Race to a Cure Authors
- Nov 10, 2020

The Importance of Learning French

For Canadian students, learning the French language probably brings back both happy and stressful memories. From reading and watching "Le Petit Prince" to conjugating -ER, -RE, and -IR verbs, French classes were definitely a highlight for many students. But especially in high school, students have the choice of dropping this once-mandatory course. Today, we're here to tell you why keeping French in your list of classes until grade 12 is a great idea for your current education and future career goals. Read on to find out why learning how to read, write, and speak French is an essential skill for students to have.

It's an official Canadian language. For all the Canadian students reading this, you are probably aware that French is one of the country's official languages. In the future, employers look favourably upon bilingual candidates since being eloquent in both official languages provides you with better interaction skills and can help your overall efficiency.
French is present across the world. French is a language spoken in many countries worldwide and is a gateway to learning other Romantic languages (such as Spanish or Italian). French is also part of the international business climate as one of the United Nations' six official languages.
The French language is rich in culture. When you think of the French language, you think of other things: French movies, cooking, literature, or music. These snapshots into French culture give you the chance to be immersed in a new cultural atmosphere.
You can get recognition for being fluent in French. Why stop at high-school-level French? If you are passionate and hardworking, you can potentially receive recognition for being fluent in French reading, writing, and speaking, which can help in your future career ambitions. Personally, I took the Diplôme d’Études en Langue Français, or the DELF, which provides you with an official certificate certifying the competency of the French Language of candidates outside of France. There are a few different levels of certificates available, and some of them can allow you to work and study (for post-secondary endeavours) in French.
Improves overall learning skills. Learning a language is a skill that helps you with interpersonal, learning, memorization, creativity, and communication skills, amongst many others. It's not only another skill to have under your belt, but it also helps you explore another wonder of the world, and French is indeed a language with a lot to offer.

Overall, French is a diverse language with a lot to offer - from a diverse cultural setting to a toolkit of helpful skills. While high school French sets you up to learn the basics in French comprehension - reading, writing, and speaking - taking the extra step to receive certification for your French skills can help you gain an edge over others and solidify your knowledge of the language, which can be helpful to your future careers. Whether you're learning to immerse yourself in culture or for the thrill of conjugating verbs, remember that you are giving yourself an important advantage while doing so. Whatever the reason may be, have fun learning French, or as the French would say it, "S'amuser en apprenant le français!"