Salut mes amis, (Hello my friends)
J’espère que vous allez bien! (I hope you are well)!
So the 2nd most popular question I get asked whenever I tell someone I speak the French language is ‘why’? It’s immediately thought that I schooled in a francophone country or maybe one of my parents speaks the language or I’m not Nigerian. Well, they are all far from it. I learned the language because of the love I had for it and the many opportunities I knew it would bring me. I’ve also written here on the steps I took that helped me. Now, to the juicy stuff…
WHY FRENCH
First of all, French is, along with English, the only language spoken on all five continents. Speaking French opens up job opportunities with multinational companies. Examples of such companies that use French as their working language are, UNESCO, Total, L’Oreal, Pernod Ricard, and Michelin. Imagine ever wanting to work for any of these firms and a language was your only hindrance. In Nigeria, even with a degree, it is often hard for you to get your ideal job but with an extra language like French, it opens more doors. You get to visit neighboring francophone countries because of that skill.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Secondly, speaking French allows you to attain a certificate, like the one here, diploma or degree at some of France’s best-known universities (Pierre Marie Curie University, HEC, ESSEC). Students who understand the language stand a chance of getting a scholarship. They may also be eligible to apply for a French government grant. Some European companies, France inclusive, award scholarships to students from third world countries. This would help you in the long run as not only would you have an international degree, but you also stand a chance of broadening your network. It’s great to know that it is not only the US or Canada that gives scholarships to students which means you can cast your net farther.
LOVE
If you believe your soul mate is from a Francophone country then it would be a fantastic idea to learn the language! How will you communicate with him/her if you do not speak their language? And what better language to learn than the language of love…? It will not only bring you closer but also introduce you to a different culture. You might also be presented with the opportunity of living in another country. Both of you could try out different cuisine from your countries, learn more about art and pass on both traditions to your children.
CUISINE
French is also perfect if you have a passion for cooking and always dreamt of becoming a superb chef. You see all those tasty meals on Food Network and the scrumptious cuisine created by French-born chef, Alain Ducasse, that could be you! Most people go to culinary schools in France to perfect their cooking skills. You could play around with French cuisine, distinguish between great and bland wine and try a variety of French pastries. Becoming a chef is very lucrative in the end because you could have your food channel, open up a culinary academy that trains people to become exemplary chefs, open your restaurant, or run a business tailoring to private events. Think of that beautiful Eric Kayser on Aboyade Cole. Or if personal settings are more your style, you can decide to further your culinary career as a personal chef to top celebrities.
GIVING BACK
It could be your way of giving back to the community. It is admirable giving money to charity or giving free food. But, influencing lives with everlasting knowledge is quite wonderful. Imagine teaching the students at a public school French classes 2ce a week. Not only will they be elated at knowing that they have an extra language embedded in them but also free of charge! Last year, I taught junior secondary school students for almost a year and ensuring success in this language at their Junior WAEC exams. The feeling was and still is unbelievable knowing that I was of assistance and provided value. A bilingual individual has a higher chance of succeeding in life, and, from the tutors perspective, it could also offer the opportunity to prove that you have done volunteer work if the need arises.
MONEY!
And the part I know Nigerians love the most, money. 😄 It can be a great source of income. You can teach people all over the world via the Internet by having an online course or registering as a speaking partner or write a book about the language and keep earning passive income each time it is bought. You might even decide to become a translator! The list is endless on the many streams of income from learning the French language.
CONCLUSION
To sum up, there are many benefits of learning the French language. The language could create career opportunities with the most sought after multinational corporations or access educational grants to top tier Francophone countries. French is the most romantic language in the world, the language would allow for communication with your desired partner if you crave for love with a French-speaking woman or man. You could learn to cook in the best culinary schools in Francophone countries and also try out different dishes, pastries. Go on ‘voyages’ (travel) to French-speaking countries and connect with more people and to teach French by making it a steady source of income! 😄
So tell me why else do you want to learn French, or why have you been learning the language? Are there more ways you think French can change your life? I would love to hear back from you!
Jusqu’à la prochaine fois ! (Until next time) !
I had a colleague back then who had DELF A2 (beginner’s diploma in french) and this opened a big job opportunity for her in a big french oil company. The opportunities are numerous and I’m glad I stumbled on this page. I’ve been learning french the past 4months but lack the ability to speak well and listen, reading and writing in french is fair at my level(intermediate class). What would you recommend to improve my other abilities?
Hi Didi! The opportunities truly are numerous. Really happy to hear you’re learning French. To help your listening abilities, try French songs and podcasts. That helped me immensely because I picked up new words whilst following the rhythm. You will not learn everything in one day but over time improve your vocabulary and in turn help you learn the proper pronunciations. For speaking, you can practice with your teacher and course mates after each class. Let me know if this helps! 🙂
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