1999 NATIONAL FRENCH WEEK ESSAY
& POSTER CONTEST WINNERS
Jillian J., Grade 5 (IL)
Runner Up, Divsion 3-5
Claire A., Grade 8 (RI)
First Prize, Division 6-8 |
Anastasia S., Grade 7 (MA)
Runner Up, Division 6-8 |
Meghan K., Grade 11 (RI)
Runner Up, Division 9-12
First Prize - Middle School
French: An Investment in the Future
At the dawn of the twenty-first century, it is
apparent that the world is growing smaller. Throughout the past one
hundred years, our ability to communicate and to travel around the world
has been enhanced to a level where it is almost taken for granted. With
modern technology, we now have the capacity cross the Atlantic in under
three hours, to e-mail a person in Australia in fifteen seconds, to chat
on-line instantly with another child in Japan, or to phone a friend in
Europe for a few dollars. Effective and convenient communication between
countries opens new doors to the potential for world peace and
prosperity. Therefore, it is essential, not to mention extremely
enjoyable, to be fluent in a foreign language.
French is spoken more widely than any other
language except English. It is a native language in parts of Canada, in
many African countries, in the Caribbean and in Europe. In fact, in most
European countries, one can get by speaking relatively basic French.
Not only is French an essential language for the
international citizen, but also, French culture is responsible for many
of the world's trends in art, fashion, cuisine, and architecture. French
is also a beautiful language to the ear. France has played a major part
in world history as well as a large role in our country's past.
For all these reasons, French language and culture should remain
integral parts of world society. French will be an important aspect of
the next, multicultural millenniums
Adam M., Grade 7 (MA)
Runner Up, Middle School
French: An Investment in the Future
French is a widely used language. Scholars that
can speak it fluently have an advantage over some people for many jobs.
Many countries recognize it as an official language, such as Canada,
France, and the European Union. There are many jobs available that
require French speaking skills with airlines, import-export companies,
and the United Nations, where French is the second most widely used
language. You could also become a French teacher, interpreter or a
translator, with the knowledge of French.
French is a first or second language in more
than 40 counties [sic], 125 million people around the world speak it,
and it is spoken on every continent. Because French is so widely used,
you will have a greater chance of communicating in non-English speaking
counties or areas if you should visit one. You can also speak with
French people on the Internet and make new friends.
At all Olympics French is an official language.
Events, winners and medals are also spoken in French. Living near the
Quebec border, you can follow some sporting events such as car races (Le
Mans and Monte Carlo), horse racing (Long champ [sic]), tennis
tournaments (French Open) and the Tour de France. French opens up a way
to understand sports in all French speaking countries.
By learning French, you also sharpen your
English skills. 40 to 50% of English vocabulary comes from French.
Improved English scores will improve your skills on the SAT tests, which
will determine the college you get into.
In many scientific fields, German or French must
be known in order to conduct research. Civil engineering,
space/aeronautics, medical technologies, and telecommunications are a
few areas where French's leadership in science and technology shows
through. To graduate school and conduct important research, French is a
very helpful ability.
Traveling to France with the knowledge of French can be a much more
worthwhile trip. France is the most visited place in the world with 67
million tourists in 1997. If you can speak French you can talk to a
friend, be an educated tourist, ask for directions, get your hotel room,
and a variety of other tasks.
If an interesting movie is in French you can
understand the dialogue without the subtitles. France is one of the most
prolific international film producers, produces many of these kind of
movies.
Many books are not translated to there fullest
extent from English. If you can read French, then you can understand
such books as, Les Miserables, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, The Little
Prince, and The Stranger in their original language.
French is a very important language and by
studying it, it brightens your future and opens worlds of possibilities,
therefore increasing your chances of success in the real world.
Amy V.
Runner Up, Middle School
French, An Investment in Your Future
You ask why would you ever need to know how to
say "Je m'appelle Jenny" or "Quelle heure est-il?" Well there are many
reasons to learn the French language. Some may say it will help them to
find a decent job while others may say it is because they would like to
travel to a French speaking country. There are even some who plan to
play a French sport. These are all fine reasons for learning French, but
I am different. I don't know what I want to do with my life when I grow
up. The investment for me is different.
People study the French language f or many
reasons. Some people may be interested in becoming a French teacher. How
would they fulfill the requirements of their job without knowing French?
Other people could be interested in studying French art and literature.
How are they to do this without knowing the French language? Another
reason to learn French would be if you moved to France or a French
speaking country. In this situation you would encounter many
difficulties if you did not know the language. If when you grew up you
decided to go into an international business that required knowing the
French language you would have to learn it. As you can tell, there are
many reasons to learn French. It will help you in many situations. These
are all good reasons to invest in learning the language.
As for me, the investment at this time in my
life is mostly to become educated and to realize how many other
languages and places there are in the world. Even though Spanish is a
more widely spoken language in the United States, and learning it might
be more useful, I prefer French. I like the sound of French. It sounds
smooth, flowing and connected unlike some other languages like German
and Spanish which sound rough and choppy to me. I like writing, and
reading, and speaking French. I feel that I am making an investment in
the present, for I am learning the language right now!
