If you’re considering learning a foreign language, it’s one of the most rewarding journeys you can ever undertake. Language takes us beyond just allowing us to connect with others. It’s a massive door of opportunity in a plethora of areas, especially if you’re considering a Romance language like French language as your area of focus!

While you’ll certainly benefit from any language learning program, there are many compelling reasons why you should learn French first. Whether you’ve got your eye on a French interpreting role or you’re just looking to make your way around Paris in the most authentic way, this avenue of language learning is highly beneficial.

This post walks you through 10 life-changing reasons to sign up for a French language course. From traveling to advancing your career, you should be ready to enroll in French studies by the end of this post!

The 10 Most Compelling Reasons to Learn French

#1 – It’s an Official Language of the Global Economy

There are more than 300 million French speakers in the world. Although many assume that English is the international Lingua Franca, French is, in fact, just as popular. As the world’s second most widely spoken language (after English), French is a language that can be used in an abundance of destinations across the globe. Alongside English, French is also the only foreign language that’s taught in every country in the world. It is also an official language in a variety of countries as well as the United Nations and the European Union and is spoken (as a native or second language) across all 5 continents. As far as opening up doors of international networking and cultural exchanges, French is definitely a stepping stone.

#2 – Professional Advancement Opportunities for Foreign Language Speakers

If you’re reading this article in English, it means that you’re already fluent in one language. And once you have French language skills under your belt, you’ll be bilingual. Being able to speak French and English is considered a massive advantage in the global job market. If you speak French, you’ll be able to get your foot in the door with French organizations and companies that have branches in other French-speaking destinations.

#3 – It’s A Rich Cultural Language

French is the international language of architecture, theatre, visual arts, fashion, dance, cooking, and fashion. When you speak French, your linguistic skills can grant you access to some of the most impressive pieces of original literature within the Romance languages. It’s also the most romantic language on earth, so aside from gaining knowledge of French culture, you’ll be able to impress your partner with your new vocabulary as well.

#4 – A Culinary Benefit

We can’t mention French culture without a deep dive into French cuisine. Language students that learn French will undoubtedly learn how to prepare and consume food as a form of art. In France, eating revolves around more than just filling up your stomach. It’s a celebration of food, an appreciation of flavors, and a special time to spend quality time with those you love most. If you’re a foodie, there’s no doubt that learning French will be an epic gastronomic journey!

#5 – Gaining Fresh Perspective

Whenever you learn French (or any other language for that matter), you can’t learn just the vocabulary and grammar. You also learn more about the culture that’s deeply ingrained in the specific language. And you learn more about different ways of life. And once you immerse yourself in the language, you’ll have a better understanding of the French world, which might help you see the world from a new perspective. Yes, it might be a linguistic experience, but it can also be one of the most enlightening journeys you ever undertake.

#6 – Access to Authentic Travel Experiences in French Speaking Countries

One of the most obvious reasons to learn French is because it’ll allow you to communicate with the locals when you travel to France and other French-speaking countries. As the world’s most popular tourist destination, more than 80 million people visit France annually. Although you’ll be able to use English to get by in the main tourist areas of France, you’ll need the help of a multilingual interpreter if you travel off the beaten track without French language skills.

#7 – Opportunities to Expand Your World

When non-English speakers learn English, they’re not doing so just so they can communicate with native English speakers. The reason why so many people learn English is so they can communicate with a broader spectrum of people around the world. And since English is an established international language, it’s often a go-to language learning option. The same rings true for learning French. It’s useful for far more than merely communicating with French natives. It’s widely spoken in a plethora of regions in Europe as well as Africa. If you’re bilingual (speak English and French), you’ll be able to effectively communicate with locals from the majority of areas in Africa and Europe.

#8 -It’s a Gateway to Other Languages

Many people believe French to be moderately difficult to learn. But the same can be said about the English language if you’re non-native. Yes, French grammar can be tricky at times, and it’ll take some time to nail the pronunciation, but in essence, French grammar is quite similar to English. Plus, once you master the French language, it’ll be much easier to learn other Romance languages, which include the likes of Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Romanian.

#9 – An Opportunity to Understand the English Language Better

The French and English languages are deeply intertwined. In fact, they’re so intertwined that up to a third of English vocabulary is derived from the French language. If you learn French with a native English-speaking background, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the origins of many of the words we use in the English language.

#10 – The Promotion of Linguistic Diversity

Learning to speak a language like French contributes toward preserving linguistic diversity. It also helps avoid the domination of a single Lingua Franca in the modern, multicultural world.

Final Thoughts

As is evident, there are major benefits to learning the French language. Aside from all these benefits, you’ll also connect with new people from French-speaking countries that can add tremendous value to your life.

At the end of the day, however, your main reasons to learn French should be an interest in the language and a curiosity. Without a passion for learning more about the country, its culture, and its people, the learning process of acquiring other languages can be slow and painful.

We’ve listed 10 compelling reasons to learn French in this post. As one of the world’s most widely spoken languages, there are plenty of learning opportunities for French language students out there.