Il m'attriste que mon français est inutile. J'ai perdu beaucoup de temps en l'apprenant.
The decline of French
Est très évident que le français est inutile. J'écris en français et personne ne me comprend. Triste...
Now, this is funny!
French is far less significant worldwide than English? Big news. Everyone in France has been aware of that for generations (since the mid-19th century to be more specific). Now there are people abroad who pretend they've just noticed some decline lately... That's ludicrous.
Actually, all once important languages are declining, especially with the rise of new regional actors such as Chinese or Hindi. Russian is no longer what it used to be, Spanish is just a regional tongue, no less but no more significant than Hindi or Urdu, Italian has dwindled to zero, Portuguese is on a par with Swahili, and German unfortunalety doesn't enjoy anymore the audience it deserves.
There are only two world languages, English and French. English fills 95% of the available space. C'est la vie, ce n'est pas un problème.
French is far less significant worldwide than English? Big news. Everyone in France has been aware of that for generations (since the mid-19th century to be more specific). Now there are people abroad who pretend they've just noticed some decline lately... That's ludicrous.
Actually, all once important languages are declining, especially with the rise of new regional actors such as Chinese or Hindi. Russian is no longer what it used to be, Spanish is just a regional tongue, no less but no more significant than Hindi or Urdu, Italian has dwindled to zero, Portuguese is on a par with Swahili, and German unfortunalety doesn't enjoy anymore the audience it deserves.
There are only two world languages, English and French. English fills 95% of the available space. C'est la vie, ce n'est pas un problème.
Est très évident que le français est inutile. J'écris en français et personne ne me comprend. Triste...
That's ridiculous. I can read French, also "your" language. Maybe people just hate the low levels here and won't participate. It's like I said, add
"cuss" words, and you'll lose some people.
That's ridiculous. I can read French, also "your" language. Maybe people just hate the low levels here and won't participate. It's like I said, add
"cuss" words, and you'll lose some people.
Je suis très triste, je ne connaîtrai jamais de belle femme française. Dans l'avenir la langue française sera seulement mentionnée dans la nostalgie. C'est triste: non ?
French is a great foreign language to learn
There are all kinds of reasons to learn a foreign language in general, and French in particular.
Why learn French?
If you are a native English speaker, one of the best reasons to learn French is to help you understand your own language. Although English is a Germanic language, French has had an enormous impact on it - learn more. In fact, French is the largest donor of foreign words in English. Unless your English vocabulary is much higher than average, learning French will greatly increase the number of English words you know.
French is spoken as a native language in more than two dozen countries on five continents - learn more. Depending on your sources, French is either the 11th (2) or the 13th (3) most common native language in the world, with 72-79 million native speakers and another 190 million secondary speakers (3).
French is the second most commonly taught second language in the world (after English), making it a real possibility that speaking French will come in handy practically anywhere you travel.
French in business
In 2003, the United States was France's leading investor, accounting for 25% of the new jobs created in France from foreign investment. There are 2,400 US companies in France generating 240,000 jobs. (4) American companies with offices in France include IBM, Microsoft, Mattel, Dow Chemical, SaraLee, Ford, Coca-Cola, AT&T, Motorola, Johnson & Johnson, Ford, and Hewlett Packard.
France is the second leading investor in the United States: more than 3,000 French companies have subsidiaries in the US and generate some 700,000 jobs, including Mack Trucks, Zenith, RCA-Thomson, Bic, and Dannon.
French in the United States
French is the 3rd most frequently spoken non-English language in US homes (5) and the second most commonly taught foreign language in the United States (after Spanish). (6)
French in the world
French is an official working language in dozens of international organizations, including the United Nations, International Olympic Committee, and International Red Cross.
French is the lingua franca of culture, including art, cuisine, dance, and fashion. France has won more Nobel Prizes for literature than any other country in the world and is one of the top producers of international films.
French is the second most frequently used language on the internet.
