Learning French

Why learn French at the Alliance

With over 220 million speakers today on every continent, French is set to become the 4th most widely-spoken language in 2050

Economically, France is one of the key players in the luxury market, fashion and gastronomy and a major contributor in the energy, aeronautical, pharmaceutical and information technology industries.

Academically, France is one of the top destinations for post-secondary education. The quality and prestige of receiving a French education and degree are but two among many other reasons to learn French.

Culturally, France sets the standard for elegance, refinement, philosophy and savoir-vivre.

As the world’s fifth biggest economy and third-ranking destination for foreign investment, France is a key economic partner. The ability to speak French and English is an advantage on the international job market; especially in Africa. A knowledge of French opens the doors of French companies in France and other French-speaking parts of the world (Canada, Switzerland, Belgium, and the continent of Africa).

French is the international language of cooking, fashion, theatre, the visual arts, dance and architecture. A knowledge of French offers access to great works of literature in the original French, as well as films and songs.

France is the world’s top tourist destination and attracts more than 79,5 million visitors a year. The ability to speak even a little French makes it so much more enjoyable to visit Paris, Dakar, Montreal or Bruxelles and of course all the regions of France and offers insights into French culture, mentality and way of life.

Speaking French opens up study opportunities at renowned French universities and business schools, ranked among the top higher education institutions in Europe and the world. Students with a good level of French are eligible for French government grants to enroll in postgraduate courses in France in the discipline of their choice and qualify for internationally recognised degrees.

French is both a working language and an official language of the United Nations, the European Union, UNESCO, NATO, the International Olympic Committee, the International Red Cross and international courts.

After English and German, French is the third most widely used language on the Internet, ahead of Spanish.

First and foremost, learning French is the pleasure of learning a beautiful, rich, melodious language, often called the language of love. French is also an analytical language that structures thought and develops critical thinking, which is a valuable skill for discussions and negotiations.

Contrary to popular belief, French is not a difficult language to learn. It is a language that requires a certain precision, but it is also capable of expressing great subtlety. It does not take long to reach a level where you can communicate in French. There are many methods on the market that make learning French enjoyable, starting with the first years of school. French also appeals to students because it is a soft, melodious, romantic language.

French is spoken far beyond the borders of France. It serves as an official language in several major international organizations, including the United Nations and the European Union. It is also widely used in many regions and countries—especially across Africa, where it often functions as a key language for administration, education, and everyday communication.

Speaking French makes a major contribution to preserving linguistic diversity in the world and avoiding the exclusive domination of a single language in today’s globalised world.