- French and English are the only languages spoken in 5 continents, there are 175 millions of French speakers all over the world, from Maghreb to Quebec, Africa, Belgium, Switzerland and Luxembourg… and French is the native language of 75 million people.
- French is one of the 6 official languages used in the most important international organization such as the United Nations, and is the official language in 33 countries in the world. And French is the second language used on internet.
- French is the language of culture: art, music, fashion, cuisine, cinema… French fashion designers, artists, writers, musicians, chefs and filmmakers have had an influence in the United States and the rest of the world. Who hasn’t heard of Christian Dior, Chanel or Pierre Cardin?
- France is the world’s major tourist destination (60 millions tourists a year), making it the second most visited country in the world. Also Paris is the third most visited international city by Americans.
- French is the most widely taught second language after English and over 20,000 English words have their origins in French.
- French is the language of business: American companies have over 2,000 subsidiaries in France, and French companies have over 600 subsidiaries in the United States.
- French is the language of technology and medicine: Dr. Luc Montagnier discovered HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The Chunnel under the English Channel, the TGV high speed trains, and the Concorde are only a few examples of recent French technological advances.
- Impressionist painters like Monet, musicians like Ravel and Boulez, and novelist like Flaubert and Camus are a source of inspiration in the world culture. Many recent American films are remakes of French movies.
- French is the language of influential, religious and intellectual movements. Jean Calvin helped define Protestantism; Enlightenment writers like Voltaire championed human rights; Simone de Beauvoir was a prominent feminist, and Michel Foucault was a founder of postmodernism.
- But the most important… French is one of the most beautiful and romantic language in the world.
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