Cultural Benefits of learning French

Attention ACC! Our French program is growing to meet the demands of the digital world. For the first time, we’re offering French 1411 online through Distance learning in Spring 2020. We’re also creating an online 1412 for the following semester for those looking to go further into the program. This program is being built from the ground up for all students. 

Reasons to learn French are immense. On top of the overall benefits of learning a 2nd language does to our brains. French is the 6th most spoken language and the 2nd most learned language in the world after English. French is the official working language of the United Nations, NATO, UNESCO, EU, OECD, UIA, the International Olympic Committee, the International Labor Bureau, & the International Red Cross. If you’re looking to get into the Tech world, France is a major exporter of High-end technological products to the U.S. French is also a fast-growing language as Africa is projected to expand into an economic powerhouse. French is spoken in 31 African countries as a 1st or 2nd language. 

Culturally, French opens up a whole new world of diversity that many non-speakers do not get to experience. For movie buffs, two movies come to mind for me. 1. “Dinner for Schmucks” was originally a French movie titled “Le Dîner de Cons” which was adapted from a French play of the same title. If you haven’t seen the original version I highly recommend it. It’s a masterpiece of situational comedy and is levels above the English remake. For folks who remember a slightly older movie, “Three Men and a Baby” was originally a French movie and adapted into English after the original did so well. Though unlike “Dinner for Schmucks”, both versions of this movie are wonderful classics. If you haven’t seen the French version I also highly recommend it. Both versions start off similar but the level of comedy is so different that each is its own brilliant movie. If you haven’t even seen the English version you’re missing out on some of the best 80’s comedy ever. Honorable mentions to this list include: “The Birdcage”(The English version being one of my favorite performances of Robin Williams), and “True Lies”. 

Francophone music is an even larger world. One could spend a lifetime and still hardly touch the impact French has had on music. In contemporary music, France has influenced pop and electronic music massively with performers like David Guetta and Daft Punk being some of the most influential electronic artists of the last 30 years. Recent artists like M83 and Justice have recently come to the front as well in the past decade. 

If electronic music isn’t your jam then here’s some jelly. French music has a popular selection of French singer-songwriters. Artists like Coeur De Pirate have brought French music and more specifically Quebecois scene into the limelight. She blends more into pop/indie lately but is a wonderful gateway to spend hours searching youtube for similar and less well-known artists. One example that I found and has been a favorite for years is Alexandre Poulin. He is a Quebecois singer I found randomly online and have been in love with the music since. I love to share his music and describe him as a French Bruce Springsteen/Bob Dylan. Very Singer-songwriter and folk-influenced. 

Another way to immerse yourself in the Francophone world through music is the Fête de la Musique. A world-wide music event that originated in France. Every year on June 21st almost every town in France celebrates by inviting musicians of all calibers to go out and play in the streets or on stages built for the event. The event is a huge celebration of all music. If there’s ever a time to immerse yourself in the French language, culture and music this is the time to go. 

I was lucky enough to be there in 2012 for in the the city of Dijon. It was a night I’ll remember for a long time. I listened to a French Metallica cover band in a small alley way and moshed away. There was a group performing Edith Piaf and Billie Holiday mashups. I danced to some electronic music with friends. There’s something for everyone. The night went on from about 5 pm to early the next morning. I got closer to old friends as we listened to the vibrations slap us across the face and I made new friends standing to wait for the next act. At the time I’d been studying French for 1 ½ year. I felt immersed. I had no concept that I spoke another language. I was just speaking and expressing myself. 

This was my experience. I encourage everyone looking to learn the language and immerse themselves in a wholly new culture to go make their own experience. French as a learned language opens up a lot of doors, expected and unexpected. If you’re looking to travel a little closer on the continent Montreal hosts Les Francos de Montréal every year in the middle of June. I’ve never been to it but it is something of a bucket list item for me. This experience does not just have to be limited to music. Life is what you make of it, follow those passions. Learning a language is just one of the ways to connect your passions to another culture and discover how much more you have in common with everyone else.