French is a beautiful language, it’s one of the oldest in Europe. It is also one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to learn. French has complex grammar, spelling, and vocabulary which can make learning French tough. The good news is that learning French is not impossible and several avenues make learning this language easy. So have you been wanting to learn the language or have the sound of French-speaking interested you so much that you’d also love to be a speaker? In this case, go ahead. Not only is the French language popular or widely spoken, but it is also more beneficial to you than many of the other languages. This article will show you 9 strong reasons it is a great idea to learn French.
#1 French Is A Very Important Language
Though it has been mentioned before, it is worth emphasizing that French is highly important; it is seen as another major language aside from English. French is a romantic language that is spoken by over 250 million people. Note that this number of people speak French as their first language and it is still widely used as a second language in many countries. It is the official language of France, Monaco, and some overseas countries, departments, and territories such as Belgium, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire.
It also has a significant influence on other romantic languages (such as Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian), as well as the German language. French is also the official language of 29 countries across five continents of the world. It’s estimated that there are more than 250 million French speakers worldwide. So not only will you be among the community of French speakers when you learn to speak from French tutors online, you will also become one of the people to speak an important and valuable language.
#2 You’ll Be Able To Learn About Different Cultures
Language and culture are strongly intertwined. By learning the French language, you can explore its roots and discover facts about France’s history that you might never have known before. You can also immerse yourself in French culture by reading literature and other books in French.
Many of these books are classics, and they can open your eyes to the history of France and its people. Concerning literature, there are numerous amazing works of literature authored in French and they can only be fully appreciated when read in the French language. It also helps to increase cultural awareness and understanding of other cultures.
Not to mention that you can start to watch French documentaries, some movies recorded in French, and of course, the music. You would be able to understand the meaning of words encrypted into these mediums making it a fun way to learn the history of France. Remember that French is also the primary language for many other countries so you can add those countries to the list of cultures within your reach.
#3 Learning French Improves Your Brain Function
Learning any new language has a positive effect on brain health, especially French. Aside from the fact that being bilingual takes a positive toll on cognition, learning a new language like French helps boost your memory in later life and prevents or delays conditions like Alzheimer’s. So, it isn’t just about learning from online French tutors – which you should do, but it is also about adding a positive impact to your cognitive health. Additionally, this is recommended to people of all ages – old and young.
Also, learning French will improve your problem-solving abilities, recollection, self-discipline, and self-esteem. You can quickly take pride in your new abilities because progress is so easy to measure. Knowing French can help you gain a variety of valuable life skills.
#4 Learning French Opens Up New Career Opportunities
Moving on to your work, learning French can increase your career prospects. The language – when you know how to speak it – can help you gain employment in a wide variety of industries. Not only does a second language expand your networking opportunities with people from other countries and cultures, but you can also meet new people from all over the world, which can be extremely beneficial to your professional development! The more people you meet from various backgrounds, the more likely it is that you will find new clients or collaborators who speak their native language.
A lot of occupations require knowledge of a second language. Canada is officially bilingual, and all imported products must be labeled in both English and French. Over 1,200 French companies have subsidiaries in the United States. France is a world leader in modern telecommunications development, a market with explosive growth potential. The European Union, the world’s second-largest trading bloc, recognizes French as an official language. Consider the numerous job opportunities available with airlines, import-export companies, and other international businesses. If you want to work at the United Nations, French is a great language to learn (noting that French is the second most widely used language, after English).
#5 Travel Becomes More Fun!
Learning the local language before visiting a country will greatly enhance your travel experiences. Paris in France for example is one of the major tourist centers in the world known for romantic getaways, holiday visits, and valentine’s tours; and French will be a plus for you if you want to go on a tour to Paris. Also, being able to speak French will help you communicate in other places where French is spoken and not just in France. Considering that French is spoken in over 29 countries, that’s 29 countries that you would be able to visit with no communication barrier whatsoever.
Learning French is also essential if you are or want to be a world traveler. When there is no language barrier, traveling is much more enjoyable and easier. You won’t have any trouble getting around because you don’t speak the language. You can communicate with locals without using charades or translation books, and you know what food to order without pointing at pictures. While languages share similarities, it is easier to transfer your knowledge from one to the other and travel to different parts of the world all by learning French.
#6 You Get To Improve Your Social Skills
Learning the French language helps you to communicate more effectively and empathetically with French speakers and also with others. Aside from the fact that French is a romantic language, it is expressive and friendly. French speakers always have to smile to speak and gesticulate with their hands and body to speak. This creates a social approval that when mastered; can help improve how you relate with people in general. Remember that simply learning French will allow you to network easily with people from other countries where French is spoken, so you would be able to participate in conversations with a much larger segment of the population and best of all – you can make friends faster (even outside of French-speaking countries).
#7 French Is Beneficial For People In Business
Given its broad reach, it’s no surprise that French has become an important language in fields such as business and international relations. France is a hugely influential global power with the world’s sixth-largest economy, so its language has become the lingua franca for many business and trade deals. Meanwhile, the economies of French-speaking countries such as Canada and Switzerland are thriving, and Africa, where French is widely spoken, accounts for roughly half of the world’s fastest-growing economies.
French is one of the most common languages used in business today. It is not surprising considering that 42% of global trade is conducted in English-based business transactions. This means that when you’re communicating with someone who speaks French, you’ll be able to understand them better than if you spoke with someone who only spoke English or another language. Also, you will have access to an even wider pool of potential clients.
#8 Learning French Can Help With Other Languages.
Given its status as a language of romance, French is also an excellent foundation for learning other languages, particularly Italian, and Spanish. Surprisingly, learning French can help you speak English better. According to research, learning another language makes speakers more linguistically aware, and thus helps to be more aware of grammar and syntax rules. So why not learn French and then become a master of languages?
#9 Online Resources Make Learning French Easy And Fun!
If you want to learn French, you will have access to a wealth of learning materials that other, more obscure languages simply do not have. There are many online French tutors available to help you learn and understand French quickly as well as apps and games for a fun learning procedure. Not only are these resources intended to be educational, but they also make the scary French language not so scary anymore. Therefore, unlike other languages, it is faster and more fun to learn.
Conclusion
Learning a new language is an extremely beneficial and fruitful use of your time and energy. But it can also be a lot of fun, exposing you to thoughts and ideas that you might not have had access to otherwise, and providing you with a new perspective on language in general.
French is an excellent choice for those learning a modern foreign language for the first time. However, if you are already fluent in some languages such as Italian, or Spanish, you will most likely find it easy to learn French as well. But if you do not speak any of these languages beforehand, no worries. French is an easy language to learn and the rewards are well worth the effort.