Is it really useful studying French?

It has been recently published on the New York Times the news that French Government wants to strengthen the French language programs in the United States. It seems that this purpose has regenerated a debate in US about the importance of studying French at school as first foreign language.

This is an interesting topic also in Europe. If someone suggests stopping pretending that French is an important language, because it is not an international language anymore, some others pointed out that it is still useful, because used by millions of people around the world.

What is the truth? Is this language really important?

To answer, we have to consider two elements: the number of people who effectively speaks French and the economic and political power of the Countries where they live.

On the basis of a research of KryssTal, French is spoken by 200 millions of people and it is the 9^th most spoken language in the World. Following the top 10 list:

Mandarin (1.1 billion)

English (1 billion)

Spanish (500 million)

Hindi (490 million)

Russian (277 million)

Arabic (452 million)

Portuguese (240 million)

Bengali (215 million)

French (200 million)

Malay-Indonesian (175 million)

Actually the Government of Paris estimates that around 300 million of people speak French. 

The second element to consider is that, as the result of the second largest colonial Empire of history, French is spoken outside France in Belgium, Canada, in many states of North and Central Africa and in some part of Indochina. It is also an official language in Switzerland and in the Italian region of Valle d’Aosta, and in many international organizations such as United Nations, NATO, FIFA, FIA, International Red Cross and WTO.

From the economic point of view, French is the third most spoken language in Europe, the richest area in the world. Many of the francophone Countries mentioned above are political and economical powerful.

Finally, in a world “economics oriented”, French is a good choice. It is spoken across all the five Continents and represents an access key for important and rich markets. Moreover, the worth of French is consolidated by the political, economical and also cultural influence of France, the fifth world economic power. But it is also true that other languages, such as Mandarin, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian or Hindi, are becoming more and more important, and could represent a better alternative to French in the future.

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Do you have a problem with your Public Debt? Follow Belgium

Belgium is a very strange Country. Eleven millions of habitants live in a territory of 11 thousands km2, organized in three Regions and three Communities, with three official languages, Flemish, French and German.

Atomium - The symbol of Brussels

The internal contrast between Flanders, the richest part of the Country and Wallonia has blocked the political and institutional life in the last years. In 2011 Belgium reached a new world record regarding the absence of an official government: in fact, after the election of June 2010, the political forces couldn’t get an agreement to create a new government.

For 18 months Belgium was led by a caretaker government, beating the previous record held by Iraq. Anyway, even with limited budget, the government performed well and the economy of the Country could have an incredible +2% of growth in 2010-11.

But Belgium could shock us also with another miracle. In 1993 its public debt was 138% of GDP: Belgium was the Country with the highest debt in EU. Fourteen years later, in 2007, the debt reached the impressive number of 84%. Even if in the last years the debt increased, it didn’t exceed the limit of 100%.

How was it possible?

First, a fiscal reform has been implemented. The aim has been the simplification of the taxation and the increase of the fiscal rates. Second, all the reforms put in practice from the Government have been realized without any additional cost for the public balance. More income and a fix amount of expenses have brought a surplus in the state balance allowing a stable decrease of the debt.

Of course this is not a result reachable from every Country. Belgium is located in one of the richest area in the world and it could also take benefit from its German neighbor. But it is a symbol of pride for such a complex Country, that has to face many internal contrasts.  

To understand more about this strange and interesting Country, I advise you to watch this funny video – Belgium for dummies @  http://youtu.be/QlwHotpl9DA. 

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