There are many benefits of learning French, and doing so is easier than ever before!
Below are twenty key benefits of studying French, inspired by the '20 reasons to learn French', plus ways to get to grips with the language while having fun, too.
1. Level Up Your Resume
The first of our twenty benefits of learning French is that having a second language on your resume is only ever going to help you get your foot in the door or take another step or two up the career ladder.
French is the official language of twenty-nine countries and is spoken fluently by approximately 274 million people. Having a second language on your resume will make your application stand out, and French, in particular, is likely to be appreciated by potential employers.
As well as being spoken in French Polynesia, Quebec, and Switzerland, the French-speaking populations of several African countries are growing rapidly, too.
Recent research concluded that French is likely to overtake English as one of the top world languages within a few decades.
Photo by Chris Karidis on
If you choose to learn French, you will have the opportunity to apply for overseas roles or pursue a career in an organization like NATO or the United Nations, both of which use French as an official language. Additionally, the European Union and the International Olympic Committee also recognize French as an official language, further enhancing your career prospects in international relations and global governance.
You would also have the option to apply for jobs in the teaching, interpreting, and translating professions; your new fluency could see you being promoted in your current role or could open up new opportunities for you within the company you work for, too.
2. Enrich Your Travel Experiences
France is the world’s most visited country, with over eighty million tourists crossing its borders every year.
What are the benefits of learning French? If you’re planning on traveling to France, or a country where it is the official spoken language, then having a degree of fluency is going to transform your experience.
Knowing the language means you will be able to order from restaurant menus easily, navigate your way around a rail system, and chat with the locals; there is the opportunity to immerse yourself more fully in the local culture, too.
You’re more likely to find your way to the sort of ‘off the beaten path’ treasures that make for a truly memorable experience; immerse yourself in vibrant local markets, discover hidden historic buildings and find hidden patisseries that make the treats that the city’s residents themselves enjoy.
While English may be widely spoken in popular tourist areas, exploration away from these centers will be much easier - and more pleasant - if you’re able to converse with the folk you come across on your journey.
Photo by Reuben Mcfeeters on
Being able to speak French allows you to make more connections on your adventures: there’s the potential to make new friends - and maybe even find romance! Communicating with French speakers can enhance your travel experiences by providing diverse perspectives and aiding in international networking.
3. Ease of Learning
Many people regard French as the easiest language to learn. This is partly because it shares many characteristics with its fellow Romance languages: Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Romanian, making it a beneficial stepping stone to acquire other languages.
These five languages all share a common history: they were brought into their respective localities by invading Roman soldiers, who spoke a form of ‘vulgar’ Latin. Over time, these tongues developed into the distinct languages that each of the five countries speaks today.
So, how hard is it to learn French? Well, if you have familiarity at all with any one of the Romance languages, you’ll likely find picking up another relatively easy.
English and French, of course, share a common alphabet and much vocabulary, too: many words, while not entirely identical, are close enough to be recognizable.
4. It's a Widely Spoken Gateway Language
Of all the advantages and benefits of learning French, its credentials as a gateway language are compelling. As the second most widely learned foreign language, French significantly enhances career opportunities and cultural engagement.
As we mentioned above, learning any one of the main Romance languages makes learning the rest much easier. And due to the relative ease with which French can be picked up, then it makes a great choice for a first new language if you’re planning to go on to study others.
It’s widely accepted that every additional language you learn becomes easier and easier to pick up as your brain becomes adept at switching between languages and cognitive function and memory improves.
Photo by Veronica Reverse on
Similarly, because French is so popular to learn as a second language, it can serve as a ‘middle’ tongue to facilitate conversation between two people who have a different first language but share French as their second. As one of the most widely spoken languages, French holds official status in numerous countries, offering broad advantages for travel, career opportunities, and cultural engagement.
For this reason, French is a fantastic choice to learn and can open up the potential for communication in many scenarios and circumstances.
