Why Not?
For our November contest, you told us why you learn or speak French. So many reasons!!!
Here are some of our favourites, in translation (alphabetically by first name).
Thanks to everyone who participated!
Adrianna Sloan (Brantford, Ontario)
I learn French because I love it! Next year, I would like to go to university to study French and, one day, I want to be a French teacher. I have chosen to become a teacher because my own teacher inspired me when I helped in the grade nine class. French is really my passion and I hope to speak it for the rest of my life!
Annie-Claude Léveillé (Earlton, Ontario)
If I have the luck of speaking French today, it’s that I received this beautiful gift from my proudly Francophone parents. I’m lucky to be bilingual in Ontario because I can communicate through speech and writing with all the people around me. I know that one day it will be a benefit for me to speak French once I enter the job market. I’m proud to say I’m Francophone!
Colleen Morelli (London, Ontario)
French, in my opinion, is a fantastic tool that I will use for the rest of my life. I’ve been learning French since kindergarten and the beauty of the language constantly amazes me. This year being my last year of high school, I am contemplating my future and my decision wasn’t very difficult. I want to become a French teacher in a primary school. What better way to share a language that I love than to share it with the children of the future?
Diana Ferreira (London, Ontario)
I love learning French and it comes with many advantages. To know this language enables me to communicate with my friends and family who speak French. That I speak French makes me bilingual and helps me develop the other languages I study: English, Portuguese, and Spanish. Learning French is useful in the sense that it helps in finding a job, especially in Canada where French is a national language. Also, I like to travel and with French, I can communicate with the people in many countries around the world.
Jack Li (Saint-Jean, New Brunswick)
French is one of Canada’s official languages. It is part of our identity and I speak it to add to my Canadian identity. When we learn a new language, we learn a new culture and we become global citizens. Also, I know that I am giving myself more opportunities by learning French. After all, “Two languages… twice the opportunity!”
Kayla Gilbert (Belle-Vallée, Ontario)
First of all, I speak French because it is my first language. I am bilingual, so I also speak English. The French language has always been a question of debate among the students and teachers at my school. The students don’t see the importance of being bilingual. I am proud to be Francophone. My father is Quebecois, so you can imagine his dedication to sending his daughters to a French school and to speak French at home.
I speak French simply because I am proud of my language and culture. Also, I have less trouble expressing myself in French than in English.
Nadia Agba (St-Léonard, Quebec)
For me, it’s very important to speak French.
I have a lot of difficulty expressing myself in French, but I don’t give up.
The French language will help me greatly in the future.
Priscilla Mak (Mississauga, Ontario)
In Francophone countries, everything goes on in French. The language is always with us; in the media, in everyday conversation. That’s why I thought that languages are really “everywhere.” With French, it’s easy to find global links. Since Canada is bilingual and that French is one of the six official languages of the UN, it’s good to know another language. It’s important to note that in each language we learn, we also learn a culture because behind every language, there is a socio-cultural aspect. In my opinion, I can enrich my personality when I dive into a Francophone culture in Quebec, in France, and beyond. The richness of French is really abstract because there are many words with the same definition but with different or subtle nuances and contexts.
I think it represents the idea that languages are certainly planted in our daily lives. Finally, when we talk about learning French, it’s sometimes to win contests or get better marks. I think that it’s possible to do those things as long as we learn things with a mentality of “especially,” that is to say that we can dive into unique and attractive experiences. Because of my knowledge of French, I was able to widen my horizons. So, my philosophy of languages is always “especially, everywhere!”
Vanessa St. Louis (Parksville, British Columbia)
I speak French because there are more possibilities when we speak a language on top of English. You have a better chance to get into university with a second language and it’s also easier to find a job. A second language is important for me because it opens many doors and possibilities for work or travel. Canada is a bilingual country and with French and English, I find it’s a lot simpler to have a conversation with others. Finally, I learn French because I like a challenge. It’s a great gift from my parents.