Why Study French?
Global Market
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 a part of communications and transactions occurring daily in French on every continent!
Make Lots of Money
Knowledge of a second language is essential in over 60 occupations. More than 1,200 French companies have subsidiaries in the U.S. and France is the largest recipient of U.S. World investments. France is a world leader in the development of telecommunications! French is an official language of the European Union, which is the second largest trading bloc in the world. Think about the many opportunities with the airlines, import-export companies, and other international businesses.
Communicate in 40 Countries
French is the first or second language in more than 40 countries and is spoken by 125 million people around the world, on every continent. Because French is the World language of choice for so many people in the world, knowing French will increase your chances of being able to communicate wherever you go.
gymnast International Sports
French is always an official language when it comes to announcing events, winners and medals at the Olympic games, including the 2002 Winter games in Salt Lake City. If you speak French you can better follow hockey, horse racing, automobile racing (Le Mans et Monte Carlo) and the Tour de France. When you know French, the international world of sports is open to you.
desk Increase your Test Scores
About 50% of all English vocabulary comes from French. The study of French will also enhance your English grammar skills--that will really help your performance on the verbal section of the SAT and ACT tests. As you develop greater skills in French, you also sharpen your skills in English.
Increase Self-Esteem
If you know French, you will also increase your problem-solving skills and improve your memory, self-discipline and self-esteem. Because progress is very easy to measure, you can quickly take pride in your new abilities. Knowing French can help you attain a number of important life skills.
rocket Be a Scientific Genius
In many scientific fields at the graduate level, most American universities require a 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 and the TGV-the world's fastest train), space/aeronautics (the Concorde, the Ariane Rocket), medical technologies (the isolation of the HIV virus), and telecommunications are just a few areas in which France is a world leader. Knowing French can open the doors to graduate school and to important research.
Visit France!
France is the most visited destination in the world with 68 million tourists in 2001! Paris was recently named by Fortune Magazine as one of the top ten "Global Cities". When you speak French you can be an educated tourist, ask for directions, get your own hotel room and tell a French friend about the United States.
film Enjoy French Films
As you quickly realize when you look at the World film section of your local video store, 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. When you understand French, you don't have to rely on subtitles to enjoy a great French film! France is also the world fashion and art capital--go, enjoy!
writers Read Great Literature
People around the world are familiar with "Les Miserables, "The Three Musketeers", "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea", "The Little Prince", and "The Stranger". In fact, France has won more Nobel Prizes for literature than any other country in the world. The French are also admired for their great philosophers such as Descartes, Pascal, Rousseau, Volatire, Camus and Sartre. When you read French, you can enjoy these works and authors in their original format.
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Reasons to Study French
(written by the Education Office of the French Cultural Services)
Many American students today choose to learn French. Knowledge of the French language can provide you will many opportunities both in your professional and personal lives. The following list summarizes ten of the top reasons to learn French:
1. Knowing French will allow you not only to function but also to 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.
2. Speaking French will increase your job opportunities and salary potential. Knowledge of a second language is essential in over 60 occupations. More than 1,200 French companies have subsidiaries in the United States, and France is the largest recipient of U.S. World investment. France is a world leader in the development of modern telecommunications, a market with explosive growth potential. The European Union, the second largest trading bloc in the world, recognizes French as an official language. Think about the many job opportunities with the airlines, import-export companies and other international businesses. French is also a very useful language if you are thinking of working at the United Nations (where French is the second most widely-used language, after English) or for the United States Government in the World service. Here in the United States, when you know French, you could become a French teacher, an interpreter or a translator.
3. Studying French increases your appreciation of other people and their cultures. French is the first or second language in more than 40 countries and is spoken by 125 million people on every continent. Because French is a World language of choice for so many people in the world, knowing French will also increase your chances of communicating in a non-English speaking country. You can use French to develop friendships, as well as to communicate via the Internet.
4. French opens up an entire world of sporting events to enthusiasts. It is an official language used to announce events, winners, and medals at the Olympic Games, including the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. If you live near the Quebec border, you can also follow hockey and baseball games in French. Automobile races (Le Mans and Monte Carlo), horseracing (Longchamp), tennis tournaments (The French Open), and the Tour de France (long distance bicycle race) engage fans around the globe. When you know French, the international world of sports is open to you.
