What is the value of studying French?What is the value of studying French?

Prepared by Maria Wowro, who is accomplishing her own

career goals thanks to the knowledge of French.

When you decide what foreign language you

would like to learn, please remember that French is

the language that can give you the most choices in

your studies or your career.

Let me try to convince you that French remains the second most practical language in the world

after English!

Why the knowledge of French is so Why the knowledge of French is so useful? useful?

1. French is a language spoken around the world

2. French remains the language of high diplomacy

3. French makes you more competitive in the job market

4. There are career development programs for American students that can help you gain unique work experience !!

Lets have a look at some numbers to Lets have a look at some numbers to see see

why French is a “global” language and why French is a “global” language and can be useful throughout the world !can be useful throughout the world !

Just imagine, that there are 6 thousand languages now spoken on Earth!

French is one of only 15 spoken by more than a hundred million people, and one of only four along with English, Spanish and Arabic used as official languages in more than 20 countries ! (French with 33 countries ranks second to English)!

Moreover, if you can speak French you can be understood in 43 countries across five continents by over 200 million people in the world!

French, along only with English, is taught in every country in the world!

French has of course official status French has of course official status in several European countries in several European countries

such as:such as:

• FranceFrance• BelgiumBelgium• SwitzerlandSwitzerland• LuxembourLuxembour

gg• MonacoMonaco

I will talk about France and its commercial ties with the U.S. a little later. I would like to present to you now the 3 other countries:

Belgium, Switzerland and Luxembourg

BelgiumBelgium

Brussels is the seat to EU’s most important institutions which are European Commission, Council of the EU, and European Parliament

Brussels also hosts many key international institutions like NATO, along with 1,000 other international organizations and 2,000 international corporations.

Just imagine, there are more ambassadors and journalists in Brussels than Washington, D.C.

This small country located in the heart of Europe is famous for its beer and chocolate , but you might be surprised to learn that its capital – Brussels - is considered the “administrative heart” of the European Union (EU).

SwitzerlandSwitzerland

Moreover, Switzerland is the second highest rated country in the quality of life index! It means that it is one of the best places to live in the world!!!

One of its cities - Geneva - hosts many international organizations, and NGOs including Red Cross, WTO , WHO, ILO, and U.N.

Geneva is also the European headquarter to several large multi-national corporations (P&G, HP) and many Swiss banks.

Switzerland is another country located in the heart of Europe. Although its surface is relatively small, Switzerland is one of the richest countries in the world! (Switzerland has a higher GDP per capita than such huge economies like USA or Japan)!

LuxembouLuxembourgrg

Moreover, Luxembourg is the fourth highest rated country in the quality of life index. So, once again, one of the best places to live in the whole world!! The capital of the Grand-Duché - Luxembourg City - is one of the wealthiest cities in the world, it is banking and administrative centre and a seat of several institutions of the E.U. including the European Court of Justice, the European Court of Auditors, and the European Investment Bank.

or Grand-Duché de Luxembourg

Not only is Luxembourg the world's only remaining sovereign Grand Duchy but also a country that possesses the highest GDP per capita in the world !!!

Many African countries have also Many African countries have also chosen French as their official chosen French as their official

languagelanguage

Benin Burkina Faso Burkina Faso Burundi Burundi Cameroon Cameroon Central African Republic Central African Republic Chad Chad Comoros Comoros Congo (Brazzaville) Congo (Brazzaville) Côte d'Ivoire Côte d'Ivoire Democratic Republic of Democratic Republic of the Congo the Congo Djibouti Djibouti

French is also spoken by a large percentage of population in French is also spoken by a large percentage of population in Maghrebian countries : Maghrebian countries :

Maroco, Algeria, TuniesiaMaroco, Algeria, Tuniesia. . If you were ever interested in If you were ever interested in discovering the Islam culture I strongly encourage you to discovering the Islam culture I strongly encourage you to

study French!study French!

Equatorial Guinea (former colony of (former colony of Spain) Spain) Gabon Gabon Guinea Guinea Madagascar Madagascar Mali Mali Niger Niger Rwanda Rwanda Senegal Senegal Seychelles Seychelles Togo Togo

French has official status or is spoken French has official status or is spoken in many other countries such as:in many other countries such as:

It would take too much time to talk about all of them! Instead I would like to tell you few more words about your closest

neighbor – CANADA…

Haiti, Lebanon, Syria, Laos,

Cambodia, Vatican, France's overseas

territories of French Guiana, Guadeloupe,

Martinique, Saint Barthelemy, St.

Martin, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon,

French Polynesia and New Celedonia.

CanadaCanada

The province of Quebec alone is the fifth largest trading partner of the United States

Approximately 81% of all Quebec’s exports go to the United States.

Quebec has the second largest GDP of the Canadian provinces and is Canada’s largest province by area.

French is the official language of Quebec.

Canada and the U.S. have the world's largest trading relationship!

SourcesSources

“The Story of French” by JeanBenoît Nadeau and Julie Barlow

Article by Richard Shryock fromVirginia Polytechnic Institute and the State Univeristy: “French the Most Practical Foreign Language” http://www.fll.vt.edu/french/whyfrench.html

The Economist Intelligence Unit’s quality-of-life index 2005

CRS Report for Congress Received through the CRS Web : “U.S.-French Commercial Ties”

French – American Chamber of Commerce in Cleveland

Embassy of France in the United States

Great Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce

IFA – Invest in France Agency

Ambassade de France Missions Economiques

CIA World Factbook

Continue on to theContinue on to the“Language of Diplomacy” link“Language of Diplomacy” linkon the “Careers” web page for on the “Careers” web page for

further information.further information.