We all know that Paris is the city of love and French is the language of romance but why is French tuition so important for our young students? We explain our top five reasons below.
French Connects You to the World Apart from the ‘je ne sais quoi’ (ineffable quality) about the French, including their enviable style, delicious food, delightful wine and gorgeous accents, French is actually the second most widely learned foreign language after English, and the fifth most widely spoken language in the world. Empowering children with the ability to communicate effectively in other languages, especially one as far reaching as French, is an invaluable gift.
French is a Ticket to Some of the Best Universities Speaking French opens up doors and unlocks opportunities for students to further their studies at renowned French universities and business schools. Some of these institutions are ranked among the top higher education institutions in the world. Who wouldn’t want a ticket in?
French Sets Your Résumé Apart When children leave school and enter the international job market, having the ability to speak French, gives them an advantage above their peers. This is extremely advantageous considering France boasts one of the world’s largest economies and is a leading destination for foreign investment.
French Fosters Critical Thinking French is an analytical language that helps develops critical thinking and structures thought patters. Critical thinking helps us to understand ourselves better including our goals and motivations. When children are able to simplify information and identify the most important parts, they are given tools to change situations and promote personal growth. Developing this area of children’s mind is an invaluable skill for future discussions and negotiations.
French Oozes Culture The catwalks of Paris are famed the world over. French cuisine is undoubtedly one of the most exquisite cuisines to enjoy and to master. Art lovers from all corners of the earth flock to the Louvre Museum. Some of the greatest works of literature are in the original French, as well as films and songs. When it comes to culture, the French certainly lead the way and being able to enjoy these wonders in their native language enriches and deepens the experience.
For all of the above reasons, French is an incredible language to learn but it can also be tricky. Fortunately, anyone who is able to read this blog is already further along than they may realise. That’s because modern English is comprised of 30% French origin words, and we use most of them without even realising.
Don’t believe me?
“Maybe you had an important rendezvous for dinner but when you arrived there was a queue for the restaurant? Did you have to manoeuvre to the front because you had made a reservation? When you got to your table, did they serve you from a bottle or a carafe? Did you bother ordering an entrée or would you save that space for dessert? When your date arrived, was she blonde or brunette? Did you propose and make her your fiancée? Congratulations and good luck on your marriage.”
How did all these French words get into the English language?
The short answer is: English is a west-Germanic language (Like German and Dutch), made up of:
Latin (29%)
French (29%)
Germanic languages like Dutch and German (26 %)
Greek and unknown languages (16%)
French is a Latin language. Which means it is a modified version of Latin (Like Julius Cesar used to speak). Just like Spanish, Italian and Portuguese, all French words come from Latin root words.
As far as grammar and vocabulary goes, there is no doubt about the influence that French has had on the English language.
All this amounts to the fact that children (or adults) who knows English, know some French too.
Knowing this should make the idea of learning French, a little less daunting.
We have a saying in France:
Impossible n’est pas Francais.
Which translates to: “Impossible is not part of the French language”
But it is.
‘Impossible’ is actually a French word and it means the same as it does in English.
Although factually, the saying is not accurate, the idea behind it is.
With the right teachers, tools and environment, nothing is impossible.
Contact ME education here and find out about our French classes for all levels.
Et voila!