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, and your increased proficiency in English will greatly improve your scores on the verbal section of the SAT and the ACT. As you develop greater skills in French, you also sharpen your skills in English.
6. Learning a new language, like French, develops your critical and creative thinking skills. It will also increase your problem-solving skills and improve your memory, selfdiscipline, and self-esteem. Because progress is very easy to measure, you can quickly take pride in your new abilities. Knowing French can help you attain a number of important life skills.
7. Proficiency in French will significantly improve your chances of being accepted to universities and graduate schools. In many scientific fields at the graduate level, most American institutions require a 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 (the world's fastest train), space/aeronautics (the Concorde, a FrancoBritish enterprise; the Ariane rocket, a Franco-European initiative), medical technologies (the isolation of the HIV virus), and telecommunications (the Minitel with more than 20,000 online services and micro-chip telephone cards) are just a few areas in which the French play a leadership role. Knowing French can open the doors to graduate school and important research.
8. Using French enhances your travel abroad to Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, and Africa. After the United States, France is the second most visited tourist destination of the world. Paris was recently named by Fortune Magazine as one of the top ten "global cities." When you speak French, you can be an educated tourist, ask for directions, get your own hotel room or tell a French friend about the United States.
9. French is the language of culture, opening your door to art, music, dance, fashion, cuisine and cinema. As you quickly realize when you look at the World film section of your local video store, 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. When you understand French, you don't have to rely on subtitles to enjoy a French film.
10. French is the language of many great literary masterpieces. People around the world are familiar with Les Misérables, The Three Musketeers, 20 000 Leagues Under the Sea, The Little Prince and The Stranger. In fact, France has won more Nobel prizes for literature than any other country. The French are also admired for their great philosophers, such as Descartes, Pascal, Rousseau, Voltaire, Camus and Sartre. When you read French, you can enjoy these works and authors in the original language.
FRENCH TECHNOLOGY WAS PIVOTAL FOR THE FOLLOWING INVENTIONS AND DISCOVERIES:
* adding machine
* parachute
* calorimeter
* aerial telegraph
* tin can
* stethoscope
* electric telegraph
* revolver
* precision and combination locks
* Braille alphabet
* saxophone
* tractor
* photography
* gyroscope
* telephone
* combustion engine
* magazine rifle
* margarine
* hydro-electric power
* synthetic rubber
* periscope
* pulverizer
* rayon
* surface-to-air missile
* Teflon
* solar oven
* air cushion
* microchip card
* contact lenses
* geode
* scuba tank
* aerosol
* motion pictures
* Concorde
* TGV Train a grande vitesse (bullet trains)
* Airbus
* Minitel
* Ariane Rocket
COMPANIES IN NORTH CAROLINA WITH AN AFFILIATION TO FRANCE
* France
* A.L. Compressed Gas
* Alcatel N.A., Inc.
* Alcatel NA Cable Systems, Inc.
* Alcatel Network Systems, Inc.
* Alcatel North America
* Alcatel Telecommunications
* Cable
* American Superba, Inc.
* Aplix, Inc.
* ASCO Pneumatic Controls
* Joucomatic Div.
* Baikowski International Corp.
* Beneteau, Inc.
* Cattinair Corp.
* CertainTeed
* Crown Woods Products
* Dillon Supply Company
* ETRI, Inc.
* Freyssinet Company, Inc.
* Granutec
* Heliot Corp.
* Henoingson, Durham,
* Richardson
* ICBT, Inc.
* Insomat, Inc.
* Metalvuoto Films, Inc.
* Michelin Aircraft Tire
* Corporation (2)
* Nife, Inc.
* Peter Cooper
* Professional Services
* Bureau, Inc.
* Rena Corporation
* Rhone-Poulenc Ag Company
* Rousseau, Inc.
* Rubbermaid/Allibert, Inc.
* SAE Americon Carolinas, Inc.
* Saft America, Inc.-Adv.
* Battery Sys. Div
* Synthron, Inc.