French is ranked the 2nd most influential language in the world. (3)
The Most Practical Foreign Language
While any language will be useful for some jobs or for some regions, French is the only foreign language that can be useful throughout the world as well as in the United States. French as a foreign language is the second most frequently taught language in the world after English. The International Organization of Francophonie has 51 member states and governments. Of these, 28 countries have French as an official language. French is the only language other than English spoken on five continents. French and English are the only two global languages.
When deciding on a foreign language for work or school, consider that French is the language that will give you the most choices later on in your studies or your career.
French, along with English, is the official working language of
* the United Nations
* UNESCO
* NATO
* Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
* the International Labor Bureau
* the International Olympic Committee
* the 31-member Council of Europe
* the European Community
* the Universal Postal Union
* the International Red Cross
* Union of International Associations (UIA)
French is the dominant working language at
* the European Court of Justice
* the European Tribunal of First Instance
* the European Court of Auditors in Luxembourg.
* the Press Room at the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium
One example of the importance of French can be seen in a recent listing of international jobs (8/29/06) distributed by the US State Department: 135 required or preferred French, 49 Spanish, 25 a UN language (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish), 6 Arabic, 6 Russian, 2 German, 2 Italian , and Chinese 2.
Of the various types of professional positions for which international organizations recruit, five required French, two Spanish, one Portuguese, and one Arabic, according to the fact sheet released by the UN Employment Information and Assistance Unit Bureau of International Organization Affairs U.S. Department of State, December 1, 2000.
The Economics of French and France
* French is the foreign language spoken by our largest trading partner (Canada).
* The province of Quebec alone is the fifth largest trading partner of the United States with over $104 billion in trade in 2000.
* In 2000, the United States exported more to countries having French as a national language than to countries having any other foreign language. Exports to Canada alone in that year were greater than the combined exports to all countries south of the United States.
* Between 1995 and 2002 exports from the US to France increased by 33%; imports from France went up 64%.
* The U.S. and France share many trade similarities, particularly their global standing as the world's top 2 exporters in 3 very important sectors: defense products, agricultural goods, and services. Franco-American trade is also remarkable for its symmetry, as 6 of the top 10 exports are the same each way.
* France has the sixth largest economy in the world after the U.S., Japan, Germany, China and England. In 2005, the economies of China, England and France were similar in size.
* France is the second largest exporter of agricultural products in the world after the U.S.
* In recent years, the U.S. has been the largest direct investor in France. In 2002, France was the second largest foreign investor in the U.S.
* The world invests in France: in 2003, France was the second largest destination of foreign investment in the world.
* French companies employ approximately 650,000 Americans. Among foreign countries doing business in the US, France employs the third largest number of Americans.
* French is one of the languages spoken in the US: 1.9 million Americans speak French in the home. (2000 US Census)
* Overall, the French export more per capita than the Japanese and more than twice as much as the Americans. France is overall, the fourth largest exporting nation of the world.
* France is the world's leader in the production of luxury goods.
* More tourists visit France than any other country in the world.
* France gives more foreign aid per capita to developing nations than does the US.
Science and Technology
* France will be the site of the world's first nuclear fusion reactor, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor
* Seven of France's top ten exports to the U.S. are industrial or high technology products.
* France is the fourth largest producer of automobiles in the world (Renault, Peugeot, Citroën) and the third largest exporter.
* France is fourth in research among countries of the Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation (after Japan, Germany, and the US).
* France is a major world research center in the field of high energy physics.
* The French are a world leader in medical research: the AIDS virus was first isolated by French doctors.
* The French are a leader in medical genetics (the Human Genome Project is located in Paris).
* The French are the world's third manufacturers of electronics equipment.
* European leader in aerospace (Aérospatiale, Arianespace, Airbus...).
* Most commercial satellites are put into space on French Ariane rockets.
* The fastest train (TGV) is French.
* The smart card was invented in France.
* The ocean liner Queen Mary II was built in France.
