6 Important Reasons to Learn French

By Ben Schmidt Aug 6, 2022

Upon first hearing the French language, probably all of us thought, “Wow, what a beautiful, melodic language.”

I remember thinking the same thing as a child. Indeed, French is the “language of love” for many people. But this isn’t its only good quality.

Good reasons to learn French

If fact, learning French can help you improve your life in many ways. Here are a few:

Better job opportunities:

France has the fifth largest economy in the world, and it is actually the leader in many markets such as telecommunication and textiles.

Of course, having a large economy entails having large companies that need a lot of employees. So the job opportunities that you can find in French companies are plenty. And it’s not only jobs based in France that we’re talking about; some companies have succeeded in reaching a global market, and they have branches all over the world.

That means if one of these branches is in your country or a neighboring one, you can apply and get a job without having to go through the tiresome and stressful process of immigrating to another country.

But don’t get your hopes high if you don’t speak French. Yes, English is spoken in France too, but employers prefer that you speak the language of their home country because it will enhance communication in the workplace. It will improve your relations with your colleagues and will make it easier for you to understand and be understood.

Even if you’re applying to a branch miles away from France, you’ll see that they will still prefer a decent level of French proficiency. So be prepared and don’t let yourself miss golden opportunities.

Also keep in mind that this language is taught in schools throughout the five continents, so employers will not be hard-pressed to find applicants who are both qualified and fluent in French. You’ll be easily ignored if you don’t fit both criteria!

Of course, the same goes for other countries whose official language is French. Take Canada as an example. It has a great economy, like France, and some of its cities, such as Quebec, have strict rules that require speaking French in certain settings.

So learning French will also increase your chances of getting jobs in Canada and other countries.

Studying in high-ranked universities:

It is common knowledge that getting a degree from a prestigious university can give a large boost to your career. I could even say that it determines the course of your future life to a great extent.

France is famous for some of the most renowned and respected universities in the world. Some examples are the Sorbonne University and the Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University (PSL).

This is why for international students, it is the third most desired country to study in. French Universities also offer study grants on a regular basis, and learning French will increase your chances of winning one.

Communicating with millions of French speakers:

French is spoken by hundreds of millions around the world: In each of the five continents, there are countries whose first or second language is French. It is also the second most widely learned language.

But maybe you’re not in a place where French is usually heard, and you’re not thinking of traveling. However, an internet connection is all you need these days to reach people from around the world.

French is the third most widely used language on the internet, which entails millions and millions of posts, comments, and forums that you can read and participate in. You’ll be able to understand how French people view international issues or even themes in movies. You’ll gain friends, and you’ll develop a well-rounded view of the world.

Enjoying French culture:

Some of the world’s most celebrated authors are from France. Canonical stories like The Little Prince, The Three Musketeers, and Les Miserable all came from great French minds.

But it’s not famous only for its novels, France is one of the world’s top producers of films. Perhaps you’ve heard of The Artist, La vie en rose, and CODA, which are French movies that won the most prestigious film award, the Oscar.

In fact, the Film industry is so important for French people that every year, they hold one of the most well-known film festivals around the world: the Cannes International Film Festival.

In addition to books and movies, there is a wealth of beautiful songs and excellent plays in French. Learning this language will help you enjoy all these works of art in the original language.

Traveling to many countries:

French is spoken in many countries around the globe, either as a first or second language. Therefore, if you learn French, you’ll be able to feel comfortable traveling to many countries, including Canada and Africa as well as European countries.

Yes, a tourist can also rely on translations and a few practical phrases, but knowing the language of your destination will make your experience so much more meaningful.

You’ll gain friends and learn much about their culture and way of life. You’ll also be able to ask for help when you face unexpected problems other than having to ask for simple directions.

Building a strong basis for learning other languages:

Much of the English vocabulary came from French. Therefore, it will be much easier to learn it than, say, Korean. After you’re done, you can also move on to a similar language, such as Spanish. The process then will be much easier because of the similarities.