The 3rd hour A.P. French Class poses for a photo. French is just as important to learn as Spanish and can help a student in a variety of fields, ranging from medical to political fields.
Pourquoi Français?
Walk down the hallway and ask someone what foreign language they are currently enrolled in. Odds are, they will say that they are taking Spanish. Why is that? How is it that a language that is the official language of over 30 countries and that is spoken on five continents is so often forgotten?
“They [parents] have an easy time buying into why Spanish is useful, but I have a lot of questions [from parents] as to why French is useful.” Effie Kalkounos said.
Although Spanish might be the default language course for many students, it is important to know that French is just as important as Spanish.
Many do not realize how valuable the French language actually is. French is a worldwide business and diplomatic language, which is why it is not a surprise that it is one of the official languages of the United Nations. C’est impressionnant, n’est-ce pas (It’s impressive, isn’t it)?
So why is it that most students choose to study Spanish at Elk Grove? Perhaps it is the default choice. A lot of people take it because they think that it will help them more in the future. While Spanish is a completely useful language, it is also important to remember that French will be just as helpful down the road.
“I think that’s kind of a myth. It really depends on what career you’re going into and what you want to do with your life,” French teacher Kirsten Fletcher said. “I think French is just as important as Spanish if you’re trying to transition yourself into something that is Latin-based.”
Whether you are planning to major in pre-med, law, hospitality or business, you will run into French at some point. Many terms in medicine and law have Latin roots, which are often cognates in French.
Not only can French help you in the future, but it can also help build your vocabulary now.
“The words [cognates] that they use in everyday French, tend to be words that we only use in literature and higher learning in English.” Fletcher said.
Last year, while taking the AP English Language and Composition test, I noticed that one of the reading passages had the word ephemeral, which means short-lived, in it. The only reason I knew what this word meant was because I had just been reading Le Petit Prince in French 4. The word éphémère had been one of our vocabulary terms.
It is a shame that a language that is so culturally alluring is overlooked. It may sound intimidating, but learning French is an exhilarating experience that will be rewarding in the long run.
by Esmeralda Silva.
