Can I Learn Python in a Month?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions among people who plan to step into programming. I will start by providing a short answer that includes a bit of Python history. Then, I will go more in-depth and show you how to learn Python in a month.

Python was created by Guido van Rossum in 1991. Although it has been around for a long time, Python has recently experienced a tremendous increase in popularity. At the same time, data science has experienced a similar increase in popularity. There seems to be a positive correlation between these two subjects.

Data science is an interdisciplinary field, and programming is a substantial ingredient. Data science creates value using data. The value can be in the form of an improved production process, more accurate sales forecasting, predictive maintenance, and so on.

In data science, programming is used for turning ideas into products. Whatever brilliant idea a data scientist has, it is useless unless put into action. To put these ideas into action, the first and foremost requirement is software. Thus, programming skills are crucial for any data scientist.

Data science has a vast number of applications and covers a broad range of industries. Thus, data scientists come from various backgrounds. What they often have in common is a lack of background in software development and programming skills.

However, data scientists need to have at least a certain level of programming skills. So, aspiring data scientists typically turn to a programming language that is less challenging to learn.

This is where Python comes into play. It is an easy-to-learn and intuitive language, which is why most people choose Python as their first programming language.

So, it looks like this is the reason for the positive correlation between Python and data science. Data scientists need to learn programming and want the most efficient option for obtaining this skill. As a result, most data scientists prefer Python.

Coming back to the question in the title of this article, the answer is yes. You can learn Python in a month. In this article, I will elaborate on my answer and provide a roadmap for learning Python in a month.

What’s So Great About Python?

Let’s go back to 1991. When Guido van Rossum created Python, he had the following goals in mind:

• An easy and intuitive language just as powerful as major competitors
• Open source, so anyone can contribute to its development
• Code that is as understandable as plain English
• Suitability for everyday tasks, allowing for short development times

What these goals have in common is that they aim to make Python easy to learn. Its target audience is novice programmers. Whatever your profession, Python offers you a path for learning programming without many obstacles.

If you take a closer look at these goals, you will clearly see what Guido van Rossum wanted to accomplish. If a language is easy and intuitive, you will not have a hard time figuring out what’s going on in the code. The structure of the code will not be complicated.

Programming involves more code reading than writing. When code is as understandable as plain English, it expedites the programming process. Taking the popularity of Python into consideration, we can conclude that Guido has succeeded in reaching his goal.

The first step in learning anything is to decide whether you want to learn it. There is a wide variety of programming languages. So, should you choose Python? Being easy to learn is a great feature, but it is not the only reason why Python is the popular choice. Here is a clear and concise list of five reasons to learn Python in 2021.

How To Learn Python in a Month

If you have decided to learn Python, it’s now time to talk about how to learn it in a month. This is an achievable goal, but you do need a plan. If you randomly go through the vast number of resources out there, it will definitely take more than a month.

Although Python is well-known for doing data-science-related tasks, it is a general-purpose language. Thus, Python has a broad spectrum of applications. You can also do web applications, mobile game development, web scraping, internet of things (IoT), and embedded programming with Python.

A benefit of learning a general-purpose language is that you are not limited to working in a particular field. However, such a broad scope means there is a ton of material to learn. Thus, without a proper plan, it might take you a long time to acquire the Python skills you desire.

You can make your own plan for learning Python. But, it may not be very efficient, especially if you are a newcomer. So, the best way to start is to find a carefully structured plan created by experts. LearnPython.com is a great platform for this.

LearnPython.com offers a great learning experience that’s efficient and effective. Its Learn Programming with Python track provides a well-designed path for beginners who want to learn Python.

This track starts with an introduction to the fundamentals of programming. It is important to have a decent idea of what programming is and what it aims to accomplish before jumping into developing your Python skills.

Next, you will learn about if statements, for loops, and while loops. These building blocks are essential for making decisions and performing repetitive tasks in a program.

After, you will learn about the data structures in Python: lists, dictionaries, sets, and tuples. When it comes to data structures, it is important to learn about what they represent and how to interact with them.

The track finishes up with a section about built-in algorithms in Python.

One of the advantages of the Learn Programming with Python track is that it gradually increases in complexity. You will not face complex code blocks before learning the basics. As you progress through the track, you will take small steps toward more difficult tasks. So, your motivation will always be high enough to keep moving.

The track consists of five interactive courses. It provides an online console to test everything you learn. Implementing your solutions using the online console helps you to improve your analytical skills and think like a programmer.

Practice is essential for obtaining a comprehensive understanding of Python concepts. Thus, learning from interactive courses is far more efficient than viewing video lectures or presentations.

So, we have said that LearnPython.com makes it possible to learn Python in a month. Let’s support that with numbers.

It takes about 65 hours to complete all the courses in the Learn Programming with Python track. If you can spare three hours a day, you will complete the entire track in 22 days. Thus, you can finish it up in a month.

Even better, all the weekends are yours. But if you also want to study on the weekends, you can make the daily sessions a little shorter. In any case, it is safe to say that learning Python in a month is an achievable goal.

Consistency and Motivation

Consistency is vital for learning Python. Do not try to complete the entire track in a few days. You will not gain much with this approach. I recommend making a plan that involves daily sessions of at most three hours.

If you ever feel a lack of motivation in your learning journey, think about the jobs you can get when you learn Python. Data scientist was once described as the sexiest job of the 21st century, and Python is one of the top skills required for data scientists.

You might also choose to become a Python developer, which is also a very popular job. Since Python is a general-purpose language, it offers a substantial number of employment options. Therefore, having Python in your arsenal will open many doors for you.

The Journey Continues

You can learn the basics and start writing simple programs in a month. However, the adventure of learning Python does not stop there. If you keep practicing, you will gradually increase your level of Python knowledge.

After completing the first month, it becomes more fun and exciting. You will feel more and more motivated as you write programs and see them execute successfully.

You can start by writing small, simple programs and then increase the complexity step-by-step. At each step, you will discover new tricks and techniques, and your skills will improve. You will also write more efficient code as you continue to learn.

Please keep in mind that programming is a dynamic skill. Therefore, if you stop using it, it will not take much time for you to forget what you have learned.

The optimal way to keep yourself fresh is through practice. After you obtain a comprehensive understanding of the basics, look for new challenges that involve more complex operations. The best way to practice Python involves solving problems with code.

Another valuable resource for practicing is preparing for interview questions. Mastering the common interview questions for junior Python developers will not only enhance your skills but also help you get ready for interviews.

If you plan to work as a Python developer, you are likely to have at least a couple of technical interviews that involve coding sessions. Considering how nervous you might feel during interviews, you will need to be very good at Python to be able to answer the questions without hesitation.

After working on stand-alone tasks for a while, you can start working on projects that require you to design and implement a solution. A project usually consists of several individual parts. In addition to finding a solution for each part, you also need to combine the parts seamlessly and efficiently.

This is another type of skill that is highly valuable for your professional career. Software products are almost always modular. The harmony between each individual part is crucial for the overall success of the product.

Final Thoughts

From the outside, programming might sound like a difficult skill to obtain. What challenges newcomers the most is the often complex syntax of programming languages. This can be a major obstacle for people who want to learn programming.

However, Python was developed to remove this obstacle. It provides an easy-to-understand and intuitive syntax. You can read Python code like plain English. Therefore, Python is a great programming language to start with.

You can learn the basics of Python in a month with a well-designed and structured plan. LearnPython.com provides this plan. Thanks to the Learn Programming with Python track, you can reach your goal by sparing only a few hours a day.