Why should anyone learn French?
There are so many important languages in the world to learn for a host of reasons.
If you were making a choice for yourself or your kids as to which language is the most important, what reasons would French have to be a consideration?
Well... there are some great reasons to learn French!
In fact, I consider it to be one of the most important languages in the world today.
Here are some reasons for you to consider.
This is the most obvious point! 🙂
Sure, it is perfectly possible to visit France, Canada, or any other French-speaking country without speaking a word of French.
But it isn’t close to half as much fun.
By having an understanding of the French language, it may allow you to see and do things that many other visitors don’t get to.
Also, the best way to truly understand a culture is to be able to speak the language. Sure you can learn a lot through a Lonely Planet guide, but it’s being able to communicate with the natives and the locals that will give you the experience of a lifetime.
Being able to read a French newspaper, for example, can give you great insight into the places you visit and a better vision of what is going on in other parts of the world.
Not to mention, French offers a wealth of literature, both modern and traditional.
Oddly enough, you can improve your understanding of English.
Yes, that’s right!
A lot of the vocabulary of English has Latin origins, much of which came to English by way of French. Both French and English share Indo-European roots, so their grammar are similar.
There probably isn’t a more effective way to learn English grammar than by studying the grammar of another language, since studying forces you to think about how your language is structured.
It’s not unusual, for example, to gain an understanding of English verbs’ tenses and moods by learning how those verbs are used in French.
Interested in learning other languages?
Well, if you can learn French, you’ll have an edge in learning the other Latin-based languages such as Spanish, Italian and Portuguese.
In the end, learning French will help you learn any language simply because by simply learning the structure of one language can give you a reference point for learning others.
Being able to speak another language can also help you in your career.
Wherever you live, if you’re in any occupation that involves international trade, communications, or tourism, you’ll find similar opportunities to use your new language skills.
There is a limitless range of things you can do with French!
And finally, whether you enjoy talking, reading, or mastering challenges, you’ll find all of them in learning French.
There’s something about being able to successfully speak another language that makes life more interesting.
Maybe that’s why children often speak Pig Latin or create secret codes of their own.
Learning a language can be work, well, a lot of hard work, but the efforts pay off quickly when you finally get to use your new skills.
Have you always wanted to learn basic French?
It is never too late to learn a new language, and with the right software and books, learning basic French can be easy, fast and fun.
Soon, you will be able to speak and read simple phrases, and you will reap the benefits of this new found knowledge in your professional and personal life. And once you have mastered basic French, this knowledge will serve as a solid foundation for further study, which will increase your fluency. Today, we are doing business in a global economy.
Consequently, being able to speak and read another language, even at a basic level, is a career plus.
When it comes to French and your career, think about how and where your company does business, and check if any of these scenarios fit you. Has your company just merged with a French company? Or has your corporation just signed a huge contract with a French corporation?
What other, if any, corporate connections exist with France or another French speaking country?
Is there an opportunity for you to achieve career advancement by relocating to one of these countries?
If you answered “yes”to any of these questions, then learning some French will accelerate your career.
Fast-forward to your dream promotion. You are now living, working and thriving in Paris, and you have just met your dream mate. And your dream mate just happens to be French. Because of your French language knowledge, your connection with him or her and their family will be stronger. Or maybe you are already married with a family when you relocate. If so, then helping your spouse and children to learn basic French will ensure that their transition, to living in a French speaking country, is a smooth one.
More than that, their time spent living abroad will be easier and more enjoyable when they have a basic grasp of the language. And on the topic of relationships, French can give your love life the panache that it needs.
After all, French is the language of love, and Paris has long since been considered a top honeymoon destination.
So, in anticipation of your honeymoon, why not learn basic French together. This knowledge will allow the two of you to feel more at home in Paris, and it will make the time spent traveling and touring more of a cultural type of immersion and adventure that the two of you will never forget.
In addition to the benefits to your work, love and family life, learning basic French will make traveling far more enticing and enjoyable.
French is an official language in many nations around the globe, and these places are referred to as Francophone. Then, there are a host of other countries where French is not the official language, but it is spoken by much of the population, and therefore, it is used in schools, the press and business.
Finally, maybe your desire to learn French is simply to fulfill a dream you have always had to know this language. And now that you are chaperoning your child’s high school trip to France, the timing could not be better.
Whatever your reasons for learning to speak and read French, business, pleasure or a combination of both, your efforts will be rewarded, and your life will be enriched when you learn basic French.