1.

A world language
More than 220 million people speak French on the five continents.
The OIF, an international organisation of French-speaking
countries, comprises 77 member States and governments.
French is the second most widely learned foreign language after
English, and the sixth most widely spoken language in the world.
French is also the only language, alongside English, that is taught
in every country in the world. France operates the biggest
international network of cultural institutes, which run French-
language courses for close on a million learners.
2. A language for the job market
The ability to speak French and English is an advantage on the
international job market. A knowledge of French opens the doors
of French companies in France and other French-speaking parts
of the world (Canada, Switzerland, Belgium, and the continent of
Africa). As the world’s fifth biggest economy and third-ranking
destination for foreign investment, France is a key economic
partner.
3. The language of culture
French is the international language of cooking, fashion, theatre,
the visual arts, dance and architecture. A knowledge of French
offers access to great works of literature in the original French, as
well as films and songs. French is the language of Victor Hugo,
Molière, Léopold Sendar Senghor, Edith Piaf, Jean-Paul Sartre,
Alain Delon and Zinedine Zidane.
4. A language for travel
France is the world’s top tourist destination and attracts more than
79,5 million visitors a year. The ability to speak even a little
French makes it so much more enjoyable to visit Paris and all the
regions of France (from the mild climes of the Cote d’Azur to the
snow-capped peaks of the Alps via the rugged coastline of
Brittany) and offers insights into French culture, mentality and way
of life. French also comes in handy when travelling to Africa,
Switzerland, Canada, Monaco, the Seychelles and other places.
5. A language for higher education
Speaking French opens up study opportunities at renowned
French universities and business schools, ranked among the top
higher education institutions in Europe and the world. Students
with a good level of French are eligible for French government
grants to enroll in postgraduate courses in France in the discipline
of their choice and qualify for internationally recognised degrees.
6. The other language of international relations
French is both a working language and an official language of the
United Nations, the European Union, UNESCO, NATO, the
International Olympic Committee, the International Red Cross and
international courts. French is the language of the three cities
where the EU institutions are headquartered: Strasbourg,
Brussels and Luxembourg.
7. A language that opens up the world
After English and German, French is the third most widely used
language on the Internet, ahead of Spanish. An ability to
understand French offers an alternative view of the world through
communication with French speakers from all over the world and
news from the leading French-language international media (TV5,
France 24 and Radio France Internationale).
8. A language that is fun to learn
French is an easy language to learn. There are many methods on
the market that make learning French enjoyable for children and
adults alike. It does not take long to reach a level where you can
communicate in French.
9. A language for learning other languages
French is a good base for learning other languages, especially
Romance languages (Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and
Romanian) as well as English, since fifty per cent of current
English vocabulary is derived from French.
10. The language of love and reason
First and foremost, learning French is the pleasure of learning a
beautiful, rich, melodious language, often called the language of
love. French is also an analytical language that structures thought
and develops critical thinking, which is a valuable skill for
discussions and negotiations.

According to the L’Organisation internationale de la

Francophonie (OIF) 274 millionFrench speakers exist in the
world. French is the 5th most spoken language in the world and
the 2nd most learned foreign one. These facts come from a 2014
reportwhich discussed French’s progress since 2010.
Because “the lack of linguistic diversity encourages uniformity in
the way we perceive and think the world,” the OIF is trying to keep
French and multilingualism alive within international
organizations.
The OIF claims that the number of French speakers has
increased by 7%, or 13 million since 2010. There has also been a
6% increase in people who study French as a second language
(however the European continent experienced an 8% decline).

The growth of the French language is primarily coming from

Africa, which uses French or English as the lingua franca.
However to continue to progress, many more French teachers will
be needed in Africa, else the feasibility of 650 million
francophones by 2050 seems unlikely.
THE FRENCH LANGUAGE INTERNATIONALLY AND
POLITICALLY
French is one of the five official languages of the United Nations.
French claims the spot of the 3rd most important global business
language, after English and Chinese (Bloomberg), and the 2nd
business language of the European zone after English (but still
ahead of German, Russian, Italian and Spanish).
The French language has an increasing presence on the internet,
Francophones are now the 4th most abundant type of internet
user. Likewise, French is the 3rd used language on blogs.
After the United States and the United Kingdom, France remains
the 3rd destination students go to when studying abroad.
MY PERSONAL INTERPRETATION
As a person who is fluent in French, I’m happy that a language I
love dearly is being spoken. More so, I’m happy that people are
taking the time to learn a foreign language, whether it be English,
Mandarin, Spanish, Italian, German, Arabic, Russian, Hebrew, or
any of the other 6,000 known human languages. However while
274 million speakers is formidable, the French language’s
progress isn’t as impressive when compared to a language with
international success such as English, and it feels as though
French people would love that to be the case.
Things change, French used to be the global lingua franca in the
past; now it’s English. I enjoy that people learn my language, it’s
an honor, really. It would be foolish to say that English will remain
the most important language on the international stage forever,
but it seems that English will continue to be a large player by
2050. However, is French going to remain relevant or will other
languages overtake French’s political and economic importance?
I feel as though French institutions in general are going through
great lengths to keep the French language and prevent it from
slowly decaying. When you watch French politicians on TV say
they will spread the French language they will always receive an
uproar of applause, and yet the same people who are applauding
will go and tell French job seekers that learning English is
necessary to advance themselves professionally (or be taken
seriously internationally). Let’s be honest, one of the easiest ways
for France to remain important internationally isn’t just by beefing
up it’s military with 10,000 troops but by spreading its language.
This expansion rests as a subtle, remnant reminder of France’s
previous colonialism.
Regardless of my personal interpretation, FrenchCrazy will
continue to help teach and spread the French language to the
masses. French has benefited and enriched my life, I hope it does
the same for you. That’s the importance of French worldwide.

