What Does Being Fluent In A Language Mean?

You will hear aspiring language learners saying “I want to be fluent”, but what does it actually mean?

It’s a pretty a pretty vague statement and there seems to be a lot of debate around what it means, so I will try and go through all the different ways this can be looked at.

Personally I believe that fluency is when you can effortlessly have a conversation about most things and the person you are talking to doesn’t have to struggle to understand you.

I don’t think you need to be perfect, but so long as you can fit in and talk freely, you are fluent.

What People Believe Fluency In A Language Means

I often hear fluency described as some sort of milestone, like it is a measurable point that you hit.

If this was the case, then we could easily quantify the criteria. We could just say once you know X, Y and Z, you’re fluent which of course, isn’t how it works.

This is the same for any kind of language test or qualification. While having passed a test does show you know a lot and it can measure what you do know, it does not show you are fluent.

A lot of people say that if you can get to the B2 level (on the European scale) you are probably at the right level to start being classed as fluent. I would sort of agree. Usually at this point you can comfortably talk about a lot of topics.

However, just because you can get all the answers right on a test and be able to speak well at this level, does not automatically make you fluent.

(You can read more about the – CEFR Exam)

You Are Fluent If You know Enough Words

A similar theory to being able to “pass a test” this is the theory that if you know a certain number of words, then you will be fluent.

Again, this is good, but it doesn’t quite work. You can know 10,000 words, but if you do not know how to recall them and use them in a conversation, then you are not fluent. 

However, there are people who kind of try and say the opposite of this is true. They may not know a lot of words, but those that they do, they know very well. This is like the advanced holiday learner. They can easily order at the bar and introduce themselves, but anything more than this and they are lost.

These people are not fluent. Knowing these few things is great, but you need a lot more to be classed as fluent.  

Fluency In A Language Is A Scale

Fluency is hard to define as it is on a sliding scale, You could say it’s very similar to learning to drive.

When you start driving your actions are very clunky and need to talk yourself through the process. You are driving, but it really not a smooth experience and is certainly not automatic. You could compare this to when you are first speaking a language, where you have to think about things or translate in your head.

As you get better at driving it become more natural and you have to think less. The process becomes more automatic. Language is the same. As you become more comfortable with the language the less you will need to translate it in your head and it becomes more automatic as well.

At the point where you start to become comfortable you can probably pass your driving test, but you still have lots to learn and still need experience. Basically you will not be as good as someone who has been driving for 30 years. There is a scale of skill and ability.

This is exactly how language fluency works. You are good enough to be “fluent” but you’re nowhere near the level of a native.

Even if you look at people around you, you will see that they fall across this scale, which I will cover below.

When Can You Say You Are On The Fluency Scale?

When you are a beginner it can seem like an impossible mission to become fluent, but with hard work you can get there.

You will need a good grasp of grammar and a large vocabulary. You will need to have good listening skills and you will need to be able to speak confidently.

When you put this all together you should be able to start moving through the ranks from a beginner and intermediate and become an advanced learner.

Conversational Fluency

This is the lowest level on the scale. This is being able to comfortably talk about most things in life. You’re now not translating in your head and you easily understand what people are saying to you.

You should be able to speak without hesitation and describe most things you want to express. You may still struggle with more in-depth topics and specialised vocabulary, but you will be fine in day to day life.

You should be able to read newspapers and watch TV with no real problems.

Native Fluency

This is the higher end of the scale. Native speakers are always going to be better at speaking the language than you or any other learner. They have been ingrained as children; it may be all they know. You might never be able to reach this level, but that’s okay. 

They will also have better vocabulary and will also know a range of specialised vocabulary and slang.

Natives Ability Can Differ

Being native even has its own scale of fluency, which just shows how much language skills can vary.

If we look at kids, let’s say a 7 year old. They are going to be fluent in their native language. There is no question about it.

However, if we compare them to an 18 year old, they are worlds apart.

If we then take that 18 year old and then compare him to someone in their 50s, who’s been a university professor for the last 20 years and is an author of a number of books, guess what, they are probably worlds apart again.

At no point would we say any of these three are not fluent. They are all natives and all fluent. 100%, but the proficiency at which they can use the language is at very different ends of the scale.

Does Fluency In A Language Matter?

No one is perfect at any language. We are not even perfect at our own language, it’s impossible, yet we are still fluent.

We need to remember that our skill and our fluency levels can vary greatly, but so long as we can communicate effectively, we can be classified as fluent. 

We need to be aware of this as we tend to forget about it. We get it stuck in our minds that fluency is some sort of perfection, when it is very far from that.

Conclusion

Try not to think too much about fluency and when you will get there or what end of the scale you might be able to achieve.

Just focus on putting the work in and building on your skills. With time you will get on the scale and at that point you will be happily communicating and can develop from there if you want.

Focus on the ability to communicate well and the fluency will follow.

(You can read more about – What Is The Best Language To Learn?)