Since 2007, we have often asked our new students the same question: “What makes you want to learn French?” The answers are as varied as their backgrounds: a plan to move to France, a job at an international company, a love of an author, a film or a cuisine.
Here is what inspires our students, and why that dream is the best driver of progress.
Key takeaways
- French is spoken by more than 300 million people on five continents.
- It is an official language of the UN and the European Union, and a working language in many international companies.
- Culture (cinema, literature, food, fashion) is one of our students’ top motivations.
- A personal, concrete goal helps you learn faster and keep going.
The 7 reasons that inspire our students
| Motivation | What inspires them | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| Travel | Paris, Provence, Quebec, Dakar, Geneva… | learn the useful travel phrases and dare to use them |
| Living in a French-speaking country | fitting in, making friends, dealing with paperwork | work on understanding everyday spoken French |
| Work | an international career, French-speaking partners | practise meetings, emails and presentations |
| Reading in the original | Hugo, Camus, Simenon, comic books | start with texts suited to your level |
| Films and series | arthouse cinema, French series | watch with French subtitles |
| Cooking and tasting | gastronomy, wine, cheese | learn the vocabulary of recipes and the market |
| Understanding a culture | art, history, the French way of life | follow cultural news in French |
A language spoken on five continents
French is not limited to France. It is spoken in Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Quebec, across much of Africa and as far as the Indian Ocean. Learning French opens the door to more than 300 million speakers and around thirty countries where it is an official language.
A career asset
French is one of the official languages of the UN, the European Union and the International Olympic Committee, and a working language in many companies. For professionals, speaking it makes it possible to work with partners in Europe, Canada or Africa, and it often makes a difference on a CV.
A culture that inspires
Fashion, food, cinema, literature, philosophy, architecture: French culture has fascinated people for centuries. Reading Camus in the original, understanding a film without subtitles or ordering at the market without hesitating is often what inspires our students most.
The pleasure of learning
Many students also learn for themselves: to keep their mind active, to take on a challenge or to reconnect with a language they studied at school. Learning a language exercises memory and concentration at any age.
Our advice: write down your dream in one sentence (“In a year, I want to be able to…”) and share it with your teacher. A concrete, personal goal helps you stay motivated and lets each lesson focus on what matters to you.
From dream to practice
A dream becomes a driving force when you turn it into concrete goals. A few examples:
- “I want to move to France”: focus on listening and everyday situations (housing, the bank, the doctor).
- “I want to work in French”: professional vocabulary, meetings, emails and the formal register.
- “I want to read Camus in the original”: gradual reading, starting with texts suited to your level.
- “I want to understand films without subtitles”: regular listening, informal expressions and common slang.
Going further
At Live French, every learning path starts from your goals. Our French conversation lessons and the Live French Club let you practise with native teachers. To know where to start, take our French level test. And to dive into French culture, read our article on public holidays in France and their traditions.
Frequently asked questions
Why learn French?
French is spoken by more than 300 million people, it is an official language of the UN and the European Union, and it opens the door to a very rich culture. It is useful for travelling, living in a French-speaking country, working internationally or simply for pleasure.
In how many countries is French spoken?
French is an official language in around thirty countries, in Europe, Africa, North America and the Indian Ocean. It is also spoken and studied in many other countries.
Is French useful for your career?
Yes. French is a working language in many international organisations and companies. Speaking it lets you work with partners in Europe, Canada and Africa, and it is an asset on a CV.
How do you stay motivated to learn French?
Set yourself a personal, concrete goal linked to what inspires you: a trip, a career plan, a book to read in the original. Share it with your teacher so that every lesson brings you closer to it.
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