The French are notorious in the world for not speaking other languages besides French. France is a country that ranks very poorly with fluency in English as well as other languages. It has made other countries frown upon them because they assume the Gallic resistance is for egotistical reasons, or pride or rebellion, clear and simple. Some people think they are afraid to learn English.
I am not so sure any of that’s true and I’ve often wondered why the French have such a negative score with learning second or third languages. Sure, some people don’t find the need to be bilingual, trilingual, etc., but face it, if they could speak at least English, they could participate further in the way the world works, know what’s happening first hand regarding news outside of France, just to note a few reasons.
Being in France as an observer for many years has pointed to the obvious conclusion that the education France offers its students in the area of English language learning is extraordinarily atrocious. From the book filled with flagrant errors, “L’Anglais sans peine,” a standard English as a second language book issued in schools in France for many decades–to the actual instructors teaching horrific English pronunciation, it’s no wonder that the score in fluency in English in France is so dreadful.
It doesn’t have to be that way! Parents in France should first acknowledge this national weakness and next embrace a solution. If they could contemplate the reasons why English has been so horribly acquired, they might consider a logical alternative: send their kids to a bilingual American School in Paris, or to whichever city they come from. They don’t even have to think of the reasons why their kids would benefit greatly in their lives if they learned English because I will give them five reasons right here:
1. It’s Romantic – Yes, you read that correctly! Being able to speak more than one language can open up a multitude of chances to meet your soul mate! If your future wife or husband speaks English and you don’t, you’ll let the love of your life slip through your monolingual fingers! How will you be able to communicate with them if you had not gone to a bilingual school where English was your second language?
2. The World is Your Oyster – The next time you take a trip to another country and you have English fluency under your belt, won’t you feel like a badass? Imagine if you didn’t speak fluent English; you’ll miss so many interesting, perhaps incredibly rewarding traveling experiences, not to mention just simply meeting new and fascinating people. How could you pass that up with just your knowledge of a few words. Of course “bathroom,” “thank you,” and “hello” are helpful, but three words can only take a person so far.
3. Multitasking Will Be A Cinch – Research studies have indicated that bilingualism improves memory and other cognitive functions. Work out that brain muscle and you will reap the benefits.
4. Tolerance – When people learn to be tolerant, the world becomes a much better place. Being familiar with other languages and cultures besides your own opens up your mind, encourages you to really think about all the whys, whats, whos and hows. While expressing yourself in another language you bring a whole new perspective to someone else from another country and vice-versa–and this can change your life forever, while you leave behind your previously held biases and prejudices.
5. Future Opportunities Abound – After people have gone through their early upbringing inside a private bilingual school in Paris or elsewhere, all of those years in preschool, kindergarten and primary school speaking English fluently will most certainly pay off later in life as adults. Your personal, professional and recreational opportunities expand exponentially when you have the fluency of native English speakers. Will you get offered your dream job? Have a meaningful conversation with your favorite sports star? Certain opportunities will not be missed when you are bilingual. These occasions are not available to your monolingual peers!