15 Important Reasons to Learn French

Of all the reasons, why choose to learn French? Here you will find many genuine and compelling reasons why you should study.

There are many benefits to learning a second language. Of all the choices, French is the most popular foreign language to learn, not just for Indians alone but also for all sundry. Apart from boosting your brainpower, the economic potential offered by French as a foreign language cut across all spheres of international business life.

Career opportunity in Foreign Language is probably the main reason one would learn French. The fascination with the French language extends beyond the distinct aesthetics of French cuisine, history, tradition, culture, arts, literature, places, customs, and the like.

Learning French will only open new doors for you! Below are 15 concrete and compelling reasons to consider learning the French language.

1. Widely Spoken and language of international prominence

With over 30 French-speaking countries, It is a language spoken by about 300 million— both native and non-native speakers. It is the official language used by 29 countries worldwide, cutting across five continents. French is the second most widely spoken mother tongue in the European Union.

The varieties of a French-language spoken by an estimated 120 million people in Africa spread across 24 francophone African countries. La Francophonie is a group of 84 countries that share French’s proper use or teaching. French is the second most widely learned foreign language after English.

Thanks to the ever-growing job opportunities in French, it is also the most popular choice among students who want to learn a foreign language. French is one of the few languages taught in every nation of the world and is among the most widely used languages of the United Nations (UN), the African Union, and other organisations.

The widespread French has created many beautiful French dialects, accents, varieties, and creoles worldwide.

2. An inspiring career language and Job opportunity

If you are seriously considering the international job market, adding French to your English-speaking abilities will boost your chances of landing a lucrative job.

Thanks to an array of career choices, the perks of learning French in India are quite good. Most companies operating in the aeronautic, automotive, banking and finance, hotel management, international trade, journalism and media, education, luxury goods, and retailing sectors demand French as a prerequisite for recruitment.

A knowledge of French opens the doors to High-paying language jobs in several French companies, namely, L’Oreal, BIC, Atari, Axa, BNP Paribas, Orange, Airbus, Alstom, Alcatel, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Lacoste, Michelin, Christian Dior, Carrefour, Peugeot, Michelin and many more.

You can work as a language specialist expert in the export and import sector. There are also plenty of French Jobs in KPO, BPO, MNC, and Call Centres. Other options include a career in travel and tourism, leisure, hospitality, French Jobs in the embassy embassies, and French teacher jobs in Schools, Universities, and private institutes.

Proficiency in French can derive a lot of professional mileage. You have the potential to one day embark on a career as a French translator and interpreter, providing an invaluable service to global corporations.

3. Travel enhancing language

Another good reason to learn French is Travelling. Imagine, for some reason, you are to take a tour of Africa or visit France or other French-speaking countries in Europe and beyond.

Knowing how to speak French will make your travel enjoyable. With 89 million tourists visiting it in 2017, France is the most visited country globally, and that number keeps growing.

France has numerous famous monuments, museums, galleries, landscapes, and historical sites reflecting a country with roots deep in history and a wonderful heritage. You will be able to show more appreciation and enjoy the Francophone culture.

You won’t just be a spectator but someone involved. Knowing French makes it a more pleasurable, productive, and enjoyable experience. We can enjoy it more when communicating with the natives in their language, don’t you agree?

4. Access to rich culture, literature, music, and movies

French is often described as the language of an enduring and unique culture. It is the language of international fashion, visual arts, theatre, dance, architecture, etc. Learning French exposes you to a world of affluent literature in original French, including their music and movies.

There is a wide range of quality French movies and TV shows to improve your French for your viewing pleasure. Watching these films and TV-Series without reading subtitles is a great way to learn this fascinating language.

France has the highest number of recipients of the Nobel Prize for Literature, with 16 Laureates. For centuries, it has been the birthplace of numerous great and supremely talented writers. Knowing French enables you to understand cultural diversity, which will enhance your competitive advantage abroad.

5. A language of higher education in France

Want to study in France? Within Europe, France is the third most popular destination for international students.

In 2017, over 5,500 Indian students chose France to pursue higher education. Higher education in France is known to prepare highly experienced and talented professionals, highly skilled.

Companies will see you as a candidate with an international mindset and a problem solver. Their degrees are respected and recognized by employers all over the world. Your ability to speak French will open you up to higher educational opportunities in French business schools and universities.

Indians who know how to talk to the French can obtain a French government scholarship to study in France.

6. A world-opening and a language of the Internet

French is one of the critical tongues on the Internet. Thus, it will offer you the opportunity to view the world from an alternative perspective by communicating with millions of French speakers from across the globe.

Fluency in French will help you get the news from the top international French media (TV5, France 24, Le Monde, and Radio France Internationale). Since plenty of relevant websites are in French and worldwide, Knowledge of French offers you useful, extended, and additional access to information.

7. A bridge for other European languages

The French language is what you can rightly describe as “the bridge-building” language. French proficiency has a knock-on effect when learning Romance languages like Spanish, Catalan, Italian, Portuguese, and Romanian.

You can find many French words similar to English and other romance languages. An insight into French offers new perspectives on English.

Suddenly many words like parliament (“Parler” is “to talk”), sentiment (“Sentir” is “to feel”), a donation (“Donner” is “to give”), relay (“Relayer” means “to take over from”), etc. This seems to make greater sense and not just limit themselves as mundane and obvious.