So, have 8 tips to help you boost your French learning.
5. Cultural Benefits
The ability to speak and understand French will open a wonderful world of enriching cultural experiences for you.
From reading one of the classic French works of literature in its original form to enjoying French cinema and music in the way it was meant to be appreciated, learning French for this reason alone is a wonderfully valid one.
A level of fluency will allow you to listen to French politicians, thinkers, and leaders, view news and other French media channels, and more easily stay up to date with current national events. Additionally, French is the sixth most widely spoken language globally, enhancing its value in international business and diplomacy.
In France, food, preparation, and eating form an essential element of the national culture, and understanding the language can help you fully appreciate this and enjoy it, too! La gastronomie is an art form in France, and learning French is vital to completely immerse yourself in this delicious national activity.
6. Academic Advantages
Learning a foreign language, such as French, can also provide academic benefits. Studies have shown that bilingual individuals tend to perform better in various cognitive tasks. Learning French can improve your problem-solving skills, memory, and even your ability to multitask. These cognitive benefits can extend to other areas of your life, including your academic and professional pursuits.
7. Social Benefits
Speaking French can enhance your social life by allowing you to communicate with a broader range of people. Whether you're making new friends, networking, or engaging in cultural exchange, knowing French can open up new social opportunities and enrich your interactions.
8. Enhanced Creativity
Learning a new language like French can stimulate your creativity. The process of understanding and using a different linguistic system can inspire new ways of thinking and expressing yourself. This can be particularly beneficial for individuals in creative fields such as writing, art, and design.
9. Boosted Confidence
Mastering a new language can significantly boost your confidence. The sense of achievement that comes with being able to communicate in French can increase your self-esteem and encourage you to take on new challenges in other areas of your life.
10. Access to French Media
Being able to understand French allows you to enjoy French media in its original form. This includes books, movies, music, and news. Consuming media in French can provide you with a deeper understanding of French culture and current events.
11. Improved Communication Skills
Learning French can enhance your overall communication skills. The process of mastering a new language can make you more aware of language structures and improve your ability to articulate thoughts clearly and effectively.
12. Greater Appreciation for Diversity
Learning French can foster a greater appreciation for cultural diversity. Understanding the language and culture of another country can broaden your perspective and make you more open-minded and empathetic.
13. Personal Growth
The journey of learning French can contribute to your personal growth. It requires dedication, patience, and perseverance, all of which are valuable qualities that can benefit you in various aspects of your life.
14. Enhanced Travel Experiences
Knowing French can enhance your travel experiences not only in France but also in other French-speaking countries. It allows you to communicate with locals, navigate more easily, and fully immerse yourself in the culture.
15. Professional Networking
Speaking French can expand your professional network. It enables you to connect with French-speaking colleagues, clients, and partners, which can open up new business opportunities and collaborations.
16. Access to French Literature
Being able to read French literature in its original language is a unique and enriching experience. It allows you to appreciate the nuances and subtleties of the language that may be lost in translation.
17. Lifelong Learning
Learning French can be a lifelong journey that keeps your mind active and engaged. It provides continuous opportunities for learning and growth, whether through advanced language courses, cultural experiences, or personal exploration.
18. Sense of Achievement
The sense of achievement that comes with learning French can be incredibly rewarding. It can boost your self-confidence and motivate you to set and achieve new goals in other areas of your life.
19. Cultural Connections
Knowing French can help you build cultural connections and friendships with French-speaking individuals. It allows you to engage more deeply with their culture and traditions, fostering meaningful relationships.
20. Benefits of Learning French for Career Opportunities
Finally, one of the most significant benefits of learning French is the enhanced career opportunities it can provide. French is a valuable skill in various industries, including international business, diplomacy, tourism, and education. It can make you a more competitive candidate in the job market and open up new professional avenues.
FAQs About Learning French
What pros and cons of learning French?
