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Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin graduated from college in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in Japanese and East Asian Studies after studying abroad in Japan.

I would like to thank Bevin for drawing on that formative experience to remind Kentuckians during his Tuesday budget presentation that the study of world languages, literatures and cultures is a valuable pursuit that has led countless college students to successful careers in education, business, international relations, the arts and - as his own story demonstrates - public service.

Of course, Bevin did no such explicit reminding of these important facts. Instead, he proposed "funding that incentivizes outcomes that are specific to the things people want ... All the people in the world who want to study French literature can do so, they're just not going to be subsidized by taxpayers like engineers will be."

Who decides what "things people want," by the way?

At the University of Kentucky, where I am a professor in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages, Literatures and Cultures, students have the opportunity to study 10 different languages, from Arabic to Russian and Japanese.

While studying language, they also take courses in literature, linguistics, folklore, cinema, mythology, media and communication - a curriculum they may also combine with coursework in the College of Business and Economics to major in Foreign Language and International Economics. Their majors lead naturally to further study in my department at the graduate level in Teaching English as a Second Language and Teaching World Languages.

At this moment of rapid globalization, majors in our department learn to become well-rounded citizens of the world, both by studying abroad and by studying the world's great thinkers and artists, ancient and modern, Eastern and Western. They learn to speak and write effectively in both English and their chosen world language, and they come to understand the importance for their future professional lives of thoughtful communication and confident self-presentation.

Moreover, many of our majors are also double majors and are regularly engaged in internships in other countries (one of our current double majors in French studies and biology, for example, just returned from a semester working in a research lab in Switzerland).

Unfortunately, Bevin's proposed cuts to Kentucky's public universities and plans to incentivize certain majors at the expense of others deemed less worthy or practical risk denying Kentucky students the very course of study he presumably found to be so intellectually and professionally rewarding. Our former majors are now educators, translators, businesspeople, doctors and lawyers throughout Kentucky.

By proposing that government, rather than students themselves, should decide what they study (and apparently what "people want"), he makes it harder for college students to bring their international knowledge and experience back home and impoverishes the commonwealth he, no doubt, wishes to enrich.

A great state like Kentucky, I would suggest, deserves well and broadly funded public universities.

Jeffrey N. Peters is a professor of French literature at the University of Kentucky.

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Universities need broad funding, even for teaching French literature

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Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin graduated from college in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in Japanese and East Asian Studies after studying abroad in Japan.

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FRENCH LESSONS AUSTRALIA - LEARN FRENCH

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French Lessons Australia | Experts in French Learning | Frenchlessonsaustralia.com.au

Does French still matter? If so, why? This is a recent concern about the status of the study of French and other foreign languages and cultures in U.S. higher and secondary education at a time of increasing globalization.

The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language 2008 survey indicates that more students are interested in studying French than any other foreign language in the United States. French enrolments in the United States are on the rise and are now at the highest level in over 20 years.

"New initiative has been taken from the French government to increase the amount of French instruction in American schools"

Over 220 million people around the world speak French. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 1-in-5 people, or 47 million U.S. residents age 5 and older, spoke a language other than English at home at the turn of the 21st century.
Here is how the "French government" defines what it calls the sphere of French language." It's much larger than you think.
After English and Spanish, Chinese was the language most commonly spoken at home (2.0 million speakers), followed by French ( 1.6 million speakers) and German (1.4 million speakers).

Reports say that 55 percent of the people who speak a language other than English at home in the U.S., they also speak English "very well." All over Europe, French is still the main second language taught in school. And If you want to understand modern China and Russia, you need to know French language very well.

French, along with English, is the official working language of-

the United Nations

UNESCO

NATO

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

the International Labor Bureau

the International Olympic Committee

the 31-member Council of Europe

the European Community

the Universal Postal Union

the International Red Cross

Union of International Associations (UIA).

French is the dominant working language at -

the European Court of Justice

the European Tribunal of First Instance

the Press Room at the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium

SPEAKING two languages rather than just one has obvious practical benefits in an increasingly globalized world. Bilingual's usually considered more Smarter

French Lessons Australia | Visit Us : http://frenchlessonsaustralia.com.au/about/my-approach/

Phone: 0415 799 620 | Email Us : info@frenchlessonsaustralia.com.au

French Lessons Australia | Experts in French Learning | Frenchlessonsaustralia.com.au

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Does French still matter? If so, why? This is a recent concern about the status of the study of French and other foreign languages and cultures in

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Why French matters..

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Does French still matter? If so, why? This roundtable discussion is a response to recent concerns about the status of the study of French and other foreign languages and cultures in U.S. higher and secondary education at a time of increasing globalization.

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The importance of French explained through facts and figures. This is the original site provided by the French program at Virginia Tech.

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French is spoken on every continent, with 220 million speakers, and one of the 10 most widely spoken languages in the world. A 2014 investment bank Natixis study suggests that, by 2050, French might be the most widely spoken language in the world, with a half billion speakers.

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8 more reasons...

