Learning French, Essay Example

While command of English language offers considerable benefits, due to it being a global language, it doesn’t excuse the need to learn another language such as French. This is especially true today when national boundaries are becoming less relevant and our world is increasingly being shaped by forces of globalization. English language speakers should learn French because doing so will yield benefits at both personal and professional level.

We should learn French because more and more companies from English-speaking countries such as U.S., U.K., Australia, and Canada are doing business overseas including in Africa. There are 200 million French speakers in the world and it is the second most widely learned language after English (Consulate General of France).

We should also learn French because it will improve our ability to learn from international travels. French is widely spoken in Europe and Africa. It is, in fact, one of the two major languages in our neighboring country Canada as well. Language is a window into a culture and without language skills, one’s ability to understand a culture is quite limited.

Learning French is also recommended because it yields cognitive benefits. Researchers found that those with two or more language skills have better cognitive abilities and in addition, learning second language also slows brain aging (BBC). Thus, it is clear learning French will help improve our mental health as well.

English may be a global language but French is also one. It is widely spoken in Europe and Africa and taught in schools all around the world. We should learn French because it improves career prospects, enable us to benefit more from international travels, and improve our cognitive abilities.

Works Cited

BBC. Learning second language ‘slows brain ageing’. 2 June 2014. 1 January 2015 <http://www.bbc.com/news/health-27634990>.

Consulate General of France. 10 good reasons to learn French . 1 January 2015 <http://www.consulfrance-houston.org/spip.php?article1426>.