As I was conducting a new enrolment this week, a prospective parent asked me “Why is French your language of choice?” Having spent the first 28 years of my life in the UK, Paris was only ever a Eurostar away, so I’d never deeply questioned why it might seem different to learn French in Australia. Naturally, I mulled over the question and here are my top eight reasons why we teach French at Heathdale.
1. Learning one language is not enough
In today’s world, speaking one 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 personally and professionally.
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.
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. This covers a wide range of sectors like retailing, automotive, luxury goods, aeronautics, etc. France is the world’s fifth biggest economy and therefore 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.
5. Visiting Paris and the rest of France
France is the world’s top tourist destination and attracts almost 90 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
Besides who doesn’t want to go to Euro Disney?
If you wish to discuss how you can support your child at home learning French please speak to Madame Mckiernan at Melton.