Why study French?. France was the United States’ first ally.

Why study French?Why study French?

France was the United France was the United States’ first ally.States’ first ally.

French is the only language French is the only language other than English spoken on other than English spoken on

five continents.five continents.

More tourists visit France than More tourists visit France than any other country in the world, any other country in the world, ahead of the U.S., China, Spain, ahead of the U.S., China, Spain, and Italy.and Italy.

France has the fifth largest France has the fifth largest economy in the world after the economy in the world after the

U.S., China, Japan, and U.S., China, Japan, and Germany (2012, International Germany (2012, International

Monetary Fund)..Monetary Fund)..

France is the second largest France is the second largest exporter of agricultural products exporter of agricultural products

in the world after the U.S.in the world after the U.S.http://www.whichcountry.co/top-10-agricultural-export-countries-world/

France is the world’s leader in France is the world’s leader in the production of luxury goods.the production of luxury goods.

France is the European leader France is the European leader in aerospace. Most commercial in aerospace. Most commercial satellites are put into space on satellites are put into space on

French Ariane rockets.French Ariane rockets.

France is the world’s sixth France is the world’s sixth military power (after the U.S., military power (after the U.S., Russia, China, India, and the Russia, China, India, and the

U.K.), and is the world’s fourth U.K.), and is the world’s fourth largest arms exporter.largest arms exporter.

/

http://www.globalfirepower.com

The French are a world leader The French are a world leader in medical research: the AIDS in medical research: the AIDS

virus was first isolated by virus was first isolated by French doctors.French doctors.

In a listing of international jobs In a listing of international jobs (12/1/09) distributed by the U.S. (12/1/09) distributed by the U.S.

State Department:State Department:92 required or preferred French, 92 required or preferred French, 36 Spanish, 11 a U.N. language 36 Spanish, 11 a U.N. language

(Arabic, Chinese, English, French, (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish), 7 Arabic, 5 Russian and Spanish), 7 Arabic, 5 Russian, 1 Japanese, 1 Hindi, Russian, 1 Japanese, 1 Hindi,

1 German, and 1 Chinese. 1 German, and 1 Chinese.

French is the foreign language French is the foreign language spoken by our largest trading spoken by our largest trading

partner: Canadapartner: Canada

French, along with English, is French, along with English, is the official working language of the official working language of the United Nations, the United Nations,

the International Olympic the International Olympic Committee, and the Committee, and the

International Red Cross.International Red Cross.

French is one of the languages French is one of the languages spoken in the U.S.: 1.9 million spoken in the U.S.: 1.9 million Americans speak French in the Americans speak French in the

home. (2000 U.S. Census)home. (2000 U.S. Census)

High School students should High School students should consider studying at least four consider studying at least four years of a foreign language. years of a foreign language.

With French they have access With French they have access to the most widely taught and to the most widely taught and

spoken foreign language in the spoken foreign language in the world after English.world after English.

Source: Source: FrenchFrench

The Most Practical Foreign The Most Practical Foreign LanguageLanguage

by Richard Shryockby Richard ShryockVirginia Polytechnic Institute Virginia Polytechnic Institute

and State Universityand State University

http://www.fll.vt.edu/french and wikipedia.org and wikipedia.org