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Reasons to Study French

  • "Knowing French will allow you not only to function but to compete effectively in the global economy of the future."
  • "Speaking French will increase your job opportunities and salary potential."
  • "Studying French increases your appreciation of other people and their cultures."
  • "French opens up an entire world of sporting events to enthusiasts."
  • "Knowing French will improve your vocabulary in English."
  • "Learning a new language, like French, develops your critical and creative thinking skills."
  • "Proficiency in French will significantly improve your chances of being accepted to the university and to graduate school."
  • "Using French enhances your travel abroad to Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, and Africa."
  • "French is the language of culture, opening your door to art, music, dance, fashion, cuisine, and cinema."
  • "French is the language of many great literary masterpieces."
From the "Top Ten Reasons To Learn French" pamphlet put out by the Cultural Services of the French Embassy in the U.S. and the American Association of Teachers of French

  • "Math and verbal SAT scores are progressively higher as the years of study of foreign language increase. Scores can show gains of more than 100 points."
  • "Some 40 to 50% of the English vocabulary comes from French."
  • "France [is] the #1 destination for tourists, with 70 million visitors in 1998."
  • "At least 3,000,000 Americans travel to French-speaking destinations every year."
  • "In 1990, French was the 2nd most frequently spoken non-English language in U.S. homes."
  • "French is the 1st or 2nd language in 49 countries or regions and is spoken by 125 million people around the world."
  • "The U.N. has 6 official languages and 2 working languages. French is in both categories."
From the "French by the Numbers" pamphlet compiled by Jane Robert for the American Association of Teachers of French and the Commission for the Promotion of French.