Why learn French?
Watch Advantage for Life, a video describing the advantages of learning a second language produced by the Teaching and Learning Centre at the University of Calgary.
The learning of a second language is in itself an excellent pursuit, not least because it develops an appreciation of the act of communicating with others, the subtleties that must be expressed in words, the importance of listening. - Dr. André Obadia of Simon Fraser University1
Learning a language is like giving a gold deposit to your children, but without risk, because while gold may decrease in value, knowledge will not. Gold can be stolen, but knowledge always grows. - Dr. Roseann Runte, President of Victoria University, Toronto2
In business, having a second language is like having a second soul. A real asset for Canada has proven to be the ability of so many of its people to empathize with people of other lands through language. The demands of a globally competitive business environment are such that a modern education cannot be complete without significant language training. - Randall Litchfield of Canadian Business Magazine3
It's more than conjugating verbs and learning vocabulary. It enables you to share and compare ideas with people you never otherwise would have known. - Wai-ling Ho Ching, Coquitlam, B.C.4
Knowing a second language:
increases your child's personal pleasures such as the enjoyment of literature, art, music, theatre, travel, and personal relationships
increases your child's understanding of and respect for other peoples and other cultures
gives your child access to a larger pool of information and to more educational and career opportunities
Learning a second language:
develops your child's listening and learning skills as well as self-discipline
increases cognitive abilities, creating a more flexible thinker
enhances his knowledge of and his ability to communicate in his first language
makes learning a third or fourth language much easier
Life-long use of two languages:
reduces the normal effects of aging on some brain functions
has been shown to significantly delay the onset of symptoms of dementia
Watch I Want to Become Bilingual..., featuring students answering this question.
Watch Proud of Two Languages, showcasing young Canadians using French as a second language.
THE LOGICAL LANGUAGE FOR CANADIANS: French is the national second language for many Canadians because it is so widely used and accessible throughout the country. It is the mother tongue of one Canadian in four. With French we have the advantage of texts, references and library books prepared for the Francophone market in this country; large numbers of French-speaking teachers; access to role models and activities in Francophone communities as well as access to the French media; and sufficient interest in the language to support viable programs throughout the country.
A WORLD LANGUAGE:
Estimates of the number of French speakers around the world range from 100,000,000 to 250,000,000.
La Francophonie is a network of 75 states and government, of which 32 have French as an official language.
French and English are the languages of world diplomacy. French is an official working language of the United Nations, the International Red Cross, the International Olympic Committee, the European Economic Community, and the International Labour Bureau.
French is the second most frequently known by Europeans in addition to their mother tongue. Nearly 1/5 of non-Francophone Europeans say they know French.
French is the second most frequently taught language in the world. It is the second most prevalent language on the internet.
KNOWING FRENCH:
helps your child to understand more about himself, his country, and his fellow Canadians
gives your child a competitive edge in the job market anywhere in Canada and in many other countries:
The employment benefits of official-language bilingualism - in 2008 CPF commissioned Ipsos Reid to conduct a survey in July 2008 to learn more about the nature of the job market in Canada, outside of Quebec and outside of the public service, for workers who can communicate in both English and French
Language Skills Propel Canadians Up Corporate Ladder - report of a poll commissioned by Berlitz Canada and conducted by Harris/Decima in March 2008
Nowadays, bilingualism is increasingly viewed as a certified asset, one that provides mobility and insight. According to Karl Moore, a management specialist at McGill University, there is a disproportionate number of Canadians running large international organizations the world over. The fact that they come from a smaller, and bilingual, country makes them better suited than, say, Americans or Britons to understand and handle the various cultural sensitivities at play in the global economy. - Benoit Aubin, "Speaking in Tongues," Macleans.ca, December 9, 2002
Knowing both languages [English and French] means twice as much of everything, just like a two for one deal! ... The two for one deal means you can have twice as many friends, twice as many job opportunities, and twice as many experiences. And that all adds up to more fun for me! - Heather Szpecht, 10-year-old Calgary student5
Throughout the past five years, French has come in handy for me at the most surprising times. I feel a thrill whenever I can conquer a situation due to this and I feel proud to come from a country that recognizes it as an official language. I want to encourage these programs to continue so that we can continue to ignore international language boundaries. - Sheena Tieffel, Merrit, B.C.6
Facts about French - statistics, etc.
What do I want for my child? - choosing a French program
I'm learning French because... - a series of handouts to download and share with others
What Alberta Education says about learning a second language
French Immersion is a Lot Like a Swimming Pool by Fred Kreiner, Director of Practicum, Campus Saint-Jean, University of Alberta
1 "Enseignment des langues: le Canada jou un rôle de chef de file." La Presse, September 20, 1996 (page B3) (translation from French).
2 "French Immersion: So Much More Than a Language." Address to the French Immersion in Alberta: Building the Future: Leading the Way" 2000 conference.
3 Commentary to Canadian Parents for French in 1992 and quoted in CPF's "Learning French Makes a world of Difference" public information campaign.
4 "Discovering Canadian Identity on the Beaches of Normandy." CPF National News 67, winter 1995 (page 5).
5 From her first prize entry in the 1993 "Write it up!/Ŕ vos crayons" contest.
6 "Making French Connections on an Exchange in India." CPF National News 67, winter 1995 (page 5).