Why+Learn+French?

[|Economist correspondant declares French to be the most useful second language to learn] (Click on the link above and read all about it!) **__ Why Learn French??? Top 10 Reasons __** **3. French is the third most common language on the Internet**. ** 10. **** Along with English, French is the ** **official working language** **of the United Nations, UNESCO, NATO,** **CUSO, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the International Monetary Fund, the International Labour Bureau, and the International Olympic Committee**.
 * 1) ** Knowing French will allow you to function and compete effectively in the global economy of the future. ** In many European countries, a second language is introduced in primary school and a third language in middle school. International job applicants who are proficient in at least two languages will be at a distinct advantage in the global market. When you know French, you can be part of communications and transactions occurring daily in French on every continent. French speaking Africa is larger than the USA and produces a vast quantity of oil.
 * 2) ** French is spoken in 55 countries across five continents and by over 200 million people **
 * 3. Speaking French will increase your job opportunities and salary potential. ** Knowledge of a second language is essential in over 60 occupations. Canada is officially bilingual and an international trading partner requires labeling in English and French on all imported products. More than 1,200 French companies have subsidiaries in the U.S. France is a world leader in the development of modern telecommunications, a market with explosive growth potential. There are many job opportunities with the airlines, import-export companies, and other international businesses. American companies well established in France include: IBM, Microsoft, Mattel, Ford, Coca-Cola, AT&T, Motorola, Johnson & Johnson, and more.
 * 4. French opens up an entire world of sporting events to enthusiasts. ** French is always an official language used to announce events, winners, and medals at the Olympic Games. Automobile races (Le Mans and Monte Carlo), horse racing (Longchamps), tennis tournaments (French Open), and the Tour de France engage fans around the globe.
 * 5. Knowing French will improve your vocabulary in English ** Some 40 to 50% of English vocabulary comes from French. The study of French will also enhance your grammar skills. As you develop greater skills in French, you also sharpen your skills in English.
 * 6. Get a head start on learning other Romance languages. ** (Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian)
 * 7. Proficiency in French will significantly improve your chances of being accepted to universities and to graduate school. ** In many scientific fields at the graduate level, many Canadian institutions require reading knowledge of French or German in order for scholars to be able to conduct research. France continues to be a leader and innovator in science and technology. Civil engineering (the Chunnel between England and France, the TGV –fastest train, the Concorde), medical technologies (the isolation of the HIV virus) and telecommunications (the Minitel with more than 20,000 on-line services and micro-chip telephone cards) are just a few areas in which the French play a leadership role. Knowing French can open doors to graduate school and to important research.
 * 9. French is the language of culture: art, music, dance, fashion, cuisine, cinema and literature. ** France is one of the most prolific producers of international films. The Cannes International Film Festival annually attracts the attention of the world when the best films, directors and actors are named. 16 Nobel Prizes of Literature were awarded to French or Francophone authors. Several well-known philosophers were also French, including Descartes, Pascal, Rousseau, Voltaire, Sartre, and Simone de Beauvoir.

(theworldspeaksfrench.org/frenchforlife.ca/images/Top%2010%20Reasons%20to%20Learn%20French)