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. Proficiency in French is essential for anyone considering a career in any international organisation.
Reason number 1: Learning French is very good for your brain
The neuronal connections are better and the size of the hippocampus (brain area) is bigger. This will improve your memory, concentration and conflict resolution skills. You will also be better able to multitask.
Knowing French will improve your vocabulary in English.
Some 40 to 50% of English vocabulary comes from French. The study of French will also enhance your grammar skills. As you develop greater skills in French, you also sharpen your skills in English.
The amount of time it takes to learn French depends on many different factors. However, if we had to give a general estimate, we would say that it usually takes around 6 to 12 months to reach a basic level of proficiency (with regular studies!), and 1 to 2 years of consistent work to become fluent.
But research shows that learning a second language offers proven benefits for intelligence, memory, and concentration, plus lowered risks of dementia and Alzheimer's. So what if you are over 40 and want to learn a second language? The good news is, it can be done. I learned French in my 50s.
People can enjoy learning French at any age, even if their memory is not what it used to be. However, you do need to find the right method and approach to learning French efficiently and fix realistic goals for yourself.
French is a fast-growing language
At the moment, around 75 million people speak French as a first language, but there are reports that by 2050, as many as 750 million people will speak the lingo.
Across multiple sources, Mandarin Chinese is the number one language listed as the most challenging to learn. The Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center puts Mandarin in Category IV, which is the list of the most difficult languages to learn for English speakers.
French is a good base for learning other languages, especially Romance languages (Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Romanian) as well as English, since a significant percentage of English vocabulary is derived from French.
Studies say that yes, you can. Listening to a language while asleep can help supercharge your vocabulary. Learn easily with the power of pleasant repetition. With the Learn French While Sleeping audiobook, you'll absorb over 430 French words and phrases effortlessly.
The French diet consists of real food
French women tend not to eat snack food, junk food, or fast food like the way we do. Their fats mostly come from monosaturated oils like olive oil, nuts, omega-3 from fish, and a small amount of saturated oils from cheese.
Interestingly, learning French can even help you speak better English. Research has shown that learning another language makes speakers more linguistically aware, and thus more conscious of rules surrounding grammar and syntax.
Some people choose French because it is spoken in so many countries. Others enjoy exploring the rich literary, historical and cultural traditions of the French-speaking world. Some just fall in love. If you already chose French, you know your reasons.
Of the 52 winners of the Fields Medal, often called the Nobel Prize of math, 11 have been French. Only the U.S., a country five times the size of France, has had more: 13.
The number of Chinese speakers online is estimated at 888.4 million, which has risen an astounding 2600% over the same time period. The Chinese language is catching up quickly and is set to overtake English in the near future.
If you live in the United States or plan to travel throughout Latin America, Spanish is probably going to be much more useful to you. However, if you're in Canada, or planning to travel or do business there, knowing French is going to be more helpful — it's an official language of the country, after all.
1. Norwegian. This may come as a surprise, but we have ranked Norwegian as the easiest language to learn for English speakers. Norwegian is a member of the Germanic family of languages — just like English!
Aramaic is best known as the language Jesus spoke. It is a Semitic language originating in the middle Euphrates. In 800-600 BC it spread from there to Syria and Mesopotamia. The oldest preserved inscriptions are from this period and written in Old Aramaic.
Arabic. The global importance of Arabic is clear: it's the 3rd most common language, with more than 300 million native speakers spread throughout 57 countries in the world.
Are you ever too old to learn a new language? Well, the good news is that experts say you are never too old. Studies show that anyone at any age can learn a new language. In fact, it is even easier to start speaking in a foreign language now with all the advanced technology available on the market.
Approximately 3 years to achieve an intermediate level of French. Total, active immersion (8 hours per day). Approximately 3 months to have an intermediate level of French.