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A article which provides reasons to learrn French, including visiting France, and its usefulness in international organisations.

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17 reasons...

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France Diplomatie :: Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs

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In today's world, speaking one foreign language is not enough. Students who speak several languages will increase their chances of finding a job, whether at home or abroad. Learning another language enriches the mind and opens up new horizons, both personal and professional.
2. French is, along with English, the only language spoken on all five continents
More than 220 million people speak French on all the five continents. French is a major language of international communication. 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. The OIF, an international organisation of French-speaking countries, is made up of 77 member States and governments. France also operates the biggest international network of cultural institutes, which run French-language course for close on a million learners.
3. A career asset
The ability to speak both French and English is an advantage for finding a job with the many multinational companies using French as their working language, in a wide range of sectors (retailing, automotive, luxury goods, aeronautics, etc.). France, as the world's fifth biggest economy, attracts entrepreneurs, researchers and the cream of foreign students.
4. An introduction to an incomparable cultural universe
France is often considered the language of culture. A French lesson is a cultural journey into the worlds of fashion, gastronomy, the arts, architecture and science. Learning French also offers access to the works of great French writers such as Victor Hugo or Marcel Proust and famous poets like Charles Baudelaire or Jacques Prévert, in the original text. It means being able to hear the voices of actors Alain Delon or Juliette Binoche, and the pleasure of being able to understand the words of French songs sung by an Édith Piaf or a Charles Aznavour and even sing them yourself.
5. An advantage for studying in France
Speaking French opens up opportunities for higher education at some of France's best-known universities (the Sorbonne, Pierre Marie Curie University, etc.) or elite grandes écoles (HEC, Polytechnique, ESSEC), often on very favourable financial terms. Students with a good level of French may be eligible to apply for a French government grant to enrol on a postgraduate course of their choice in France, leading to an internationally recognised postgraduate degree.
6. Visiting Paris and the rest of France
France is the world's top tourist destination and attracts more than 79,5 million visitors a year. The ability to speak even a little French makes it so much more enjoyable to visit Paris and all the regions of France (from the mild climes of the Cote d'Azur to the snow-capped peaks of the Alps via the rugged coastline of Brittany) and offers insights into French culture, mentality and way of life. French also comes in handy when travelling to Africa, Switzerland, Canada, Monaco, the Seychelles and other places.
7. The language of international relations
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.
8. A language that opens up the world
After English and German, French is the third most widely used language on the Internet, ahead of Spanish. An ability to understand French offers an alternative view of the world through communication with French speakers from all over the world and news from the leading French-language international media (TV5, France 24 and Radio France Internationale).
9. A language of reasoning and debate
French is an analytical language that structures thought and develops critical thinking. It is the language of great philosophers (Descartes, Sartre and Derrida, among others) and eminent scientists (Pierre and Marie Curie, Pasteur, Georges Charpak, etc.). In learning French, children also learn how to argue a case and present different points of view, valuable skills for discussions and negotiations.
10. The language of the Enlightenment
French is the language of the universal ideals advocated by the philosophers of the 18th century Enlightenment, who helped to spread the idea of human rights throughout the world.
11. A language that is fun to learn
Contrary to popular belief, French is not a difficult language to learn. It is a language that requires a certain precision but is also capable of expressing great subtlety. It does not take long to reach a level where you can communicate in French. There are many methods on the market that make learning French enjoyable, starting with the first years of school. French also appeals to students because it is a soft, melodious, romantic language.
12. A language for learning other languages
French is a good grounding for learning other languages, especially Romance languages (Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Romanian) and even English, since over half of modern-day English vocabulary is derived from French.
13. A high standard of teaching
French teachers are renowned for their dynamic, inventive approach and high expectations. Since French has a reputation for excellence, students tend to be highly motivated and attain a high level of proficiency. France also plays an active role in providing in-service training for French teachers abroad so that the courses delivered are always of a high standard.
14. A creative language
French is often heard on the stage. Teachers like to put on plays in French and involve their students in French-language theatre festivals. Learning French helps children to express themselves and gain self-confidence in front of others. Students also learn French through songs, thanks to the vast repertoire of singers past and present.
15. Many exchange opportunities
It is easy for students to make contact with French speakers of their own age, as pen pals or via the Internet. There are many different exchange programmes in France that offer rewarding experiences. Thousands of French schools are twinned with counterparts around the world, creating links with the world's largest educational network.
16. A unique system of French international schools
Some 310,000 pupils are enrolled at 481 French schools in 133 countries. Half of them are foreign nationals, which makes the network of international French schools truly unique.
17. Promoting linguistic diversity
Speaking French makes a major contribution to preserving linguistic diversity in the world and avoiding the exclusive domination of a single language in today's globalised world.

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17 good reasons for parents and school principals to choose French

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In today's world, speaking one foreign language is not enough. Students who speak several languages will increase their chances of finding a job, whether at home or abroad. Learning another language enriches the mind and opens up new horizons, both personal and professional. 2.