Out of all the languages, there are in the world, French is one of the most sought-after for a variety of reasons.
Did you know?
- French is the official language in 29 countries and is spoken by more than 300 million people worldwide. It is also one of the six official languages of the United Nations and is widely used in diplomacy and international relations.
- French has a long history of influence on other languages, and many words in English and other languages have been borrowed from French. For example, "ballet," "beef," "café," "cargo," and "ticket" are all borrowed from French. In fact, it is estimated that more than 30% of English vocabulary is of French origin. This is a reflection of the fact that French has been a major cultural and linguistic influence in Europe and beyond for many centuries.
Whether you are thinking of pursuing French for the aesthetic, appreciating French film and literature, advancing your business prospects, or any other reason, there is plenty of evidence to affirm your decision!
5 Good Reasons To Learn French in 2023
Beyond having another way to communicate with more people, the French language actually has quite a few inherent benefits.
Improve Your Brain Function
The parts of the brain that are involved in learning a new language, the Broca’s area and the Wernicke’s area, are exercised when learning a new language. When this happens, the brain as a whole experiences growth in neurons.
This means that memory, cognition, problem-solving, and other intellectual skills are all strengthened when the brain gets a workout via studying the language!
The French language in particular has a lot of unique spellings and pronunciations, exceptions to the rules, slang, and colloquial speech. Learning and storing all of that information takes quite a bit of brainpower, and masterfully being able to remember it further enhances the brain.
Improved Career Opportunities
French is the official language of many international organizations and is widely spoken in business, diplomacy, and tourism. Knowing French can open doors to job opportunities in a variety of fields.
Improved Cultural Understanding
French is the language of art, literature, and philosophy. Learning French can give you a deeper understanding of the culture and history of France and other francophone countries.
Become Exposed to Even More Media
The amount of movies, TV, songs, literature, art, philosophy, and more that is available exclusively in French is immense! Having the ability to consume these art forms and understand them allows you to learn things you literally would not have been able to if you didn’t know French!
You are able to access whole new worlds of different perspectives, histories, ideas, facts, and more. French is even the fourth most-used language on the internet! So, in addition to historic and modern works in the real world, you also have a whole new internet to explore.
Open Up Opportunities to Live in Wealthy Countries
Many French-speaking countries have a high standard of living. By knowing French, you give yourself a great chance to live and work in these places.
For example, France had a median income of €51,610 (over INR45 lakhs) in 2021. Belgium was comparable with a median income of €57,192 in 2021. Most of the European French-speaking countries offer high wages with great social benefits like healthcare and worker’s protections.
Where in the World is French Spoken?
French is spoken in many places in the world, not just in France. It is one of the six official languages in the UN, is one of the official languages of 32 different states and governments, and is spoken by over 300 million people in over 106 countries on all continents. The only other language spoken on all continents is English.
Did you know that the majority of people who speak French live in Africa? So, not only does know French help you as a European visitor, but you will also be understood in many African countries as well!
Additionally, French is also widely used in parts of the Caribbean, Canada, and the northern United States. Dialects of French like Quebecois, Cajun, Haitian Creole, Louisiana Creole, Antillian Creole, French Guianese Creole, and Karipúna French Creole in Brazil, and more are spoken regionally around the world.
And lastly, French is one of the most-used languages online. Roughly 90% of all people in France use the internet, and the e-commerce market is therefore booming. Not only will you be able to engage with French content, users and people, ideas, and more, you will have access to a wider consumer market if you can make your products appeal to the French!
The use of French has increased significantly over the past few years and is on track to be considered one of the “languages of the future." Only time will tell just how prevalent French becomes, but one thing we know for sure is that it will not wane and is a good investment to acquire.
How Popular is French in India?
Learning French is a popular educational decision in India. As mentioned before, French is so widely spoken that you can be extremely connected all over the world by knowing the language.
There are many fantastic and reputable educational institutions and universities in France. In order to enroll in many of them, you will need to have a working knowledge of French. And a benefit of studying in France is that Indian students have a 24-month grace period to look for work after graduation!
In order to find a job in France, it is all but guaranteed that you will need to speak, listen, read, and write French fluently. Not to mention that living abroad is so much easier when you can fully communicate with the locals, administrative staff, and various employees.
France is known to have fantastic job security once you are employed under contract. This makes it a very popular place for international job-seekers.
Every year, more than 5,000 students travel from India to France for studies. If you choose the same route, you are in good company! You can even receive a scholarship for French fluency and for studying at a French university.
If you already know English, rejoice! Much of the vocabulary in French is similar to English, so although the grammar and syntax are different, you will have many words that are easy to learn.
Industries Where French is Important
When you think of French, you might not consider it to be a language widely used in any influential or international industries. However, because there are so many French speakers all over the world, and have been for hundreds of years, there is so much to be gained from French fluency!
Technology
France is home to Sophia Antipolis, which is one of the biggest technology hubs in the world after Silicon Valley. It is home to about 2,500 companies that deal in all different aspects of technology and science. Some notable companies located here are Air France, Broadcom, Bosch, Cisco, Dailymotion, Hewlett-Packard, Hitachi, Honeywell, IBM, and Intel.
