1. To have a different point of view on the world
It is always good to have a different point of view on the news and the world in general. The economy is dominated by Anglo-Saxon and capitalist thinking. French vision and sensitivity are different. French elites, whether intellectual, political or media moguls are influenced by literature, philosophy, history and political science. If you immerse yourself in the French-speaking world, you will see that we can think really differently and above all ask questions from a totally new angle of approach. This intellectual background of our elites associated with a Latin culture rather than a Germanic one will mean that learning French allows you to embark on an intellectual journey of profound interest. To see the world from a French point of view is to be critical and even sometimes absurd because the French mentality is not always pragmatic but rather conceptual.
2. To connect with part of the African continent
The colonial history of France has meant that today a large number of African countries have French as their official language. If you are interested in Africa, you could do worse than learning French, which is one of the main languages of the continent. You can travel to most countries in West and Equatorial Africa as well as to Madagascar.
The African soul is rich and varied, and French will bring you closer to people and thus allow you to understand them better.
3. Some say it’s a beautiful language
Beauty is subjective, and languages are no exception. However, I have often been told that French is a beautiful language that is easy on the ear. Should you agree, this will make learning French even more of a pleasure.
4. It’s useful to do something that seems seemingly useless
For some people, French no longer has the appeal it once had due in particular to its lower number of speakers than English, Spanish, Mandarin or even Hindi .
It’s true, learning French is no longer vital in most cases. Unlike English, it is not of major interest to most people. However, French is not only interesting for being widely spoken, it is also interesting for its literary produce. Even if you don’t use it every day, learning a language is still an intellectual exercise and a gateway to new experiences, it’s up to you to see if the trip is worth it.
5. It’s not as difficult as you might think
If you already speak English, you share at least 30% of your vocabulary with the language of Molière. If you speak a Romance language, be it Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Romanian or Catalan, you will see how easy it is to learn it as the grammar, the conjugation and the vocabulary are similar. If you do not speak one of these languages, I will not lie to you, it will be harder for you, but it is simply a question of hard work and patience. Trust me, it’s worth it.
6. You can create your own bubble of creativity
When you learn a language, you have the possibility of entering a world closed to all those who do not speak it. This can be an advantage because it virtually creates a cocoon that protects and feeds you intellectually and creatively.
7. Resources are generally numerous and of good quality
There are rather a lot of resources in French and they are generally of relatively good quality with somewhat lacking English translations. Speaking French will give you access to these treasures.
8. There is always a French speaking country near you that you can visit
Wherever you live, there is generally a French-speaking country or region within 4 hours by plane from your home, except perhaps for Asian countries. This can give you quite interesting travel ideas and provide personal enrichment by connecting to another language.
9. Speak like a Frenchman, act like a Frenchman
The French identity is so linked to the language that you can almost say that if you speak French you are already a little French. Of course there will be always those who deny this, but in reality, speaking French perfectly means already being more than 50% French.
10. French has you covered when it comes to insults
You speak English and the lack of swear words leaves you with little room for creativity. So, if that’s the case, French is perfect for you! You have no idea of the variety of insults available, which are constantly updated from generation to generation. You will be able to express your disgust or your repulsion with much more nuance!
In the interests of balance, remember the reasons for not learning French:
1. You hate being corrected
The French, especially the Parisians, are happy to correct even other French speakers! If you’re sensitive to correction, don’t learn French!
2. You don’t want to learn a language that spread through colonization
If the idea of a language spreading through bloodshed (as is the case with many major languages such as Spanish, English, Arabic and Portuguese) turns your stomach, it’s better to avoid French. Many countries were forced against their will to accept it as their official tongue.
3. If you are too financially minded and want immediate rewards
As previously mentioned, learning French will generally not give you an immediate return on investment. If that’s your goal, it’s best to learn a skill like programming or English if you don’t speak it already. However, learning French is beneficial in the long term whether it is for your cognitive development, your self-esteem, your general culture or even your well-being.
4. If you are afraid of feeling isolated in your learning
Since French speakers are spread all over the world, there is a fairly developed network of schools, however, face-to-face courses can be expensive. You may also not be able to speak face-to-face on a daily basis with a French-speaking friend. If you are afraid of being isolated because you are forced to learn via the internet, perhaps French is not the best language to learn.