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Why study French?

French is spoken in more than 50 nations on five continents; that's almost 80 million native speakers and another 190 million secondary speakers. French is the second most commonly taught second language in the world (after English). Speaking French will come in handy practically anywhere you study, work or travel.

Invest in your future: study French.

Learning a new language exposes you to new thoughts, new people and new opportunities. It develops your critical and creative thinking skills, your mental agility, your verbal competence, your cultural understanding, and your self-awareness. It also dramatically increases your job potential and salary potential, not to mention your chances of being accepted at the university or graduate school of your choice. But why study French in particular?

  • French is ranked the 2nd most influential language in the world.
  • French is the largest donor of foreign words in English; you know more than you think you do!
  • French is the language of culture: literature, art, music, dance, fashion, cuisine, architecture, and cinema.
  • French is the 2nd language on the Internet.
  • France has won more Nobel Prizes for Literature than any other country.
  • The United States is France's leading investor. France is a top investor in the US.
  • Almost 2 million Americans speak French at home.
  • France has one of the world's largest economies.
  • France and the US are the world's top two exporters in defense, agriculture, and services.
  • Approximately 2400 French companies have one or more subsidiaries in the US.
  • France is the crossroads of Europe, the world's largest consumer market.
  • French and English are the working languages of the UN, NATO, UNESCO, and the International Olympic committee.
  • At least 3,000,000 Americans travel to Frenchy-speaking countries every year.
  • Most US State Department postings require French.
  • More tourists visit France than any other country in the world.
  • And one last thing... Spanish is not easier than French.

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