Who would have more use for learning French? (elementary school, military, course)

[KellyXY]

In North America, who do you think would have more of a use for learning French?

Someone who lives in western Canada, where French exists mainly in officialdom (and at least one other language probably outstrips French in terms of numbers of speakers locally/provincially).

-OR-

Someone who lives close to Quebec but on the U.S. side of the border (e.g. ME, NH, VT, parts of upstate NY), where unlike most parts of the U.S. French is the most likely non-English language they'll hear in their area.

[lkb0714]

Originally Posted by KellyXY

In North America, who do you think would have more of a use for learning French?

Someone who lives in western Canada, where French exists mainly in officialdom (and at least one other language probably outstrips French in terms of numbers of speakers locally/provincially).

-OR-

Someone who lives close to Quebec but on the U.S. side of the border (e.g. ME, NH, VT, parts of upstate NY), where unlike most parts of the U.S. French is the most likely non-English language they'll hear in their area.

My cousin lived in VT, only 15 minutes from the border. Took french all 4 years in high school. Never used it except to go to Paris for spring break her senior year.

I have no idea about the other option, but I suspect most people have little use/need for french but many find enjoyment in the language itself.

[Coney]

I don't understand the question. There are other parts of the US where French is spoken. I hear it daily.

[KellyXY]

Originally Posted by Coney

I don't understand the question. There are other parts of the US where French is spoken. I hear it daily.

Of course there are - the places where French is the most spoken language after English in the U.S. is more limited (with northern New England being one of them). (In the majority of the U.S. Spanish is the most likely second language you'd hear.)

[lepoisson]

Northern New England. You can commonly hear French spoken in parts of Maine and Vermont.

[Mini_Mom]

Neither. The people who will have a use for French are the people who plan to travel to a French-speaking country, usually France, but it could be Africa as well, for study or tourism. There's also French Polynesia. I haven't heard of anyone studying French in order to go to Canada.
Studying French can also be a good grounding for people who would go on to study Spanish, a more practical Romance language.

[davebarnes]

"Who would have more use for learning French?"
Someone in the military who likes cheese.

[TamaraSavannah]

Neither.....for I would say someone who expected to work in the Pacific or the west coast of Africa.

[cat1116]

Elementary school in upstate NY taught a bit of French. Visited Quebec some years later but before we got out of HS. Brother ahead with 3 additional H.S. French classes but still didn't care to speak it in any of the restaurants or hotel family visited.


I believe it could help if someone were to decide to move from those areas to Quebec for a job someday, or if they were in the tourist industry. I'm sure knowing languages can be very helpful.


Isn't some French or similar spoken down in New Orleans as well?


I didn't remember a whole lot of Spanish but managed a few conversations between our Italian landlords on occasion with the help of a phrase book (sometimes on hand) but that doesn't have all the words/definitions one may be looking for when checking on heat/cooling systems in a house.

[Dirt Grinder]

Originally Posted by cat1116

...Isn't some French or similar spoken down in New Orleans as well?...

I did some research on the Louisiana French dialects a while back. I found it to be very interesting. There's an emphasis on teaching traditional French in the schools there now, while retaining the local dialects.