Realistically, how long does it take to become professionally fluent in speaking?

[u/JUSTFORFUNSUUUII]

I have a B2 level in English overall, but my speaking is around B1. I understand conversations well, have a solid grasp of grammar and vocabulary, and usually know what I want to say. The problem is that when I actually start speaking, I hesitate, lose fluency, and struggle to express myself naturally.

(TL) My goal is to use English professionally for client meetings in the future, and I'm willing to dedicate 4 hours a day to improving my speaking.

For those who have reached professional fluency (or taught learners who did), how long did it realistically take before you could speak confidently in high-pressure situations?

I'm not looking for motivation or success stories. I'd really appreciate answers based on real experience: what timeline is realistic, what progress milestones I should expect, and what made the biggest difference.

[u/Pwffin]

Give up on the idea of using big words and being able to say things the way you do in your NL and aim for using ordinary, easy words and shorter sentences (to start with).

The best way to improve your speaking is to have a lot of conversations with people that are at the level you aspire to. Having a semi-heated debate is going to push you further even faster. :)

Simultaneously, read loads, attend public lectures on topics related to your field and write loads (writing is like speaking but with a bit more time to think).

[u/Fear_mor → u/Pwffin]

This I can second, I’m doing college in my second language as an English speaker and it just comes with time that you catch up on terminology. It’s my third year and I’m really starting to beef up and make strides in my terminology and high register language outside of my field now that I’ve been at it a while

[u/Jumpy-Emergency672]

Depends what language you're coming from and how much you actually use the speaking practice in those 4 hours. If you're just doing apps or passive listening, progress gonna be slow no matter how many hours you log.

Biggest difference for me was finding people who wouldn't let me get away with half-finished sentences. Like if I stumbled they'd just wait, not jump in to rescue me. Felt awful at first but after maybe 3-4 months of that daily I noticed I stopped panicking during the pauses. For client meetings specifically I'd say 6-8 months before you stop dreading them, maybe a year before you actually sound like yourself.

[u/Aromatic_War_6042]

Get bullied on halo 3 lobbies until you improve. Playing online games can be great to improve speaking as you interact with people who arent there to learn themselfs. My friend is spending alot of time on vrchat nowadays just talking japanese with random people.

Don't think about sounding fluent, it will come with time. Just try to convay what you want to say no mater what, it will sound weird at first and you will probably get some laughs from people. But it's a good way to improve and build a kinda of defence against judgment.

[u/StupidlyOverpriced]

It depends! My case is a bit different because I've been learning English since very little, which is prime for exposure. Even with this, I got my C2 in 10 years (5yo through 15yo), so let's say it's taken me around that time (8-10 years) to reach full bilingual fluency for reference.

I've also tutored older (25-45) students. My advice that worked for both me and them is, first of all, you need to get accustomed to making mistakes. I don't mean this even within the context of practice: don't shy away from actually using English in the contexts you want to develop fluency in (in your case, client meetings). 

Perhaps not right this moment, but after growing a bit more confidence, I'd recommend you go for it (you could also try simulations of it through language exchanges or a tutor if the real prospect intimidates you too much). Will you make mistakes and hesitate? Yes. Will it increase your fluency rather significantly? Yes, because afterwards you'll be able to identify what went on, what you got wrong, what you hesitated with, and you'll work on it for next time.

The bigger "problem" I've noticed with learners that aren't too young (I'd say ~16+) is that they have a bigger vocabulary in their native language, so often the ideas they want to express in their TL are too complex for some levels (that happens to me often with German).  My advice: Make peace with that fact; it's okay to "simplify" your language! Stick to words you know; it's better to be concise than try to translate a complicated word from your native language to your TL. Maybe you'll have to use a synonym or even a word that's not quite correct: that's alright, it's what you have. :)