Jenny M. (MA)
First Prize - High School
French: An Investment in the Future
"Parlez-vous francais?" sounded so abstruse to
me four years ago when I first started studying French. At that
beginning I memorized it without full understanding, but later as my
vocabulary continued to expand and my knowledge spread, I defined my way
through this puzzle, French. What in the beginning scared me, later on
attracted me with its sweet and fast tunes. Now, when I look back at
that hard work I feel proud for the knowledge I have achieved. This
makes me feel good for the moment and I am sure it will make me feel
better later. The study of French will help my travel, my opportunities
for future jobs and most of all it will broaden my knowledge in the
linguistic appreciation.
There are approximately thirty-five countries around the world that
speak French. As a person who loves travelling, knowing French will
encourage me to visit many of these countries. First of all, my language
skills will improve. Secondly, I will be able to be in closer contact
with the inhabitants, get to know them better, become part of them and
they will become part of me. French will not only help my traveling, but
my traveling will help my French too; it will be a bridge to the world
for me.
In an early future, after graduating college, I
will be looking for a good, satisfying job. Companies today are looking
for skilled and completely educated employees. Even if it will not be a
job where French is required, French knowledge in my curriculum will
make me look more qualified. That is why French will open the doors to
more job opportunities for me.
Even if one day in the upcoming future I will not have the luck to visit
French speaking countries or my job will not require French acquainted
employers, the study of French will give me a personal treasure of
knowledge. Language learning is not simple pure learning. It is
understanding a culture and its customs, it is perceiving what unites a
nation, its language. Knowing French will bring my education a level
higher. It will not only improve me as a person but it will also enrich
me.
In conclusion, French is absolutely an
investment for my future. It will be helpful to the leisure part of my
life, traveling, my business life, job, and my personal satisfaction.
In one way or another, as every investment, it
will produce its fruits one day. That is why I am proud to say:
"Aujourd'hui, je parle un peu de français."
Bora V., Grade 12 (MA)
Runner Up - High School
French: An Investment in Your Future
Did you know that French is the first or second
language in more than forty countries around the world and is spoken by
125 million people? Or that it is the first or second official language
used to announce sporting events like the Olympics, Grand Prix, French
Open, hockey games, and the Tour de France? French is also the official
language of the European Economic Community and the United Nations.
French is definitely a strong and worthwhile investment in your future.
Did you know that when applying for a job in a
large corporation, especially one that does a lot of work over seas, if
you can fluently speak another language you already have an advantage
over everyone else? That is because corporations are always looking for
people who can communicate with their clients in other countries. And
because France is one of the economic leaders of the work French would
be a logical and useful language to learn
Because forty-to-fifty percent of English comes from French, while you
are learning another language, you are also furthering your
understanding of the grammar of English. Learning a foreign language has
been proven to improve students' scores on the ACT and SAT tests.
Do you ever plan on traveling abroad? If you do,
French is a wonderful language to know. It is spoken in Europe, Africa,
Canada, the Caribbean, and of coarse [sic] France, which is the most
visited tourist destination in the world. You can use French to ask for
directions, get a hotel room, order food in a restaurant or carry on a
conversation with a French acquaintance.
As you can see, French is useful in all areas of
life. From sporting events, the United Nations, the European Economic
Community, jobs that require work with foreign countries, ACT and SAT
scores, to travel abroad, French is a part of modern life and is truly
an investment in your future.
Nikki B., 10th Grade
(MO)
Runner Up - High School
French, An Investment In Your Future
The French Language could have a major impact in
your life. It is extremely helpful in your academic achievements. It has
been proven that French can raise your ACT and SAT scores, which are
what colleges look at for their acceptances. Also, speaking French
fluently is a very good career qualification.
Many major United States companies need
employees who can communicate internationally. There are very many jobs
in many different fields that you could have using the French language.
You could be a journalist, a United States import-export officer, an
international lawyer, an overseas medical or agricultural worker, you
could even be a rich art dealer, or even a film director, or an actor or
actress, the opportunities are endless!
Did you know, that when you speak French, you
can communicate with more than 125 million French-speaking people
worldwide? French is also one of the only two languages spoken on five
continents. Traveling would be a lot easier in a lot of places if you
knew French.
I myself chose to learn French for inany
important reasons. First of all, I've always been interested in the
French culture. Art, music, theatre, history, literature, cuisine, and
it being the language of love all interested me. Another reason I'm
taking French is I plan on taking French all four years of high school,
earning weighted grades.
The university I hope to attend is The University of Missouri, Columbia.
This university is especially known for its journalism
course. I plan on majoring in journalism, and
minoring in French in college. After I graduate from college, I hope on
getting a job working for one of my local newspapers, hopefully The St.
Louis Post Dispatch.
After writing for newspapers in the United
States for a couple of years, I plan on moving to France for awhile, and
apply for a job writing for a newspaper or magazine there. I would love
to be an international journalist.
Being fluent in French will be a major investment in my future, and in
many ways, can be an investment in your future too.
Holly C., 9th Grade (MO)
For more information contact AATF National
Headquarters, Mailcode 4510, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale,
IL 62901; Tel: (618) 453-5731; Fax: (618) 453-5733; E-mail:
abrate@siu.edu
Created: April 27, 2000
Last update: April 27, 2000
