French at Hope College
Bienvenue!

Le Français dans le monde click on the link above for the 2008 French Newsletter

TOP 11 REASONS TO STUDY FRENCH

1. Be understood in 55 countries across five continents and by over 200 million people.

2. French is the third most common language on the Internet. Connect with pen pals, visit foreign websites and find student exchange opportunities.

3. Get a head start on learning other Romance languages like Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Romanian.

4. French is a melodious and romantic language with a relatively quick learning curve.

5. Develop critical, creative thinking and problem solving skills. French also provides the base for more than 50% of the modern English vocabulary, which improves performance on standardized tests.

6. Open the doors to art, music, fashion, food, architecture and literature.

7. Discover a new appreciation for other cultures in countries that speak French like Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, and many African nations.

8. Use French to pursue studies in Francophone countries.

9. Promote language diversity throughout the world.

10. Be more competitive in the national and international job market in disciplines like business, medicine, aviation, law, transportation technologies, global/international distribution and luxury goods.

11. French is the official working language of the UN, NATO, UNESCO, the International Olympic Committee, the European Union, the International Red Cross and much more!

WE LIVE IN A FAST-PACED, TECHNOLOGY-BASED WORLD. WHY WOULD ANYONE CHOOSE TO STUDY FRENCH?

S

tudying French can improve your analytic and interpretive capacities, sharpening your thinking skills.

Several years of French language study on your record will catch the eye of anyone reading your applications - This can open numerous doors for advancement, including raises and travel!

More and more businesses work closely with companies in other countries. They need workers who can communicate in different languages and understand other cultures. A person who knows two or more languages can work successfully with many more people and in many more places than someone who knows only one language!

No matter what career path you choose, you will multiply your chances for success if you speak more than one language. A multi-lingual worker employee may look much better at promotion time than one who knows only English.

Professionals who know other languages are called on to travel and exchange information with people in other countries throughout their careers. An employer will see you as a bridge to new clients or customers if you know a second language.

Exposure to other points of view, and the opportunity to see how other nations view the United States. The study of French allows one to be exposed to multinational literatures, leading to a greater appreciation of literature, history, philosophy, and the arts.

HOW MUCH CAN YOU EXPECT TO LEARN?

D

epending on how long you study, you will gain different levels of fluency. Don't worry! You probably will not sound like a native speaker, and you are not expected to. You will, however, be understood, get where you want to go, read magazines or books for information or pleasure, and meet and talk with a whole new group of people.

Remember, it doesn't happen overnight! Like other subjects, learning a new language takes time, practice and effort.

Don't be afraid to use your language skills. People are generally understanding. If they know that you are making an effort, they will probably appreciate it.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A MAJOR IN MODERN AND CLASSICAL LANGUAGES?

A

.person with skills in a foreign language plays a key role in interpreting, translating, and teaching in the business world. A knowledge of the literature, history, and culture of the countries in which the language is used is essential to acquiring these skills.

There are many exciting careers in which speaking a foreign language is of primary importance. In addition, there are other professions in which competency in a foreign language can open doors to more specialized positions and more exciting careers!