When do foreign language programs start in the US schools and is French a popular language choice? Let’s find out.
In the United States of America, many schools require one to three years of a foreign language program to graduate. Most schools start a foreign language program in high school, however, in some schools it is also taught at the middle school level. More recently, there are some schools that are teaching a foreign language at the elementary level as well. Though most Americans are known to be monolingual, only speaking English, learning foreign languages can lead to the development of a second language.
Among the most popular foreign language courses in the US, French is the second choice next to Spanish. Approximately 13 % of the students learn French as a foreign language at the K-12 and higher education (college and university) level.
Thus, French can be considered as a popular language program chosen in the US.
Why is French a popular language choice in the United States
French language in the U.S.
French has a significant presence in the United States as it is the fourth most spoken language in the U.S. It has two million speakers who are above the age of five. After English, it is the second most spoken language in four states and the third most spoken language after English and Spanish in seven other states of the United States. Also, along with English, it is the official language of Canada. French also has a huge influence in Quebec.
French learning difficulty
Foreign Service Institute has placed French in category I when it comes to language difficulty ranking. According to this, French is an easy language to learn for native English speakers. If we go by numbers, it would need approximately 23 to 24 weeks or 575 to 600 hours to learn French.
Overall trend in enrolment in foreign languages in the United States and the position of French language
Though there is an overall decline in enrolment in foreign language courses in the United States which dropped by 9 % in the year 2013 to 2016 as per the report of U.S. based Modern Language Association, French continues to be the second choice only next to Spanish as the foreign language course among students of America and thus is still a popular choice of many.
Change in curriculum, practical use of the language, personal interest and need to use it outside the classroom could all play a major role in selecting a language program.
It might be difficult to know exactly how popular French is as a second language in American schools because not all schools have made a second language program compulsory.
However, regionally, personally, professionally and looking at the importance of French language in the international scenario, it is a popular second language in the United States of America.
With the growing popularity of online language learning courses, whether in the U.S or any other part of the world, you can easily learn a language online these days.