There are those who pick up a new language as a hobby, while others want to build a smarter brain.
Whatever the reason, we're here to share why French should be your top pick for learning a new language. What really makes learning this language different from any other language in the world?
It's often misunderstood that French is simply a language of love that is widely spoken throughout Europe. But did you know there are other parts of the world that have more French speakers than the entirety of France?
By the end of this article, we are certain you'll want to learn French as a second language.
1. With French, you can speak one of the top world languages.
Did you know that after English, French is the most widely learned foreign language in the world?
Statistics are revealing that the number of people interested in learning French or joining French lessons is growing at a rapid rate. Out of the 300 million or so people who speak French around the globe, there are over 100 million people who learn French or take French classes. It is even expected that 750 million people will speak French by 2050, more than double the number today!
Numbers aside though, what makes French one of the most important languages to learn?
For starters, French carries an "official language status" across 29 countries, including Canada, Mali, Haiti and Belgium. In addition, it is also an official language used in major international organisations, such as the United Nations, the European Union, NATO and the International Olympic Committee.
Speaking of which, stay tuned for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris!
Obviously, the benefits of learning the French language extend not just to international relations. For French to even cement itself as an official language, there have to be French speakers across all sectors: education, healthcare, business, engineering and even tourism. You can easily be part of the amazing French community if you decide to learn French.
Is it time to enhance your French language ability?
2. You can travel the world when you learn French!
We were just talking about how the French language is used in international organisations but will taking French lessons benefit you if you simply wanted to go on a holiday?
Well, let's look at the places where French is actually spoken. It's known that the French language is used as either an official or national language across five continents: Europe, Asia, Africa, America and Oceania (Australia). However, there are places outside of these continents where French is used as an administrative language. These are the 11 overseas territories of France.
If we include these other countries like Cambodia and Laos, you'll get French-speaking nations on every continent!
Of course, you can go on vacation even if you've never taken French classes or don't speak the language well. Nonetheless, your travel experience will surely be an enriching one if you know how to communicate with the locals and make friends along the way.
Anyways, if we haven't proved our point already, check out these French-speaking places that have been repeatedly listed as the top tourist destinations in the world:
- Bora Bora, French Polynesia
- Niagara Falls, Canada
- Grand Place, Brussels
- Anse Source d'Argent, Seychelles
- Monte Carlo, Monaco
You might want to consider picking up a few resources for beginner French learners!
Did we mention that Paris was also TripAdvisor's most popular world destination in 2022?
3. Learning French benefits your future.
Probably one of the most obvious benefits of learning the French language, but hear us out.
France sits among the top five countries in the world as the most popular for international students.
That's because France is home to some of the world's best institutions for higher education and research. Science courses such as biology, chemistry and environmental science, as well as humanities courses like literature and linguistics, are popular disciplines due to the extensive international research being done in these areas.
For instance, CNRS, the French National Centre for Scientific Research, is one of the leading research institutes on the globe.
Even though international research is done in French, 54% of French scientific publications are derived from international collaboration. This is a fantastic demonstration of the usefulness of the French language and why you should take up French lessons to study at top universities such as Sorbonne and Université PSL.
Education aside, do the benefits of learning the French language extend to one's future career as well?
It is clear that you will have several advantages as an academician if you learn French. But remember, French is used in many other parts of the world, too: agriculture, technology, energy and tourism are just some of the popular job sectors where speaking French will benefit you.
If you're into business, then knowing how to speak French is going to be an integral part of your success in the international job market. In certain places such as the UK and Africa, the French language plays a huge role for businesses that want to connect with local and overseas clients, and in negotiating important deals.
It's no wonder that the majority of international students in France are taking Business and Management!
4. The French language opens you up to a world of culture.
"It's Paris. Everyone's serious about dinner." - Mindy, Emily in Paris
While we can live vicariously through the characters of Emily in Paris to get a taste of French culture, wouldn't it be great to actually visit these places all because you've been taking French classes? Look how far those classes took Emily in being able to converse with others in the language!
Regardless of whether you're a fan of the show, no one can deny the amazing culture that is French: from cuisine to fashion, and from fine arts to architecture, you'll never run out of things for your engagement and amazement. But we also want to highlight why being able to speak French simply creates a more enriching cultural experience.
It is often in the simplest moments where knowing to speak a little French goes a long way.
Much of our own cultural experiences, even within our own communities, are paired with the languages tied to those cultures. Therefore, a cultural experience cannot be complete without a linguistic experience.
Picture yourself sitting down at Les Deux Magots for breakfast, along the streets of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, coming up with an itinerary to visit famous places such as Champs-Élysées, the Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe. Now if you were to engage in a conversation with a local, you may also learn of lesser-known places like Montmartre, Étretat or Carcassonne that are rich in French history and culture.
If you are interested in learning more about French history and culture, here are some places to put the knowledge from your French lessons into practice:
- Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen - famously depicted by Monet and also located in the city where military leader Joan of Arc was executed
- Abbaye du Mont-Saint-Michel - one of the most important places of medieval pilgrimage and involved over 1,300 years of construction
- Bordeaux wineries - from bold Cabernet Sauvignons to elegant Merlots, there's nothing quite like tasting top wines straight from the vineyard!
So, learn French and get ready to be welcomed into a world of culture.
How do I start learning French for beginners?
With the knowledge of these benefits of learning the French language, we're excited to see you excited about learning it as a second language! Perhaps you want to study abroad in France, carry out a conversation in French, or even take part in international relations using French. Whatever you want to use French for, the benefits are all yours to reap.
To start learning French for beginners, you can look for physical or online French tutors who can teach you the basics of the language. A great platform to do that is Superprof, a global learning platform that connects the learner to the tutor. And yes, you can easily find tutors who are offering both physical and online French lessons on Superprof.
That isn't the only advantage, though. Apart from beginner French classes, you can even find French classes tailored to intermediate and advanced learners, and even French lessons for kids if they are keen to start young. Detailed profiles of French tutors are also at your fingertips: lesson descriptions, student reviews, student pack rates and other recommendations are available on Superprof.
With Superprof, you can learn French for as low as RM30 per lesson, even with an experienced French tutor. It's time to feel the benefits of learning the French language.
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