10 Reasons to Study the French Language

1/6/2023

Are you undecided to what language your learner should study? The French language is a beautiful and expressive language that can be enjoyable and enriching for children. It can be intimidating at first because you aren’t sure where to begin, what resources you would need, and how to get your learner started? In this guide, we are going to provide some useful resources and 10 reasons why your learner should study the French language.

Background

Did you know that French is the official language in 29 countries that include France, Belgium, Canada, and Haiti? Did you know that the French language is spoken by over 300 million people around the world? Learning French can be a valuable and rewarding experience for a number of reasons that include:

Learning French can improve children's overall language skills, including their ability to understand and express themselves in their own language.
French is a Romance language, so it shares many similarities with other Romance languages like Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese, which can make it easier for children to learn additional languages in the future.
France has a rich cultural history and is known for its art, literature, fashion, cuisine, and more. Learning French can give children access to this rich culture and allow them to appreciate it in a deeper way.
French is a language of diplomacy and is often used in international relations and business. Learning French can give children an advantage in these fields.
French is the second most commonly taught language in the world and can give children the opportunity to communicate with a wider range of people.
Learning French can improve children's cognitive, problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Research has shown that bilingual individuals tend to have better executive function, which refers to the mental processes that enable us to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and multitask. These skills are important for problem-solving and critical thinking.
Many French-language resources, such as books, movies, and music, are available, which can provide children with additional opportunities to learn and practice the language. For books, you can start with “Le Petit Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, “Les Trois Brigands” by Tomi Ungerer. For movies, be sure to check out “Les Aventures de Tintin” and “Astérix et Obélix: Mission Cléopâtre”. France is also well-known for its nursery rhymes, which include “Alouette”, “Frère Jacques”, and Une Souris Verte” that can also be useful in learning how the French language is sung.
Learning French can open up new travel and study abroad opportunities for children. There are high school exchange programs that partner with schools in France, allowing students to spend a semester or academic year abroad. In addition, there are summer programs offer summer study abroad programs for children in France that typically include language instruction, cultural activities, and excursions. There are also private language schools in France that offer intensive language instruction.
French is the working language of many international organizations, such as the International Olympic Committee and the United Nations. Learning French can give children the opportunity to work with these organizations in the future.
Learning French can help children appreciate the diversity of the world and understand different cultures and perspectives to help broaden their understanding and appreciation for the world and people around us. It can also help children develop empathy and a greater sense of connection with others that promote cultural competence and understand that helps build strong and inclusive communities.

Don’t be shy and check it out. Learning a language takes time and a lot of patience, so it is important to remember that it is a process and that they are probably going to make mistakes. Overtime, with a lot of patience, once your learner establishes a good foundation and practices daily, it becomes easier.

While learning a language in an academic setting can be valuable and give you the tools to be exposed to the language, by traveling to the country, your learner can see how effective their French language skills are by testing it with the people from there. Besides its cognitive benefits, studying French can help your learner become a more well-rounded and confident. While it may appear challenging at first, learning French can be a fun and rewarding challenge for children, and it can give them a sense of accomplishment and pride.