Futurespeak: The Case for Teaching Your Child French
yes, in the 21st century, an argument for french.
2008-02-18
By Fonkem Achakeng

The French equate anyone who speaks two languages to two people. As they put it,“qui parle deux langues égale deux personnes.”

Research has also proven that learning another language not only provides an opportunity to have a different view of the world, but it is also a new way of seeing, a new way of listening, and a new way of thinking since every language is simply an outward translation of thought.

Given the importance of learning another language, I would, however, recommend the French language for American learners for a number of reasons. That French is a beautiful language is obvious and perhaps cliché, but elegance and beauty are not qualities that should be taken lightly. Of course, that’s a very French thing to say.

French allows learners access to a rich heritage of works by many of the world’s greatest scientists, philosophers, writers, musicians, and painters. No matter how good a translated version of a book, real understanding only comes in the appreciation of nuance.

It is also considered to be a valuable asset in today’s global marketplace.  Despite the dominance of English, a close look at the modern world will reveal the increasing importance of French. Knowledge of French, for example, increases job prospects in many areas. A 2007 study of the international job market conducted by the State Department indicated that over 50% of international jobs require candidates to be knowledgeable in French.

This importance of the French language is underscored by the fact that French is an official language of many international organizations, including the United Nations, the Red Cross, the International Monetary Fund, the World Heath Organization, UNESCO, and the International Olympic Committee. Further, all European Union headquarters are located in French-speaking countries, namely Brussels (Belgium), Strasbourg (France), and Luxembourg City (Luxembourg).

There are other compelling reasons why our children need French as a second language. Canada, next door to us, the primary trading partner of the United States is bilingual in French and English. Consequently, companies marketing products in Canada increasingly require French-speaking employees. More than 1,200 French companies have investments in the United States and employ over 400,000 Americans annually.

French even gets you deeper into one of the more significant and culture-rich aspects of American culture, being one of the official languages of the State of Louisiana.  And however you might feel about French people in France, it’s important to remember that French is spoken in more than 20 African countries and on dozens of Islands in the South Pacific, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, and the Mediterranean.

We are bound together in a common destiny and must communicate with each other to accomplish the necessary activities of existence. As someone put it, “we test our connection each time we have contact with others.” Clearly we fail that test if we can’t start the conversation.

Fonkem Achankeng, a traditional ruler in Cameroon, teaches at the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh.

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