Why You Need to Learn French

The limits of our language are the limits of our world. Our world, once you start to open your eyes, is very French. Learning the language is a vital part of education; even acquiring a basic grasp of the world’s fifth most popular language (300 million speakers) will open doors to people, politics, history, philosophy, culture, music, food and literature that simply enriches. This is why at The Global College we offer Spanish, English and French as language A and language B options.

Philosophically French thinkers have stood apart form their counterparts through their willingness to address the realities of the world. To move beyond the abstract and focus on the very nature of what it is to be human. The modern world is built on Claude Levi-Strauss’ challenge to understand meaning and Michel Foucault’s robust attacks against the state. Jean Jacques Rousseau gave rise to thinking that would later form the social contract and the way in which democracies operate across Europe, while the existentialism of Simone de Beauvoir’s ‘Second Sex’ is the foundation for modern feminism and some of the biggest changes in our society.

For a long time the official language of the royal court in Britain was French, in fact HM Queen Elizabeth is fluent . English, at its heart is a combination of German and French, thus many English speakers find it easy to adapt to the language. Once you couple a skill in Spanish the language becomes an easy third linguistic string to the communications bow. Once a student has mastered both Spanish and French, Italian is another opportunity to connect with another 60 million speakers.

Half of Africa speaks French. Five of the top-10 fastest growing countries in Africa have French as an official language. As the continent grows and develops the importance of French (already the fastest growing language on the planet) will become even more pronounced. While only 29 nations have French as an official language, there are traditions across the continent, in fact across the world for learning the language and while English is ubiquitous in many places; French is still a lingua franca.

Engaging with French in Europe opens up far more possibilities for students. French is still a language of diplomacy in which the work of many international institutions including the EU and the UN is done. There are 26 French companies in the Fortune 500 list in 2021, making France number 5 on the leader board. France leads the world in Aviation, but also in fashion and tourism: as a cultural hub Paris draws in millions of visitors every year and provides opportunities for experiences, education and employment.

The world is connected more than ever and a passing understanding will allow ‘netizens’ to connect across borders like never before. The opportunity to practice and develop an understanding through online platforms is wider today than it has ever been and whether you are using memrise, rosetta stone, youtube or another app: you have the world at your fingertips.

Cinema is another world that French proficiency opens up: actors like Freddie Highmore, Bradly Cooper, Johnny Depp and Hugh Grant all speak fluently; but the French cinema world is much larger than a few British and American Francophiles and the worlds of Luc Besson, Jean-Luc Goddard, Francois Truffaut and others are just waiting for language learners to have the confidence to explore.?

Of course art is a major draw of French culture: both the creation of the beauty of Paris and the iconoclasm of the revolution are fascinating periods to study. Paris hosts the palatial Louvre, the former railway station musee d’orsay, and the amazing Centre Pompidou: three of the most important art centres in the world. France has been the home and inspiration for Van Gogh, David, Manet, Gaugin, Edgar Degas, Delacroix and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec: and these artists have gone on to inspire the world. Understanding French, navigating the city and engaging in the artistic culture is worth a hundred classes on art history, France is where art happens.

French language and French culture are foundational elements of Europe and the world. To engage with this cornerstone of our shared culture is an opportunity to discover the wit of Voltaire, the beauty of Monet, the insight of de Tocqueville and the cunning of Napoleon. French opens up diplomacy, travel, culture, arts, music and literature from across the planet and leads the learner onto new destinations, which without French, they never would have made.?

Barry is Principal at The Global College: a 15-18 pre univeristy college in Madrid offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.