* France is the world's third military power (after the US and Russia), and has the world's second largest defense industry (i.e. exocet missiles, radar technology.)
* The French have nearly 15,000 troups on peace-keeping duties in 15 countries including Afghanistan, the Balkans, and the Ivory Coast.
* France is the world's second largest builder and exporter of civilian and military aircraft and helicopters (Airbus is the world's second largest fleet of commercial airliners, and many of the US Coast Guard helicopters are made by Aérospatiale in Toulouse.)
* France has one of the most advanced systems of telecommunications in the world. Fiber optics were invented in France.
Importance of French in school and work
Historically France and the French language have had an enormous influence over American society. France was the United States' first ally. French thought played a dominant role among the founders of the United States in the 18th century, and it continues to shape America today through the influence of such intellectual currents as post-structuralism and post-modernism. In the humanities and the social sciences, many of the most important writings have come from France. Students and researchers who know French have access to these works for several years before they are translated into English. Many significant works are never translated and remain accessible only to those who know the language. In addition, most graduate schools require knowledge of at least one foreign language, and French remains the most commonly used language after English.
When employers and universities look at applicants, they do not start looking at the bottom of the list to see who has done only the minimal amount of requirements necessary or taken the easiest route available, they start at the top of the list and look for those students who have risen above the rest. High school students should consider studying at least four years of a foreign language. College students should seek to earn a minor in French or have French as a primary or secondary major. With French they have access to the most widely spoken foreign language in the world after English and they become familiar with a culture that significantly influences our own. The French economy is one of the strongest in the world and is increasingly a leader in technological innovation. In sum, French is the language of the future.
The French government has done an excellent job explaining all that France has to offer economically and debunking some of the myths about France. In 2002, France attracted more foreign investment than the US and was on a par with China. Whatever some in the United States think of France, the world invests its money in France.
There are all kinds of reasons to learn a foreign language in general, and French in particular.
Why learn French?
If you are a native English speaker, one of the best reasons to learn French is to help you understand your own language. Although English is a Germanic language, French has had an enormous impact on it - learn more. In fact, French is the largest donor of foreign words in English. Unless your English vocabulary is much higher than average, learning French will greatly increase the number of English words you know.
French is spoken as a native language in more than two dozen countries on five continents - learn more. Depending on your sources, French is either the 11th (2) or the 13th (3) most common native language in the world, with 72-79 million native speakers and another 190 million secondary speakers (3).
French is the second most commonly taught second language in the world (after English), making it a real possibility that speaking French will come in handy practically anywhere you travel.
French in business
In 2003, the United States was France's leading investor, accounting for 25% of the new jobs created in France from foreign investment. There are 2,400 US companies in France generating 240,000 jobs. (4) American companies with offices in France include IBM, Microsoft, Mattel, Dow Chemical, SaraLee, Ford, Coca-Cola, AT&T, Motorola, Johnson & Johnson, Ford, and Hewlett Packard.
France is the second leading investor in the United States: more than 3,000 French companies have subsidiaries in the US and generate some 700,000 jobs, including Mack Trucks, Zenith, RCA-Thomson, Bic, and Dannon.
French in the United States
French is the 3rd most frequently spoken non-English language in US homes (5) and the second most commonly taught foreign language in the United States (after Spanish). (6)
French in the world
French is an official working language in dozens of international organizations, including the United Nations, International Olympic Committee, and International Red Cross.
French is the lingua franca of culture, including art, cuisine, dance, and fashion. France has won more Nobel Prizes for literature than any other country in the world and is one of the top producers of international films.
French is the second most frequently used language on the internet.
French is ranked the 2nd most influential language in the world. (3)
The Most Practical Foreign Language
While any language will be useful for some jobs or for some regions, French is the only foreign language that can be useful throughout the world as well as in the United States. French as a foreign language is the second most frequently taught language in the world after English. The International Organization of Francophonie has 51 member states and governments. Of these, 28 countries have French as an official language. French is the only language other than English spoken on five continents. French and English are the only two global languages.
