The Importance of Learning French

The younger you are, the easier it is to learn French!

You can pronounce any French words as a young person since your vocal codes are flexible. (e.g. je suis un petit rat qui rit beaucoup) ! If your goal is to learn more languages and you’re starting with French as a native English speaker, breathe easy! The more you learn, the more genders will make sense to you and the easier it will be when you move onto your next language.

Learning one language is not enough

In today’s world, speaking one foreign language is not enough. Students who speak several languages will increase their chances of finding a job/business, whether at home or abroad. Learning another language enriches the mind and opens up new horizons, both personal and professional.

French is, along with English, the only language spoken on all five continents

More than 220 million people speak French on all the five continents. French is a major language of international communication. It is the second most widely learned language after English and the sixth most widely spoken language in the world. French is also the second most widely taught language after English, and is taught on every continent. The OIF, an international organisation of French-speaking countries, is made up of 77 member States and governments. France also operates the biggest international network of cultural institutes, which run French-language course for close on a million learners.

An introduction to an incomparable universal culture

French is often considered the language of culture. A French lesson is a cultural journey into the worlds of fashion, gastronomy, the arts, architecture and science. Learning French also offers access to the works of great French writers such as Victor Hugo or Marcel Proust and famous poets like Charles Baudelaire or Jacques Prévert, in the original text. It means being able to hear the voices of actors Alain Delon or Juliette Binoche, and the pleasure of being able to understand the words of French songs sung by an Édith Piaf or a Charles Aznavour and even sing them yourself.

The language of international relations

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.

A language that opens up the world

After English, French is the second most widely used language on the Internet, ahead of other foreign languages. An ability to understand French offers an alternative view of the world through communication with French speakers from all over the world and news from the leading French-language international media (TV5, France 24 and Radio France Internationale).

A language of reasoning and debate

French is an analytical language that structures thought and develops critical thinking. It is the language of great philosophers (Descartes, Sartre and Derrida, among others) and eminent scientists (Pierre and Marie Curie, Pasteur, Georges Charpak, etc.). In learning French, children also learn how to argue a case and present different points of view, valuable skills for discussions and negotiations.

The language of the Enlightenment

French is the language of the universal ideals advocated by the philosophers of the 18th century Enlightenment, who helped to spread the idea of human rights throughout the world.

A language that is fun to learn

Contrary to popular belief, French is not a difficult language to learn. It is a language that requires a certain precision but is also capable of expressing great subtlety. It does not take long to reach a level where you can communicate in French. There are many methods on the market that make learning French enjoyable, starting with the first years of school. French also appeals to students because it is a soft, melodious, romantic language.

A language for learning other languages

French is a good grounding for learning other languages, especially Romance languages (Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Romanian) and even English, since over half of modern-day English vocabulary is derived from French (e.g. "Déjà vu", "femme fatale", "ménage à trois", "rendez-vous, "cul-de-sac", "courgette", "bête noire", "c'est la vie", "voilà !").

A high standard of teaching

French teachers are renowned for their dynamic, inventive approach and high expectations. Since French has a reputation for excellence, students tend to be highly motivated and attain a high level of proficiency. BISA has enthusiastic and well-qualified French teachers with long and reputable teaching experience; and the examination results are brilliant every year at IGCSE and A level.

Quelques pays francophones

Congo (DRC), France, Canada, Madagascar, Côte D’Ivoire, Cameroun, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Sénégal, Tchad, Guinée, Rwanda, Belgique, Bénin, Haïti, Burundi, Suisse, Togo, Congo, République Centrafricaine, Gabon, Djibouti, Comores, Luxembourg, Vanuatu, Seychelles, Monaco, Maroc, Egypte, Tunisie …