificate matters (for university, a job or a residence application), check which exams the institution actually accepts before you pay for anything. When you compare language courses for foreigners in Europe, ask whether the school prepares you for a recognised exam at the end of each level, as my friend’s school did.
Germany is a good example of why this matters. To get a settlement permit there, skilled workers generally need to show German at B1 level, according to the official Make it in Germany portal. If you plan to stay, it pays to learn a new language to a certified level early rather than scrambling later.
A simple plan for your first year
If you want to learn a new language abroad without repeating my seven-year plateau, this checklist is a good place to start.
- Before you leave: learn greetings, numbers and basic phrases.
- First month: sign up for a course. Free city courses and university classes fill quickly, so ask as soon as you arrive. Our guide on how to settle in Lithuania after arrival covers the other first-month tasks.
- Every day: 30 to 60 minutes of homework, apps or listening. Small, steady sessions beat a weekend panic.
- Every week: at least one real conversation in the local language, whether at a market, a club or with a classmate.
- After each level: take an exam or a level test so you know your progress is real.
- By the end of year one: decide your target level based on your plans: A2 for everyday life and many service jobs in Lithuania, B1 or B2 if you plan to settle or study in the language.
Still planning? Our article on the five phases of moving abroad may help you prepare.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to learn a new language?
How quickly you learn a new language depends on the language, your starting point and your weekly hours. As a rough guide for German, the Goethe-Institut estimates about 450 to 600 hours of instruction to reach B2. With intensive classes that can take under a year; with a few hours a week it can take several years.
Is it possible to learn Lithuanian for free?
Yes, if you are eligible. Vilnius offers free courses for non-EU residents with a residence permit registered in the city, and a national project offers free online A1 and A2 courses for third-country nationals. Places are limited, so check the provider’s page for the next intake.
Do I need Lithuanian to study in Lithuania?
Not for programmes taught in English. But since January 2026, foreigners in customer-facing jobs need Lithuanian at A1 level in their first two years after their residence permit is issued, and A2 after that, so it matters if you want to work in a shop or café while you study.
What level do I need to study at a German university?
For degrees taught in German, many universities require C1-level proof, such as DSH level 2 or TestDaF level 4, before enrolment. Some accept B2 for a conditional offer or a preparatory course. Always check the specific university’s admissions page.
What is the best way to learn a new language abroad?
Combine a structured course that leads to recognised exams with daily use: speak to locals, listen to local radio and TV, and avoid relying on English for everything.
Deciding to learn a new language is one of the best investments you can make in your life abroad, and you do not have to be a natural to do it. If you are planning to study or work in Lithuania or elsewhere in Europe and want help thinking through your move, book a free consultation with us. We are happy to share what we have learned, including the mistakes.
Questions? Leave a comment