French is the living and working language of over 300 million people around the globe. There are 49 countries that use French as their official, second or priority language. This represents one quarter of the nations of the world. French is the major language of the European Union, the Red Cross, UNESCO, Médecins Sans Frontières, and the Scouts. French is also the official language of New Caledonia and Tahiti, two of our closest neighbours.

French is a major cultural and scientific language. With English, it is the official language of the Olympic Games and is widely used in the Arts and high culture. French is one of the languages most studied in the world. Its appeal lies in its beauty, its practicality for travel, commerce, technology, communications and sport. French is widely used in international law, business and diplomacy.

Learning French develops greater awareness of other cultures and encourages empathy towards speakers of English as a second language. French is quite easy for English speakers as the two languages are closely related, with 40-50% of English vocabulary coming from French. French is an undeniable asset in the increasingly competitive world of work in the twenty-first century.

Over years 9 and 10 we will learn to communicate fluidly about:

- food

- leisure activities

- our homes

- shopping

- careers

By the time you enter your senior years, you will be able to listen and understand, speak, read and write confidently in French. There may also be the occasional croissant involved. Need I say more...?