Modern Languages Department

Benefits of second language learning…

Allows you to communicate with and understand people you wouldn’t otherwise have a chance to know
Helps you acquire accurate information about other people and cultures
Increases tolerance and open-mindedness
Improves your understanding and appreciation for your own language
Increases problem-solving skills and improves memory, self-discipline, and self-esteem
Second language students perform better in English than non-second language students
A second language gives greater insight into one’s own culture
The self-concept of second-language students is significantly higher than non-second language students
The study of a second language increases the creativity of learners
Knowledge of the language of a country or region being visited increases the joy and benefits of traveling
A knowledge of other languages is important for research
Second-language learners acquire larger vocabularies in their first language
Knowledge of a second or third language significantly increases career opportunities
Reading great literary masterpieces in their original form

There are 125 million speakers of French in the world
Forty-four countries speak French either as an official language or as a primary language
In Canada 20% of the population speaks French
Twenty-three African countries speak French as an official or as a primary language
Switzerland has four official national languages: German (65% of the population), French (18.4%), Italian (9.8%) and Romansh (0.8%)
French is one of the two official languages of the Olympic games
French is the language of many great literary masterpieces