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French
French Audio Files:
French
Links:
Career Opportunities in French:
Why Study French?
Foreign language study improves reasoning ability, verbal intelligence, and
aptitude for acquiring computer languages, and can help to increase
problem-solving skills, memory, and self-discipline.
French is especially
important in business, science, math and technology worldwide. It is also the
language of art, fashion, culture, dance, cuisine, diplomacy, and politics.
Finally, French is a global language. Like English, French is the official
working languages of the United Nations, UNESCO, NATO, the International Olympic
Committee, the European Community, the International Labor Bureau, the Universal
Postal Union, the International Red Cross, and the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development.
Careers in French
Speaking more than one language will increase your flexibility, adaptability
and marketability. Schools and employers tend to prefer candidates who
speak one or more foreign languages. Even though English is widely spoken in
much of the world, the fact is that the global economy depends on
communication. When dealing with France, for example, someone who speaks
French will have an obvious advantage over someone who doesn't. French
remains a particularly important tool for those working in Europe and
Africa.
Did you know?
If you are a native English speaker, one of the best reasons to learn
French is to help you understand your own language. French has had an enormous
impact on it. French is the largest donor of foreign words in English.
France has won more Nobel Prizes for literature than any other country
in the world and is one of the top producers of international films.
French is the second most frequently used language on the internet.
Oh, and one other thing -
Spanish is not easier than French! Taken from
http://french.about.com
Depending on your source, French is either the 11th (2) or the 13th (3)
most common native language in the world, with 72-79 million native speakers and
another 190 million secondary speakers.
French is the second most commonly taught second language in the world
(after English), making it a real possibility that speaking French will come in
handy practically anywhere you travel.
In 2003, the United States was France's leading investor, accounting for
25% of the new jobs created in France from foreign investment. There are 2,400
US companies in France generating 240,000 jobs. (4) American companies with
offices in France include IBM, Microsoft, Mattel, Dow Chemical, SaraLee, Ford,
Coca-Cola, AT&T, Motorola, Johnson & Johnson, Ford, and Hewlett Packard.
France is the second leading investor in the United States: more than 3,000
French companies have subsidiaries in the US and generate some 700,000 jobs,
including Mack Trucks, Zenith, RCA-Thomson, Bic, and Dannon.
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