Knowing French will make it easier for you to appreciate a bit more about these languages. You will be at a tremendous advantage if you ever try to learn the next European language. Because many recognisable, common elements are easily assimilated and expanded upon by tapping into the previous language-learning experience.

8. An exciting and not a difficult language to learn

Learning French is not very difficult though not that easy either. Of course, it is pretty fun and motivational to learn. Children and adults can learn French through many methods that simplify the learning process. It will never take long to start communicating in French at a certain level.

French and English share thousands of cognates – some identical and others very closely related. Edition becomes Édition, Liberty becomes Liberté, Quality turns into Qualité, Music is Musique, etc.

Generally, French is perceived as a complicated European tongue but not as difficult as you think. French pronunciation and accents are complicated and sometimes tricky, though written is okay. How long does it take to learn any language?

Armed with the proper language learning techniques, interest, persistence, proven study materials, and enough motivation, one can master French in a matter of 3 years. You will complete the French Language proficiency test, i.e., DELF and DALF B2/C1, in 2-3 years.

9. A language of international relations and diplomacy

French is famous not just as a means to career asset, order food at restaurants, or initiate business deals in export houses. It is a means to assist in all sorts of international connections.

Bridge-building is an excellent way of ensuring peaceful coexistence among different people and nations of the world. One way to do that is by learning French as a foreign language since it is a prerequisite in most international organisations. The reason is that French is used as a global language of communication.

Many international organizations and agencies use French as an official language. Examples are the UN, the EU, UNESCO, WHO, UNHCR, UNCTAD, ECOSOC, NATO, the IOC, ICJ, the IRC, The international courts, and many more.

French plays an essential role if you consider a career in an international organisation. It is acknowledged as the language of diplomacy.

10. Health benefits and Good for the brain

According to various studies, scientists believe that bilingualism makes you smarter and helps keep your memory sharp. Learning French will help develop your brain power, boost your IQ, improve concentration, and enhance your problem-solving ability.

Besides, it increases your efficiency in prioritizing tasks, harnessing and sustaining your capability to undertake multi-tasking, and improving your perception and decision-making functionality. Research at the University of Ghent in Belgium recently concluded that Bilingual people might delay Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

11. A language that boosts international information

Once you know how to communicate in French, you will open a whole new and existing world of knowledge. There are hundreds of TV, radio, and internet communication services operating in French.

French is widespread in more than 56 countries in Africa, Europe, and other parts. The language cuts across five continents. These sources of information will open up to know more about the world, especially the extended culture of the people and countries where the language is helpful.

Many important works are written in French and continue to be produced. French allows you to appreciate this information in its original and unfiltered form.

12. Immigration to France, Canada, and other Francophone countries

Whether you want to settle in France or immigrate to Quebec or Canada, you have to appear for the various French proficiency test such as TCF and TEF Canada.

French is one of the requirements of economic immigration to Quebec province or Canada. It is one of the main reasons the respective countries’ governments provide incentives for immigrants’ language learning.

Imagine you are fluent in French. The company you are working for is looking for personnel to fill various positions in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Canada, Africa, or other French-speaking nations.

Your resume will unquestionably receive priority, among others, ahead of others who don’t have such qualifications.

13. The language of creativity, enlightenment, and reasoning

The French language is one of the best and most prestigious analytical tongues. The language structures and develops thoughts and critical thinking. It is also famous for being a language of eminent scientists and renowned philosophers like Georges Charpak, Pasteur, Marie Curie, etc.

Paris is often called “La Ville-Lumière” – the City of Light as it was the birthplace of the enlightenment. And more literally, Paris was one of the first European cities to adopt gas street lighting.

French is the language that shaped universal ideas championed by eminent philosophers that reigned in the Enlightenment period of the 18th century. That led to the widespread views and popularity of human rights as we know them today.

French is a type of language often heard and demonstrated on stage. Teachers for their students hold thousands of theatrical festivals that involve French every year in different places. It allows the student to develop self-confidence while facing other students. Students also learn French through motivational French songs from a vast repertoire of French singers.

14. To impress others and be a centre of attraction

You wouldn’t learn a language just to impress people, or would you? While I don’t advocate learning French to impress friends, acquaintances, or strangers, nor is it a great long-term motivation, it is impressive.

The ability to speak French can single-handedly create a great impression around you, particularly if you don’t flaunt this skill. Suppose the foreigner happens to be part of a business meeting. In that case, this impression can turn into a successful business partnership, bringing you professional and social satisfaction.

Moreover, you could even become a source of inspiration that motivates others to learn French for themselves.

15. French is a beautiful language

There is a reason why French has been called the “language of love” for decades – maybe longer. If there is one language in that world that draws a unanimous consensus regarding its beauty. Well, it is one and only French.

It may sound cliché, but It is aesthetically pleasing, stunning, poetic, mellifluous, and a very musical language. It seems incredibly musical to the non-native ear. French language rules to make sure that French always sounds like a harmonious and melodic song. Many like this language, including me, due to its softness, sensuality, and seductive power.

Conclusion — Should You Learn French?

French is an excellent option if you’re looking for the best foreign language for corporate jobs. The incentives for learning French as a foreign language are fabulous and in-exhaustive.

Why don’t you become part of this beautiful language today by signing up for a French study? French is a road to a new world experience.

I offer a wide range of French classes in Mumbai if you want to learn.