French is the second most frequently taught foreign language in the world.
French is spoken in 53 countries or regions, by over 130 million people on five continents.
French is the second most common language on the Internet after English.
French and English are the two official working languages of the United Nations, UNESCO,the International Olympic Committee,the Council of Europe, the European Community, the International Red Cross,the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development,and NATO.
The United States exports more to countries having French as a national language than to those of any other language: ranked in order of importance—1) French-speaking, 2) Japan, 3) Spanish-speaking.
The Importance of French for New Jersey:
There are over 1,500 French-speaking businesses in the Northeast region, including many French, Swiss, or Belgian companies (such as branches of prominent banks or pharmaceutical or cosmetic firms), as well as many French-Canadian companies, American companies seeking business opportunities in an expanding European market place, or companies that serve the diverse French- and Creole-speaking populations of the Caribbean.
The New York Metropolitan area hosts a French-American Chamber of Commerce with many members in New Jersey (www.faccnyc.org).
The state of New Jersey is in urgent need of qualified World Language teachers to fulfill the state’s mandate for foreign language study from kindergarden through high school (www.state.nj.us /njded/worldlanguages).
The Importance of French for you:
Research has repeatedly shown the importance of foreign language study for cognitive development and critical thinking skills.
Approximately 50-70% of English vocabulary comes from French; students who study French score higher on standardized tests such as the SAT and GRE.
Study of a foreign language opens up doors—for professional promotion, cultural exchange, travel, and economic and personal advancement. Majors in French succeed well in banking, business, and cultural industries as well as in education and publishing.
Of a recent (4/30/02) posting of international jobs by the US State Department, 111 required or preferred French (as opposed to 45 Spanish, 10 Arabic, 2 Chinese).