why know a foreign language? why choose french?
DESCRIPTION
The benefits of knowing a foreign language, and reasons that French is a good choice. French is very useful in business (I have 20 years' experience). The number of speakers of French is expected to grow dramatically to nearly 1 billion by 2060: think of what that means to people who are in middle school through college now!TRANSCRIPT
Why Know a Foreign Language?Why Choose French?
by Valerie Rushanan
L’église avait des voûtes
La balle a percé l’armure Le ciel était gris
La porte était rouge
La rose était rouge
Why know a language?
Speaking another language is in demand for many types of jobs! Go to indeed.com and enter a language!
La cité interditePékin (Beijing), Chine
You’ll have co-workers and customers all over the world You must communicate clearly
with them.
Why know a language? More problems need global teams to solve them:
Les AlpesMartigny, Suisse
National security and diplomacy Environmental and healthcare issues
Energy efficiency Clean water AIDS
Why know a language?
La place principaleCracovie (Kraków), Pologne
The best or least expensive human resources are often available in other locations
Software is released in multiple languages simultaneously
More problems need global teams to solve them:
Global teams allow work to be done around the clock
Versailles, France
Make your mind more adaptable: a 21st-century skill!
Bilingualism slows the onset of dementia
Learn about your first language, expand your vocabulary
Understand how languages are related or are different
Why know a language?
Most people in the world are bilingual Only a small percentage of U.S. residents are
Why know a language?
Gain access to new ideas, places, & activities
Interests vary by culture, so some things aren’t translated
Experiencing a place in person is the best!
Muséum national d’histoire naturelle, Paris
Why choose French?
In 2013, 300 million total: 110 million native speakers 190 million second-language speakers
In 2025, 500 million total
In 2060, 1 billion total
The number of French speakers worldwide is expected to rise dramatically.
Identity Who am I? Where do I come from? What are my values?
Why choose French?
The U.S. was founded by working with French politicians and philosophers.
Much of the U.S. (Louisiana purchase) was under French control for many years and retains some laws.
Many Americans are of French descent because of migration from France and New France.
International work Many companies from French-speaking countries have
offices in the U.S.
Many American companies and international organizations have offices and customers in French-speaking countries
Why choose French?
French is one of the top languages into which business materials and software are translated
La Défense (près de Paris), France
Travel and fun
Gain access to things you can’t get by staying home and speaking just one language
Le Château Frontenac,Québec, Canada
Go places and meet new people.
Try new foods! Learn to cook French meals.
Enjoy French films, music, literature, fashion, painting, interior design…
Crêpe fraise - chocolat,faite à la maison !
Museums, architecture, history, food…
Why do YOU want to go?
France is the #1 most visited country in the world.
Why choose French?
Le Louvre, Paris
Des cafés à Paris
Most visited countries: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Tourism_rankings
Number of French speakers, map: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_language http://www.francophonie.org/Denombrement-des-francophones.html
Languages in high demand for translation: http://www.altalang.com/beyond-words/2010/02/01/top-20-target-languages-a-year-in-translation/
Bilingualism slows the onset of dementia: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/behindtheheadlines/news/2013-11-08-being-
bilingual-may-slow-the-onset-of-dementia/ http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/02/100218-bilingual-brains-alzheimers-d
ementia-science-aging/
Number of bilinguals in the world and in the U.S.: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-leveen/how-america-can-get-her-b_b_545925.html
Photo of China: Jennifer Thorson. All other photos were taken by the Rushanan family.
Presentation by Valerie Rushanan ([email protected], www.linkedin.com/in/valrushanan/ ), CC 2011-2014, all rights belong to their respective owners.
Credits & References
Une Citroën,Paris