After English and German, French is the third most widely used language on the Internet, ahead of Spanish. France is the world’s fift largest economy is the third-ranking destination for foreign investment. French-speaking African populations are some of the fastest-growing in the world. France’s birthrate suggests that by 2025 French will surpass German to become the most-spoken language in Europe. It is the second most widely learned language after English and the sixth most widely spoken language in the world. French is also the second most widely taught language after English, and is taught on every continent.

A French lesson is a cultural journey into the worlds of fashion, gastronomy, the arts, architecture and science. France is the world’s top tourist destination and attracts more than 79.5 million visitors a year.

More than 220 million people speak French on all the five continents. French is a major language of international communication. French is both a working language and an official language of the United Nations, the European Union, UNESCO, NATO, the International Olympic Committee, the International Red Cross and international courts. Proficiency in French is essential for anyone considering a career in any international organisation.

French is an official language in: Belgium, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, the Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, France, Haiti, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Monaco, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Switzerland, Togo and Vanuatu.