When deciding on a foreign language for work or school, consider that French is the language that will give you the most choices later on in your studies or your career.
French, along with English, is the official working language of
* the United Nations
* UNESCO
* NATO
* Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
* the International Labor Bureau
* the International Olympic Committee
* the 31-member Council of Europe
* the European Community
* the Universal Postal Union
* the International Red Cross
* Union of International Associations (UIA)
French is the dominant working language at
* the European Court of Justice
* the European Tribunal of First Instance
* the European Court of Auditors in Luxembourg.
* the Press Room at the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium
One example of the importance of French can be seen in a recent listing of international jobs (8/29/06) distributed by the US State Department: 135 required or preferred French, 49 Spanish, 25 a UN language (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish), 6 Arabic, 6 Russian, 2 German, 2 Italian , and Chinese 2.
Of the various types of professional positions for which international organizations recruit, five required French, two Spanish, one Portuguese, and one Arabic, according to the fact sheet released by the UN Employment Information and Assistance Unit Bureau of International Organization Affairs U.S. Department of State, December 1, 2000.
The Economics of French and France
* French is the foreign language spoken by our largest trading partner (Canada).
* The province of Quebec alone is the fifth largest trading partner of the United States with over $104 billion in trade in 2000.
* In 2000, the United States exported more to countries having French as a national language than to countries having any other foreign language. Exports to Canada alone in that year were greater than the combined exports to all countries south of the United States.
* Between 1995 and 2002 exports from the US to France increased by 33%; imports from France went up 64%.
* The U.S. and France share many trade similarities, particularly their global standing as the world's top 2 exporters in 3 very important sectors: defense products, agricultural goods, and services. Franco-American trade is also remarkable for its symmetry, as 6 of the top 10 exports are the same each way.
* France has the sixth largest economy in the world after the U.S., Japan, Germany, China and England. In 2005, the economies of China, England and France were similar in size.
* France is the second largest exporter of agricultural products in the world after the U.S.
* In recent years, the U.S. has been the largest direct investor in France. In 2002, France was the second largest foreign investor in the U.S.
* The world invests in France: in 2003, France was the second largest destination of foreign investment in the world.
* French companies employ approximately 650,000 Americans. Among foreign countries doing business in the US, France employs the third largest number of Americans.
* French is one of the languages spoken in the US: 1.9 million Americans speak French in the home. (2000 US Census)
* Overall, the French export more per capita than the Japanese and more than twice as much as the Americans. France is overall, the fourth largest exporting nation of the world.
* France is the world's leader in the production of luxury goods.
* More tourists visit France than any other country in the world.
* France gives more foreign aid per capita to developing nations than does the US.
Science and Technology
* France will be the site of the world's first nuclear fusion reactor, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor
* Seven of France's top ten exports to the U.S. are industrial or high technology products.
* France is the fourth largest producer of automobiles in the world (Renault, Peugeot, Citroën) and the third largest exporter.
* France is fourth in research among countries of the Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation (after Japan, Germany, and the US).
* France is a major world research center in the field of high energy physics.
* The French are a world leader in medical research: the AIDS virus was first isolated by French doctors.
* The French are a leader in medical genetics (the Human Genome Project is located in Paris).
* The French are the world's third manufacturers of electronics equipment.
* European leader in aerospace (Aérospatiale, Arianespace, Airbus...).
* Most commercial satellites are put into space on French Ariane rockets.
* The fastest train (TGV) is French.
* The smart card was invented in France.
* The ocean liner Queen Mary II was built in France.
* France is the world's third military power (after the US and Russia), and has the world's second largest defense industry (i.e. exocet missiles, radar technology.)
* The French have nearly 15,000 troups on peace-keeping duties in 15 countries including Afghanistan, the Balkans, and the Ivory Coast.