* Telemecanique, Inc.
* Texasgulf, Inc.
* Triconfort, Inc.
* Veldeman USA
:: TOP TEN REASONS TO LEARN FRENCH ::
(Cultural Services of the French Embassy in the U.S. & the American Association of Teachers of French)
UN - Knowing French will allow you not only to function but to compete effectively in the global economy of the future.
In many European countries, a second language is introduced in primary school and third language, in middle school. International job applicants who are proficient in a least two languages will be at a distinct advantage in the global market. When you know French, you can be a part of communications and transactions occurring daily in French on every continent.
DEUX - Speaking French will increase your job opportunities and salary potential.
Knowledge of a second language is essential in over 60 occupations. Canada, officially bilingual, is our most important trade partner and requires labeling in English and French on all imported products. More than 1,200 French companies have subsidaries in the U.S., and France is the largest recipient of U.S. World investment. France is a world leader in the development of modern telecommunications, a market with explosive growth potential. The European Union, the second largest trading block in the world, recognizes French as an official language. Think about the many job opportunities with the airlines, import-export companies, and other international businesses. French is also a very useful language if you are thinking of working at the United Nations (where French is the second most widely used language, after English) or for the United States Government in the World service. Here in the United States, when you know French, you could beco
me a French teacher, an interpreter or a translator.
TROIS - Studying French increases your appreciation of other people and their cultures.
French is the first or second language in more than 40 countries and is spoken by 125 million people around the world, on every continent. Because French is a World language of choice for so many people in the world, knowing French will also increase your chances of communicating in a non-English speaking country. You can use French to develop international friendships, as well as to communicate via the internet.
QUATRE - 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, including the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. If you live near the Quebec border, you can also follow hockey and baseball games in French. Automobile races (Le Mans and Monte Carlo), horse racing (Longchamps), tennis tournaments (French Open), and the Tour de France (long distance bicycle race) engage fans around the globe. When you know French, the international world of sports is open to you.
CINQ - 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, and your increased proficiency in English will greatly improve your scores on the verbal section of the SAT, the ACT, the GRE and all the verbal sections of similar graduate school tests. As you develop greater skills in French, you also sharpen your skills in English.
SIX - Learning a new language, like French, develops your critical and creative thinking skills.
It will also increase your problem-solving skills and improve your memory, self-discipline and self-esteem. Because progress is very easy to measure, you can quickly take pride in your new abilities. Knowing French can help you attain a number of important life skills.
SEPT - Proficiency in French will significantly improve your chances of being accepted to the university and graduate school.
In many scientific fields at the graduate level, most American institutions require a reading knowledge of French or German in order for scholars to be able to conduct research. France continues to be the leader and innovator in science and technology. Civil engineering (the Channel between England and France and the TGV - the world's fastest train), space/aeronautics (the Concorde, a Franco-Bristish enterprise, and the Ariane rocket, a Franco-European initiative), medical technologies (the isolation of the HIV virus), and telecommunications (the Minitel with more than 20,000 online services and micro-chip telephone cards) are just a few areas in which the French play a leadership role. Knowing French can open the doors to graduate school and important research.
HUIT - Using French enhances your travel abroad to Canada, the Caribbean, Europe and Africa.
After the United States, France is the second most visited tourist destination in the world. Paris was recently named by Fortune Magazine as one of the top ten "global cities". When you speak French, you can be an educated tourist, ask for directions, get your own hotel room or tell a French friend about the United States.
NEUF - French is the language of culture, opening your door to art, music, dance, fashion, cuisine and cinema.
As you quickly realize when you look at the World film section of your local video store, 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. When you understand French, you don't have to rely on subtitles to enjoy a French film.
DIX - French is the language of many great literary masterpieces.
People around the world are familiar with Les Miserables, The Three Musketeers, 20,000 Leagues under the Sea, the Little Prince, and The Stranger. In fact, France has won more Nobel prizes for literature than any other country. The French are also admired for their great philosophers, such as Descartes and Pascal, Rousseau, Voltaire, Camus and Sartre, among many others. When you read French, you can enjoy these works and authors in the original.