Why study French?
Many people believe that French is only spoken in France. With more than 122 million speakers, French is actually spoken in 42 countries – more than English. One of five official languages of the United Nations, French is spoken in much of Africa, Canada, Asia, the Pacific, the Near East, the Caribbean and in nearby Louisiana. According to the 2000 US Census, 1.9 million Americans speak French in the home.
Although many students choose to take French to facilitate travel and cultural appreciation or because they consider it a beautiful language, knowing French can broaden an individual’s career options after graduation. Certainly those who wish to teach French, study French culture, civilization and literature, or become translators benefit from taking French, but the language can be useful in other career venues as well. Many students at SFA choose to complete a second major or minor in French for precisely this reason. Here are some examples of how having a major or minor in French can contribute to degrees in other fields:
Government and politics:
Knowing French can broaden a job candidate’s opportunities in the fields of politics, government and international relations. For example, in a recent listing of international jobs (May 2004) distributed by the US State Department, 121 preferred French, 43 Spanish, 13 Arabic, 12 Portuguese, 12 Russian, 4 German and 2 Italian. In addition, French, along with English, is the official working language of the following organizations:
· United Nations
· UNESCO
· NATO
· Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
· International Labor Bureau
· International Olympic Committee
· European Community
· International Red Cross
Students interested in international law can benefit from learning French. In addition, as many companies conduct business with French speaking countries, knowledge of French can be an asset. French is the dominant working language of the following:
· European Court of Justice
· European Court of Auditors in Luxembourg
· Press room at the European Commission in Brussels
Often we hear talk of businesses “going global” by opening offices worldwide. College graduates proficient in French will be eligible for posts for which monolingual applicants are not qualified. If you are studying business or economics, keep in mind the following:
· French is one of the languages spoken by Canada, our largest trading partner.
· In the year 2000, the U.S. exported more to French-speaking countries than to countries having any other foreign language.
· French companies employ approximately 650,000 Americans.
· France is the world’s leader in production of luxury goods.
Students studying to become doctors, pharmacists or nurses should consider taking French classes. Many African nations devastated by AIDS and famine have French as an official language. In addition, France is a world leader in medical genetics and French doctors were the first to isolate the AIDS virus.
Proficiency in French can open doors for students wishing to pursue careers in science and industry. For example, France ranks third among manufacturers of electronics equipment, is the fourth largest producer of automobiles, is the second largest guilder and exporter of civilian and military aircraft and is the world’s third largest military power.
Anyone who has worked in the hospitality industry knows that as you meet travelers from abroad, knowledge of a foreign language can be very useful. In addition to being beneficial to finding employment in the U.S. at a hotel or in a travel agency, many American agencies seek employees who can speak French to travel and work abroad. Note that more tourists visit France than any other country in the world.
The French have had an enormous influence on American and world history, philosophy, literature, art and music. Students and researchers who know French have access to original writings in their field. Keep in mind that many significant works in the areas of history, literature, philosophy, sociology, music, film and art history have not been translated. Often when translations are available, they are not always accurate and do not contain the nuances of the original texts. In addition, student who choose to pursue graduate work in these fields often find it necessary (and enjoyable) to travel to France to examine works of art or original documents relevant to their research. Most graduate schools require students to know at least one foreign language to receive a degree.
Organizations such as the Peace Corps and Doctors without Borders are always looking for proficient speakers of French to accomplish important projects in African or Caribbean nations. Religious mission trips to these areas also benefit from the presence of French speakers.
These are just a few of the practical applications of learning French in the 21st century. Don’t forget that learning French is also fun, facilitates travel, helps you get to know people with whom you otherwise could not communicate and allows you to better understand your own culture. If you have any questions about studying French at SFA, please look at the rest of this website and/or contact Dr. Joyce Johnston at jjohnston@sfasu.edu.