17 good reasons to learn French  [fr]

1. Learning one language is not enough

In today’s world, speaking one foreign language is not enough.
Students who speak several languages will increase their
chances of finding a job, whether at home or abroad. Learning
another language enriches the mind and opens up new horizons,
both personal and professional.
2. French is, along with English, the only language spoken on all
five continents
More than 220 million people speak French on all the five
continents. French is a major language of international
communication. It is the second most widely learned language
after English and the sixth most widely spoken language in the
world. French is also the second most widely taught language
after English, and is taught on every continent. The OIF, an
international organisation of French-speaking countries, is made
up of 77 member States and governments. France also operates
the biggest international network of cultural institutes, which run
French-language course for close on a million learners.
3. A career asset
The ability to speak both French and English is an advantage for
finding a job with the many multinational companies using French
as their working language, in a wide range of sectors (retailing,
automotive, luxury goods, aeronautics, etc.). France, as the
world’s fifth biggest economy, attracts entrepreneurs, researchers
and the cream of foreign students.
4. An introduction to an incomparable cultural universe
France is often considered the language of culture. A French
lesson is a cultural journey into the worlds of fashion, gastronomy,
the arts, architecture and science. Learning French also offers
access to the works of great French writers such as Victor Hugo
or Marcel Proust and famous poets like Charles Baudelaire or
Jacques Prévert, in the original text. It means being able to hear
the voices of actors Alain Delon or Juliette Binoche, and the
pleasure of being able to understand the words of French songs
sung by an Édith Piaf or a Charles Aznavour and even sing them
yourself.
5. An advantage for studying in France
Speaking French opens up opportunities for higher education at
some of France’s best-known universities (the Sorbonne, Pierre
Marie Curie University, etc.) or elite grandes écoles (HEC,
Polytechnique, ESSEC), often on very favourable financial terms.
Students with a good level of French may be eligible to apply for a
French government grant to enrol on a postgraduate course of
their choice in France, leading to an internationally recognised
postgraduate degree.
6. Visiting Paris and the rest of France
France is the world’s top tourist destination and attracts more than
79,5 million visitors a year. The ability to speak even a little
French makes it so much more enjoyable to visit Paris and all the
regions of France (from the mild climes of the Cote d’Azur to the
snow-capped peaks of the Alps via the rugged coastline of
Brittany) and offers insights into French culture, mentality and way
of life. French also comes in handy when travelling to Africa,
Switzerland, Canada, Monaco, the Seychelles and other places.
7. The language of international relations
French is both a working language and an official language of the
United Nations, the European Union, UNESCO, NATO, the
International Olympic Committee, the International Red Cross and
international courts. Proficiency in French is essential for anyone
considering a career in any international organisation.
8. A language that opens up the world
After English and German, French is the third most widely used
language on the Internet, ahead of Spanish. An ability to
understand French offers an alternative view of the world through
communication with French speakers from all over the world and
news from the leading French-language international media (TV5,
France 24 and Radio France Internationale).
9. A language of reasoning and debate
French is an analytical language that structures thought and
develops critical thinking. It is the language of great philosophers
(Descartes, Sartre and Derrida, among others) and eminent
scientists (Pierre and Marie Curie, Pasteur, Georges Charpak,
etc.). In learning French, children also learn how to argue a case
and present different points of view, valuable skills for discussions
and negotiations.
10. The language of the Enlightenment
French is the language of the universal ideals advocated by the
philosophers of the 18th century Enlightenment, who helped to
spread the idea of human rights throughout the world.
11. A language that is fun to learn
Contrary to popular belief, French is not a difficult language to
learn. It is a language that requires a certain precision but is also
capable of expressing great subtlety. It does not take long to
reach a level where you can communicate in French. There are
many methods on the market that make learning French
enjoyable, starting with the first years of school. French also
appeals to students because it is a soft, melodious, romantic
language.
12. A language for learning other languages
French is a good grounding for learning other languages,
especially Romance languages (Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and
Romanian) and even English, since over half of modern-day
English vocabulary is derived from French.
13. A high standard of teaching
French teachers are renowned for their dynamic, inventive
approach and high expectations. Since French has a reputation
for excellence, students tend to be highly motivated and attain a
high level of proficiency. France also plays an active role in
providing in-service training for French teachers abroad so that
the courses delivered are always of a high standard.
14. A creative language
French is often heard on the stage. Teachers like to put on plays
in French and involve their students in French-language theatre
festivals. Learning French helps children to express themselves
and gain self-confidence in front of others. Students also learn
French through songs, thanks to the vast repertoire of singers
past and present.
15. Many exchange opportunities
It is easy for students to make contact with French speakers of
their own age, as pen pals or via the Internet. There are many
different exchange programmes in France that offer rewarding
experiences. Thousands of French schools are twinned with
counterparts around the world, creating links with the world’s
largest educational network.
16. A unique system of French international schools
Some 310,000 pupils are enrolled at 481 French schools in 133
countries. Half of them are foreign nationals, which makes the
network of international French schools truly unique.
17. Promoting linguistic diversity
Speaking French makes a major contribution to preserving
linguistic diversity in the world and avoiding the
exclusive domination of a single language in today’s globalised
world.