Pros:
- Enhances career opportunities
- Enriches travel experiences
- Boosts cognitive abilities and creativity
- Provides access to French media and literature
- Fosters cultural appreciation and personal growth
Cons:
- Requires time and effort
- May be challenging for some learners
- Limited immediate use if not in a French-speaking environment
Is learning French beneficial professionally outside of France?
Absolutely. French is an official language in many international organizations, including the United Nations, NATO, the European Union, and the International Red Cross. It is also widely spoken in various countries around the world, making it a valuable skill in international business, diplomacy, and global communication.
How long does it take to learn French fluently?
The time it takes to learn French fluently varies depending on factors such as your prior language experience, study methods, and the amount of time you dedicate to learning. On average, it may take around 600-750 hours of study to achieve a high level of proficiency.
What are some effective ways to learn French?
Effective ways to learn French include taking language courses, practicing with native speakers, using language learning apps, watching French movies and TV shows with subtitles, and immersing yourself in the language through travel or cultural experiences.
Can learning French improve my cognitive abilities?
Yes, studies have shown that learning a new language can enhance cognitive abilities such as memory, problem-solving skills, and multitasking. It can also improve your overall mental flexibility and creativity.
Is French a difficult language to learn?
French is considered one of the easier languages to learn for English speakers due to its shared Latin roots and similar vocabulary. However, like any language, it requires practice and dedication to achieve fluency.
Why Should I Learn French Now?
So, is it worth it to learn French? For sure. But how should you go about getting to grips with it? Language learning has changed fundamentally from the days of conjugating verbs by rote and memorizing blocks of vocabulary.
Now, there are innovative new ways of learning a language that are both immersive and engaging; and staying engaged is key to maintaining motivation.
There has never been a better time to learn a new language when it comes to the resources available to do so today: from tailored subtitled TV shows to immersive learning opportunities, learning a new language can now be a dynamic, entertaining, invigorating experience. With this in mind, we tackle the next question: ‘what's the best way to learn French?' next.
Photo by Calvin Shelwell on
Learn French By Watching TV!
One of the most effective and fun ways to learn French is by watching subtitled French TV shows and movies - enjoy the best of French TV and cinema while boosting your fluency levels. Viewing subtitled TV programs has been demonstrated to improve target language skills; staying motivated isn't a problem either when you're enjoying a binge-worthy series!
This method of learning also means that you're more likely to pick up ‘real world' language and phrases, as well as the odd bit of slang, for added authenticity. You can expect to see good stuff happening in terms of your pronunciation and range of vocabulary, too. Lingopie offers a vast range of subtitled French TV shows and films, all of which feature additional on-screen tools to help consolidate your learning.
Little and Often
You'll probably find it much more effective, when it comes to book-based language learning, to study for a short time regularly - maybe even a few times each day - rather than in one big weekly three-hour session, for example. This technique makes you more likely to retain the information you've learned and helps to keep you engaged.
Giving your full attention to your studies for a short time every day is, ultimately, better than being able to only half focus for a much longer period.
Photo by Léonard Cotte on
Immersive Learning Techniques
As with learning a language by watching tv, there are other immersive techniques that you can incorporate, too, into your daily life to speed up your learning. You could consider finding a language partner, for example, connect with someone that you study with or is on the same French language learning online forum, and arrange to have regular weekly phone calls or meet-ups in which you converse entirely in French.
Try keeping a diary in the new language or listening to music in French. Get hold of some French magazines to flip through. The idea behind immersive learning is to incorporate the target language into as many areas of your daily life as possible so that even when you're not actively learning - you're still learning.
Time to Give French a Try
If you've been debating learning a new language and are wondering about the benefits of learning French, then be assured that gaining proficiency in French will open up a world of new opportunities for you, whether that's in terms of employment, travel, or in giving you a window on a whole new culture, and all that this offers.
As one of the easiest languages to learn, and with so many new, fun, and engaging ways to do so, taking up French could be one of the best decisions you make this year.