Working in the tech industry at all means there could be a good chance that you need to be able to communicate with some of these companies even if you do not work or live in a French-speaking area. This is a skill you’ll need especially if you want to be high up in a tech company.
Tourism and Travel
Beyond your personal tourism and travel, French can be helpful in the hospitality industry of any country. If you work at a place where visitors come to stay, no matter where that is, there is a chance you will have French-speaking guests. You can increase your relationship with guests by speaking a language they might be more comfortable with!
If you work in the airline industry, the hospitality industry, or the tourism industry, it will be directly beneficial for you to learn French. Whether you travel to a French-speaking area for work or need to coordinate with French speakers, your job will be much easier with better French skills.
As for the French language, it's probably one of the most beautiful in the world. I speak a little bit and I can follow conversations, but I think it will take time to improve myself. -Charlene, Princess of Monaco
Arts, Music, and Literature
Of course, France is known for centuries of fine arts which are still referenced and used in educational studies and techniques today. While you don’t need the language to experience art or instrumental music, and you can find translations of lyrical songs and literature, there is no exact substitute for understanding the content first-hand.
Translations depend on the interpretation of the translator, so you are not getting a direct message from the author or artist when you rely on a translation. To really understand what the creator intended with their work, you’ll need to be able to understand the words they provided.
Classic French artists include Monet, Matisse, Van Gogh, Piaf, Debussy, Bizet, Berlioz, Victor Hugo, Balzac, Dumas, and so many others. Modern-day artists who are known internationally include Remed, Romain Langlois, JR, Isabelle Cornaro, Jacques Brel, Coeur de Pirate, Zaz, Guillaume Musso, Katherine Pancol, Olivier Guez, and Marc Levy.
Philosophy
Just like with literature, philosophical books and speeches can be translated, but you still lose some of the meaning. To study philosophy, you will undoubtedly need to learn from French philosophers like Descartes, Voltaire, Rousseau, Kojeve, Teilhard de Chardin, and others.
And of course, learning from modern-day French perspectives can be enlightening as well.
Culinary
Perhaps the reason France is most well-known, the sweet and savory cuisines of the country are rigid in nature and one can only learn them with absolute pure authenticity from an actual French chef.
To learn one of the cornerstones of Western cuisine, you will want to learn the French methods. It’s a rite of passage for many reputable chefs to study this art, and if you want to add credentials to your resume, studying culinary arts in France is one of the most impressive things you can boast.
Luxury Fashion
Companies like Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent, Cartier, Chanel, Givenchy, Christian Louboutin, and more are all globally renowned luxury manufacturers. Whether you’re interested in fashion design, resourcing materials, shipping, or distribution, you would do well to know how to communicate with representatives from these companies in French if you are working with them.
Where To Learn French
There are a few different ways to approach learning any language. Depending on your needs, you can decide which path is right for you!
Courses
You can enroll in any number of casual or intensive French courses.
Some schools offer French as an elective or have an after-school program available. If you’re a student, you may be able to find other after-school programs in your area that have an affiliation with your school or a local youth club.
You may also have the option to study French at your university.
You can find online and in-person courses at varying levels of intensity to meet your budget, schedule, and needs. ReSOLT (Republic School of Language & Training) in Mumbai is one of the most-trusted institutes in India, along with ILSC (International Language Schools of Canada) in New Delhi, European Institute of Foreign Languages, and Alliance Francaise India.
Tutoring
For a personalized option available closer to home, you might choose to find a tutor. Tutors can also be found through schools and youth programs, but you can also find a private tutor via local channels, like the newspaper and flyers around town.
With the internet, you have the ability to find tutors in your area or around the globe who can provide you with French language classes. With a service like Superprof, you are able to enter criteria based on your budget, availability, and other preferences to find the perfect tutor for you!
Apps
There are many free apps that you can try out when learning a new language. They might not take you all the way to fluency, but they'll give you a sufficient foundation to build upon.
Immersion
One surefire way to learn conversational French is to travel to a place where it’s spoken and dive right in! It’s best if you already know some French before you travel, so you aren’t starting from scratch.
If you go about a normal day and are exposed to a lot of people speaking to you and to each other, you will develop a good ear for the spoken language. Interacting with people you meet gives you a chance to practice speaking and picking up new lingo. Reading signs, menus, newspapers, and other materials will give you a chance to read real French, unlike anything you’ll find in a textbook.
Industry-Specific
Once you know enough general French, you can begin to learn industry-specific lingo so you can better understand more complicated ideas.
You can again find courses or tutors who can teach you what you need to know, but you may also be able to receive this information through your place of work!
If learning French would make your job more effective and make you a more competent employee, you may be able to ask your employer to provide French classes for you, and possibly other employees as well.
They may even opt to reimburse you for costs if you find French lessons on your own.
If you are planning on pursuing education, a career, or citizenship in French, you will probably need to be able to pass a test and receive either a DILF, DELF, DALF, DCL, or TCF. Whichever path you choose, ensure that your education provider is guaranteed to give you the information you need.
Knowing how prevalent the French language is worldwide and in so many different industries, it’s no wonder that it’s one of the most popular languages to learn!
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