WHY LEARN FRENCH?

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WHY LEARN FRENCH?

• Looking for an international language?
• Try the French connection!!!
• It will open doors
• to a world of opportunities

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French is internationalFrench is ranked the
second most influential language in the world and
it is one of the most widely spoken with

• 110M native French speakers in more than 50
  countries around the world (official language in
  53 states/30 countries)
• over 200M secondary French speakers
• over 100M who study it
• 150 M students attending schools where French is
  the language used for teaching
• French is the second most frequently taught
  foreign language in the world after English.
• In the US, French is the second most commonly
  taught language after Spanish.

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• French and English are the only 2 languages
  spoken as a native language on 5 continents.
• French can be useful throughout the world as
  well as in the United States (2M people speak
  French at home in the US it is the 3rd most
  frequently spoken language in America).
• In Africa, French-speaking countries represent an
  area larger than the US. French is the official
  language for commerce and trade in 25 African
  countries. It is directly and indirectly the
  communication key to a quarter of a billion
  people in an enormous expanse of this great
  continent.

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Map of the Francophone world
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STUDIES

• French is EASY
• it will help you develop better skills in other
  academic areas
• and make you more successful in your studies

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French is EASY

• 50 of English vocab is derived from French
• you already know 15.000 French words
• improve your SAT and ACT scores

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Improve your academic performance

• Awareness of what language is
• Other foreign languages will be easier to learn
• Increase problem solving skills, memory,
  self-discipline and self-esteem
• Have access to important writings
• Opens door to grad school and research

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Save time and money!

• Increase your chances of getting into the school
  of your choice
• Receive college credit in high school
• Satisfy university entrance or exit requirements

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WORK

• Knowing French will be
• a great asset for you
• to compete effectively in the global economy

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Myth Investors are fleeing France !
Reality For the 2003-2005 period, France ranked
2nd in Europe in attracting FDI
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Myth Investors are fleeing France !
Reality

• 17 900 foreign subsidiaries based in France
• 17 of the total added value
• 28 of the added value in the
  industrial sector
• 12 of the added value in the service
  sector (x 3 since 1993)

• They employ 1.9 million French workers (90
  within 10 years), i.e. 1 out of 7

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Myth Investors are fleeing France !
Reality Paris ranked 2nd for location
company headquarters in 2005
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• More job opportunities
• Work with your neighbor Canada
• Most of US trade is with French speaking
  countries
• 3,000 French companies in the US employing
  700,000 Americans
• 2,400 American companies in France generating
  240,000 jobs

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French is MODERN France isa leader and
innovatorin science and technology

• Civil engineering Chunnel, TGV, the Millau
  Viaduct
• Aeronautics Airbus, Aerospatiale, Ariane
• Medical technologies HIV, face transplants
• Telecommunications Minitel, micro-chip phone
  cards, fiber optics

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Myth France is an old country
Reality Sustained demographic growth
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Myth  The French are always on strike 
Reality Low number of lost working days in the
private sector due to strikes
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Myth  The French are lazy 
Reality A highly productive labor force
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Myth  The French are lazy 
Reality A skilled and qualified labor force
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France 6th largest economyin the world

• Highest labor productivity
• Trains
• Luxury goods
• Perfumes
• Wines and cheese!
• Modern telecommunications
• 2nd language on the Internet

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JOBS

• International organizations and agencies
• Diplomacy
• Teacher
• Translator/interpreter
• Editor/proofreader
• Travel hospitality industries
• Non-language specific jobs in French-speaking
  world

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Myth  France is all about food, wine, berets
and fashion
Reality 14 French among worlds Top 200
Worlds Top 200 companies (based on turnover,
earnings, and market value) Source Forbes 2000,
2006
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Just for FUN

• to enjoy sports, traveling, the arts.
• French is often known as a language of CULTURE,
  opening your door to art, music, dance, fashion,
  cuisine and cinema.
• French will give you access to an entire culture
  ranging from Parisian Fashion, to Amelie, to
  French cuisine!

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Conclusion

• By 2010, 500 million people will speak French
  around the world,
• you can be one of them,
• be successful in a worldwide community,
• improve you academic performance,
• increase your career opportunities in the fast
  growing global economy,
• develop a better understanding, appreciation and
  respect of other people and their cultures.

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• Catherine PETILLON
• Attache for Educational Affairs
• Embassy of France
• catherine.petillon_at_diplomatie.gouv.fr
• www.frenchculture.org
• www.la-maison-francaise.org
• www.francedc.org