Learning French: Why it’s the best decision of your life.

Why should you learn French?

Well, it’s highly used for international information and media; it’s spoken in 29 countries,
some of which are the most prosperous around the world (Canada, France, Belgium,
Switzerland, etc.); it’s ranked as the second most used language for business and it’s
the easiest language for English speakers to learn.

But, this is just an oversimplification; let’s dive into it a little more.

1. It’s a Career Building Move.

One of the main reasons people consider learning French is to improve their
professional journey. Many companies in Canada, United States and Europe require
their candidates to speak French in order to stay ahead of their competition. Being able
to dominate communication within your professional boundaries is key. Over the last
couple of decades, French has become one of the most sought out languages for
commercial exchange and expanded media communication for businesses.

Today’s highly competitive world seeks to attract the most skilled workers in every area.
Sometimes knowing a second language can mean all the difference in the world for
being hired or building a connection with a client. Whether you’re part of the established
workforce or an entrepreneur, expanding your communication skills for both
Anglophones and Francophones simultaneously, is one of the best things you can do to
secure more success.

Did You Know?: Less than 17.5% of Canadians are proficient in both
English and French. In an article by the Ottawa Citizen in 2016 it stated
that many of the Canadian government’s efforts to place millennials in
the public service spaces is met with challenges because many people
 only dominate a single language, thus making it extremely hard to
manage the needs of all Canadians.

Stay ahead of the curve and look forward to new opportunities in your career by taking
up French.

2. Getting to know Canada

It’s no surprise many Anglophones have had their fair share of

misunderstandings with Francophones due to the language barrier. Each side’s culture
exchanges are minimal and usually are a cause of issues ever so often. But taking
French lessons and acquiring knowledge in the language can really open up your world
view. More than 80% of French Canadians reside in the province of Quebec which is
the majority speaking province in the Canada. Learning French can be a great
opportunity to integrate yourself both socially and professionally.

Some of the best areas in Canada are located in French provinces like Quebec and
New Brunswick. Each has a lot to offer, in terms of entertainment, culture and food,
which is taken a lot of influence from France. Being able to speak French is a great way
to understand more about Canada and its wide diversity. You can seek new business
and personal breaks if you choose to learn French as a Canadian.

Did You Know?: Quebec maintains its own parliament within federation
that has jurisdiction in areas such as health, economy, and education.
 3. Culturally Stimulating

Over 118,626,672 users, who speak French, use the internet to read, write and
consume content in their language. What can you expect to find in French? Well,
France has inserted a lot of influence all over the world with its literature, cuisine,
fashion, art and film. Every aspect of media that you consume in English is also
existent in French. This may include YouTube content, music artists, social media sites,
television shows, you name it. Being able to immerse yourself and get involved in these
outlets without having to feel like an outsider is a great feeling, especially as a
Canadian.

Aside from modern culture, it’s also quite interesting to seek out some French
influences that have existed for some time.

Literature

You may fancy learning about French literature which has had a significant influence on
the world. Tales such as The Beauty and the Beast (La Belle et la Bête) by Madame de
Villeneuve, Journey to the Center of the Earth (Voyage au centre de la Terre) by Jules
Verne, Les Misérables by Victor Hugo are just a sneak peak of what you can find. You
can also acquire various royalty free French literature books on Amazon.com such as
Le diable au corps by Raymond Radiguet and La Vampire by Paul Féval.

Reading these classics that have been readapted many times over for North American
audiences will guarantee a fresh perspective of how the author intended their work to be
read.

Film

French

From the classic Golden age of French Cinema from 1929 – 1939 and later the French
New Wave of the 1960s, there’s a lot to choose from. Check out films that have inspired
Hollywood and others for generations. While the list is long, you can start by looking into
a few of these films such as: The 400 Blows (Les Quatre Cents Coups) and Jules and
Jim (Jules et Jim) by François Truffaut and Band of Outsiders (Bande à part) by Jean-
Luc Godard.

There are also modern classics such as the wonderful romance film, Amélie, by Jean-
Pierre Jeunet, which is regarded by many, as one of the best French films ever
produced.

French-Canadian

If the classic era of French cinema isn’t for you, you can also check out great French-
Canadian films such as Mommy by Xavier Dolan, Incendies by Denis Villeneuve and
The Mirage by Ricardo Trogi. Each film showcases aspects of the human experience
from different stories and points of view. Highly recommended!

4. Five Continents, One Language

French is spoken in 5 continents, yes including Oceana. These are usually

independent countries, French insular regions or French overseas collectives. You have
a variety of different cultures that mix with the marvelous French language. You can be
in North America and enjoy cold winters in Quebec, the northern tropical sights in Saint
Martin over in the Caribbean, scuba dive in the islands of Vanuatu in Oceana, visit
national parks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo over in Africa or fly to Europe
and enjoy a Chocolate soufflé in Paris.

Each country is wildly unique from the other but maintain one common trait, the French
language.
 Did You Know?: Aside from English, French is taught in every country
in the world. It is estimated that French has over 100 million students
worldwide. Almost a quarter of these learners live abroad from
French-speaking countries.

5. You’re Children need it most

If there’s anything you can take away from this article is that taking up French
lessons is a huge life investment. If you’re a parent, it’s the best time to give your
children the opportunity to take up French as a second or third language. Allow them to
grow up with the chance to learn about different cultures in Canada with the ability to
travel and communicate all over the world. I well educated child will be an adult full of
well-rounded experiences. Take in consideration that the French language can provide
huge employment opportunities in the coming years.

There is an enriching quality to be able to handle yourself in French and while living in
Canada, this may be very useful within travel limits. Knowing another language can
improve significantly the human brain power, specially a language that is nearly as
common as English. If a child acquires the French language at a young age, over time,
they may find fluency when speaking and writing.

One quality of learning French that many people ignore is this: French is a language
that can allow you to easily adopt another, such as Spanish. French is highly linked
to the romance languages, meaning they all share both grammatical and vocabulary
similarities. With this, you can later go on to learn languages such as Italian, Spanish,
Portuguese, and Italian with ease.
Conclusion

So, are you still asking yourself “why should I learn French?”

Hopefully you’ve learned a thing or two in this article, but remember taking up a new
language such as French is solely something you must feel motivated to do. Take into
consideration all the amazing things you can experience and achieve with learning
French. It’s time to exit your bubble and start living a new life. It’s time to learn French.

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