Runningbrook International Preschool
San Carlos Center: Carlos Peña Otaegui 11206 (intersection La Fuente) San Carlos de Apoquindo, Las Condes
Runningbrook International Preschool
San Carlos Center: Carlos Peña Otaegui 11206 (intersection La Fuente) San Carlos de Apoquindo, Las Condes
October 29, 2026
It's one of the questions we hear most often, sometimes asked hopefully at enrollment and sometimes worriedly a few months later: "How long until my child is fluent?" Maybe your little one has been in a bilingual program for weeks and still only says a handful of words in the new language. Maybe they understand everything but answer in their home language. Or maybe they mix both languages in one sentence and you wonder if that's a problem.
If any of this sounds familiar, you're in good company. Over more than three decades, Runningbrook has welcomed over 1,200 families from more than 35 countries, and almost all of them have asked some version of this question. This article gives you honest, research-informed timelines, explains what you might see along the way, and offers practical things you can do at home. Most of all, we hope it reassures you that becoming bilingual is a journey, not a race.
We'd love to give you an exact date, but language learning doesn't work that way. Every child develops at their own pace, and how quickly a child picks up a second language depends on things like:
That said, research gives us useful general guidelines. Language researcher Jim Cummins made an influential distinction between two kinds of language skills. Conversational fluency, the everyday language of the playground and snack time, usually develops in about 1 to 2 years of regular exposure. Academic language, the more complex vocabulary and structures used for learning and reasoning, generally takes 5 to 7 years to reach the level of native-speaking peers. These timelines come from studies of school-age children, but they remind us that "fluency" has layers, and that real proficiency builds gradually.
Research by Barbara Zurer Pearson and colleagues on bilingual children also found that the amount of exposure matters. Children who hear a language only a small fraction of their waking time (roughly less than 20 to 25 percent) are much less likely to start actively speaking it, even if they understand it. In other words, consistent, meaningful contact with a language makes a real difference.
Early childhood researcher Patton Tabors, in her well-known work on young children learning a second language, described a set of stages many preschoolers move through. Not every child follows them in a straight line, and some overlap, but knowing them can help you recognize progress that isn't always obvious.
At first, many children keep using the language they know, even when others don't understand. This is a natural, hopeful attempt to communicate.
Many children then go quiet in the new language, sometimes for weeks or even several months. This can worry parents, but it's a very active time. Your child is listening, observing, and figuring out how the language works. You might notice them following instructions, laughing at the right moment in a story, or joining a song with gestures but not words. Understanding almost always comes before speaking.
Next come words and "chunks" that get the job done: "my turn," "no," "water please," "look!" Children often repeat whole phrases they've heard many times, like a line from a favorite song or a classroom routine.
Gradually, children start creating original sentences. They'll make mistakes, like "I goed outside," and that's a wonderful sign. It means they're figuring out the rules for themselves, just as monolingual children do.
You don't need to speak both languages perfectly, or at all, to support your bilingual child. Here are some simple strategies you can start today.
Research consistently shows that a strong first language supports second-language learning. Talk, sing, tell stories, and read in the language you feel most comfortable with. Your child's home language is a big part of their identity and their connection to family, and it's an asset.
Children learn language best when they care about what's being said. Try songs, picture books, simple games, or cartoons in the second language. If your child loves dinosaurs, a dinosaur book in English or Spanish will do more than flashcards ever could.
When your child says "I runned fast!", instead of correcting them, try repeating it back the right way: "You ran so fast!" This approach, called recasting, models the language gently and keeps your child confident and willing to try.
Avoid pressuring your child to perform ("Say something in English for Grandma!"). Pressure can make shy speakers quieter. Trust that understanding is growing, and let your child decide when to share.
Playdates, family video calls, community events, or story time with friends who speak the second language give your child a real reason to use it. Language grows through relationships.
At Runningbrook, our child-centered approach and play-based learning are designed to work with the natural way children learn languages. Instead of drills, our educators weave English and Spanish into everyday moments: building in the sandbox, preparing snack, singing during circle time, or exploring the garden. These are exactly the meaningful, repeated experiences that research tells us support early childhood development and language growth.
Our small group sizes mean educators can notice each child's stage and respond individually, whether that's giving a quiet child time to observe or extending a chatty child's sentences. And in our multicultural environment, children hear many languages and accents every day, learning that speaking more than one language is normal and valuable. From our youngest learners in Growing Steps to our Pre-Kinder children, bilingual education at Runningbrook is about building confidence, curiosity, and connection, not just vocabulary.
Families have different goals and traditions around language. Some want children to keep a heritage language alive; others are new to Chile and want their child to settle in; others hope to prepare their child for an international future. Cultural communication styles also shape how children talk. In some families, children are encouraged to speak up with adults, while in others, quiet listening is a sign of respect. Neither is better, and both can influence how quickly a child chooses to speak in a new setting. Understanding this helps us all be more patient and respectful.
So, how long until your child is fluent? The honest answer is that conversational fluency often appears within a year or two of regular exposure, deeper fluency takes years, and every child walks this path in their own way and at their own pace. Quiet periods, mixed sentences, and creative mistakes are all signs of a brain hard at work.
Remember, you are the expert on your child. You know their personality, their moods, and the small signs of progress no one else might notice. If you ever have concerns about your child's overall language development, in either language, trust your instincts and talk with your child's educators or a pediatric professional. Being bilingual doesn't cause language delays, but every child deserves support when they need it.
Most of all, enjoy the journey. Each new word, song, and silly mixed-up sentence is a small celebration. With your love, patience, and support, your child is building a gift that will last a lifetime.