* France is the world's second largest builder and exporter of civilian and military aircraft and helicopters (Airbus is the world's second largest fleet of commercial airliners, and many of the US Coast Guard helicopters are made by Aérospatiale in Toulouse.)
* France has one of the most advanced systems of telecommunications in the world. Fiber optics were invented in France.
Importance of French in school and work
Historically France and the French language have had an enormous influence over American society. France was the United States' first ally. French thought played a dominant role among the founders of the United States in the 18th century, and it continues to shape America today through the influence of such intellectual currents as post-structuralism and post-modernism. In the humanities and the social sciences, many of the most important writings have come from France. Students and researchers who know French have access to these works for several years before they are translated into English. Many significant works are never translated and remain accessible only to those who know the language. In addition, most graduate schools require knowledge of at least one foreign language, and French remains the most commonly used language after English.
When employers and universities look at applicants, they do not start looking at the bottom of the list to see who has done only the minimal amount of requirements necessary or taken the easiest route available, they start at the top of the list and look for those students who have risen above the rest. High school students should consider studying at least four years of a foreign language. College students should seek to earn a minor in French or have French as a primary or secondary major. With French they have access to the most widely spoken foreign language in the world after English and they become familiar with a culture that significantly influences our own. The French economy is one of the strongest in the world and is increasingly a leader in technological innovation. In sum, French is the language of the future.
The French government has done an excellent job explaining all that France has to offer economically and debunking some of the myths about France. In 2002, France attracted more foreign investment than the US and was on a par with China. Whatever some in the United States think of France, the world invests its money in France.
Franco, une Française est un luxe qui se mérite!
Mais si tu commences à pleurnicher tu gâches tes chances....
Mais si tu commences à pleurnicher tu gâches tes chances....
UNESCO has 3 working languages: Spanish English and also French, but they will drop Frech in next years.
OiL,
J'ai acheté un billet d'avion, mais je crois que je n'arriverai pas à temps. La langue française n'existera pas quand j'arriverai.
J'ai acheté un billet d'avion, mais je crois que je n'arriverai pas à temps. La langue française n'existera pas quand j'arriverai.
UNESCO: faux.
Les 2 langues de travail sont anglais et français. Forcément.
L'espagnol y est une des 4 autres langues officielles avec le russe, l'arabe, le chinois — concessions faites par charité et politiquement correct.
De toutes manières l'UNESCO ne sert à rien.
Les 2 langues de travail sont anglais et français. Forcément.
L'espagnol y est une des 4 autres langues officielles avec le russe, l'arabe, le chinois — concessions faites par charité et politiquement correct.
De toutes manières l'UNESCO ne sert à rien.
The UNESCO webpage at least is translated to English, Spanish and French.
<< UNESCO has 3 working languages: Spanish English and also French, but they will drop Frech in next years >>
Spanish is the one that will be dropped in the next few years because the French speaking world has contributed a lot for its growth to help the needy while Spanish has zero contribution in this organization because it has no idea to offer. The Spanish speaking just keep on receiving aid instead of giving.
Spanish is the one that will be dropped in the next few years because the French speaking world has contributed a lot for its growth to help the needy while Spanish has zero contribution in this organization because it has no idea to offer. The Spanish speaking just keep on receiving aid instead of giving.
If French is dropped as an official language of UNESCO, that will be a great loose.
On the other hand if Spanish is dropped it will be a great gain for the organization. It's a waste of time for Spanish tbe 1 of its official languages so it has to be thrown into garbage can.
On the other hand if Spanish is dropped it will be a great gain for the organization. It's a waste of time for Spanish tbe 1 of its official languages so it has to be thrown into garbage can.
Desafortunadamente, la lengua francesa desaparecerá muy pronto. Es triste, lo sé, pero no se puede evitar! Así es la verdad de nuestro mundo. Hay que adaptarse a nuevas circunstancias. Nuevos idiomas nacerán, el otros desaparecerán. No hay remedio....