Ten reasons to study French
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Ten reasons to study French
- 1. Top Ten Reasons to Study French With French, you can. . .
- 2. Communicate with French speakers around the world With French, you can. . .
- 7. Boost your academic skills With French, you can. . .
- 13. Become proficient more quickly than with most world languages With French, you can. . .
- 17. Increase options for undergraduate and graduate studies With French, you can. . .
- 19. Connect your future to cutting-edge fields in science and technology With French, you can. . .
- 27. Invest in your career With French, you can. . .
- 34. Enjoy special leisure-time activities With French, you can. . .
- 41. Benefit more from travel experiences With French, you can. . .
- 47. Enrich your appreciation of influential cultural contributions of the French-speaking world With French, you can. . .
- 63. Understand a variety of world perspectives With French, you can. . .
Editor's Notes
- The notes that follow for each slide are suggested support for each of the 10 reasons. Please tailor these slides to your audience, include some of the points in the notes in additional slides if you choose, and, if applicable, include local figures (number of French-speakers in your area, names of local companies with French ties, etc.). All information is current as of June, 2009.
- French is spoken by over 200 million people on 5 continents as a first or second language. French is the second most frequently taught language in the world after English. French has the status of official language in 32 states and governments world-wide. About 2 million people in the US speak French or Creole French in the home. 9.6 million people speak French in Canada. Over 6 million people in America speak French fluently as a second language. New York, California, and Florida have joined Louisiana, Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire as the main centers of French in the US. French is among the top five languages used on the Internet.
- The richest source of vocabulary in English actually derives, not directly from Latin, but from French. Since at least one out of three words in English has been borrowed from French, students studying French will improve their scores on comprehension of reading texts and vocabulary on standardized tests, such as SAT, ACT, GRE, and LSAT. Knowing French enriches language usage in English in many domains, e.g., vocabulary for legal, administrative, architectural, and culinary matters. Knowledge of French enhances developmental skills in creative and critical thinking, and in problem solving. It also stimulates brain functioning.
- French is among the languages that require the least amount of instructional hours in order for an English speaker to reach a high level of speaking proficiency, according to the Defense Language Institute. It requires approximately 720 hours (5 contact hours a day) for a mature learner to reach an advanced level of speaking proficiency in French; whereas, after 1,000 hours a student of Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean may only reach a low level of speaking proficiency. By studying French, the learner can more easily develop proficiency in other languages. French is a natural choice for speakers of Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese because of their common roots in the Latin language.
- Many students of French opt to complement or complete their studies in a variety of disciplines in a French-speaking country. Researchers, particularly in science, technology, medicine, and business, have an edge on their competitors when they can read studies in the original language, i.e., French, without having to wait for a translation. Not all research is translated into English. Most graduate schools require knowledge of at least one foreign language, and French is a common choice for many fields of study. The Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie networks 630 French-language universities and more than 350 French faculties worldwide.
- French-speaking countries are at the forefront of technological inventions and scientific research and discoveries, such as : nanotechnology nuclear energy aerospace technology voice compression high-speed rail services fiber optics microchips video gaming commercial satellites HIV virus medical genetics (the Human Genome Project) reconstructive surgery
- French speakers are in demand in banking and finances, international market analysis, diplomacy, hotel management, international trade, media correspondence, aviation, national security, education, health care, customer service, and law enforcement. Knowing French can help one gain a valuable understanding of cultural and business practices in other places. Knowing French can be a plus in getting a job or advancing in one’s field. French can provide opportunities for networking globally. Well-known French-owned companies in the US include Michelin, L’Oréal , BIC, Atari, Louis Dreyfus Property Group, and Air Liquide. French is an official language of our largest bilateral trading partner, Canada. Quebec alone is the 6th largest trading partner of the US. The US is the leading investor in France. Over 3,700 American companies operate in France. France is the second largest investor in the US. Among foreign countries doing business in the US, France employs the 3rd largest number of Americans. France is the world’s 5th largest economy and Europe’s 2nd largest market.
- Sports enthusiasts can follow their favorite events and athletes in a number of sports popular in the French-speaking world, for example, cycling in the Tour de France and Paris-Brest-Paris; tennis in the French Open; horseracing at Longchamps; motorcycle racing, Formula 1 automobile racing, 24 Heures du Mans and Monaco’s Grand Prix, and off-road racing in the Rallye Le Dakar; and baseball and hockey matches in the US against Canadian teams. French is an official language used to announce events and winners at the Olympic Games. French and Quebec films have experienced international recognition and appear in the US. French film production (500 films a year) ranks number 2 in the world. In the US, half of the foreign films watched and 30% of the foreign books published are in French.
- French is an influential language spoken and understood in this hemisphere. Over 33 million people in the Americas have an understanding of French. Some destinations include Quebec, New Brunswick, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Haiti, St. Martin, French Guyana, and Louisiana. Every continent offers French-speaking destinations, which are enjoyed more when the traveler can interact with the local residents. France is the most visited country in the world, with 75 million tourists each year.
- The impact on literature, philosophy, and the arts (music, painting, sculpture, film, photography, theatre, dance, cuisine, fashion, and architecture) are particularly noteworthy. A small sample includes: Literature: Antonine Maillet (Québec), Aimé Césaire (Martinique) Philosophy: Jean-Paul Sartre (France), Jean-Jacques Rousseau (Switzerland) Comic strips: Tintin (Hergé, Belgium), Astérix (René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo, France) Painting: René Magritte (Belgium), Pierre Auguste Renoir (France) Sculpture: Auguste Rodin and Camille Claudel (France), Yves Trudeau (Quebec) Film: François Truffaut (France), Xavier Dolan (Quebec) Photography: Robert Doisneau (France), Léonard Misonne (Belgium) Theatre: Le Médecin malgré lui ( The Doctor in Spite of Himself, Molière, France); Comme Deux Frère, Maryse Condé, Guadeloupe) Musical Theatre: Les Misérables, (Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, France), Notre Dame de Paris (Richard Cocciante and Luc Plamondon, Quebec) Vocal music: Natalie Dessay (France); Isabelle Boulay (Quebec) Musical Groups: Beau Soleil (USA), Paris Combo (France) Dance: Ballet Folklorique d’Haïti, Le Ballet Jazz de Montréal Cuisine: Normand Laprise (Québec), Paul Bocuse (France) Fashion: Jean-Paul Gautier (France), Jean-Claude Poitras (Quebec) Architecture: Le Corbusier (Switzerland/France), Eiffel (France)
- French is spoken in more than 56 countries in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Knowing French enables one to understand cultural diversity which will not only enhance one’s competitive advantage abroad and help maintain political and security interests, but also promote a better understanding of cultural diversity within the US. With a knowledge of French one will be able to work toward global consensus and peace, and participate in humanitarian efforts since French is an official language or a working language in many international agencies and organizations, including: United Nations UNESCO NATO International Red Cross European Union International Labor Bureau Doctors without Borders Council of Europe International Olympic Committee Amnesty International Universal Postal Union NAFTA World Health Organization Union of International European Court of Justice Organization for Economic Cooperation Development European Tribunal of First Instance Press Room at the European Commission