CanadianParents for French 
Alberta Branch
increases your child's personal pleasures such as the enjoyment of literature, art, music, theatre, travel, and personal relationships
increases your child's understanding of and respect for other peoples and other cultures
gives your child access to a larger pool of information and to more educational and career opportunities
Learninga second language:
develops your child's listening and learning skills as well as self-discipline
increases cognitive abilities, creating a more flexible thinker
enhances his knowledge of and his ability to communicate in his first language
makes learning a third or fourth language much easier
Life-long use of two languages:
reduces the normal effects of aging on some brain functions
has been shown to significantly delay the onset of symptoms of dementia
THE LOGICAL LANGUAGE FORCANADIANS: French is thenational second language for many Canadians because it is so widely used andaccessible throughout the country. It is the mother tongue of one Canadian infour. With French we have the advantage of texts,references and library books prepared for the Francophone market in thiscountry; large numbers of French-speaking teachers; access to role models andactivities in Francophone communities as well as access to the French media; andsufficient interest in the language to support viable programs throughout thecountry.
A WORLD LANGUAGE:
Estimates of thenumber of French speakers around the world range from 100,000,000 to250,000,000.
LaFrancophonie is a network of 56 states and government, of which 28 countries haveFrench as an official language.
French and English arethe languages of world diplomacy. French is an official working language of theUnited Nations, the International Red Cross, the International OlympicCommittee, the European Economic Community, and the International LabourBureau.
French is the secondmore frequently known by Europeans in addition to their mother tongue. Nearly1/5 of non-Francophone Europeans say they know French.
French is the secondmost frequently taught language in the world. It is the second most prevalentlanguage on the internet.
KNOWINGFRENCH:
helps your child to understand more about himself, his country, and his fellow Canadians;
gives your child a competitive edge in the job market anywhere in Canada and in many other countries.
Nowadays,bilingualism is increasingly viewed as a certified asset, one that providesmobility and insight. According to Karl Moore, a management specialist at McGillUniversity, there is a disproportionate number of Canadians running largeinternational organizations the world over. The fact that they come from asmaller, and bilingual, country makes them better suited than, say, Americans orBritons to understand and handle the various cultural sensitivities at play inthe global economy. -Benoit Aubin, "Speakingin Tongues," Macleans.ca, December 9, 2002
Knowing bothlanguages [English and French] means twice as much of everything, just like atwo for one deal! ... The two for one deal means you can have twice as manyfriends, twice as many job opportunities, and twice as many experiences. Andthat all adds up to more fun for me! - Heather Szpecht,10-year-old Calgary student
Throughout thepast five years, French has come in handy for me at the most surprising times. Ifeel a thrill whenever I can conquer a situation due to this and I feel proud tocome from a country that recognizes it as an official language. I want toencourage these programs to continue so that we can continue to ignoreinternational language boundaries. - Sheena Tieffel, Merrit,B.C.
