Since speaking English is becoming more and more common in society, knowing French is an added advantage when applying for a job.
Take a look at the wide range of fields where there is a demand for French speakers: banking and finance, international markets, diplomacy, journalism and media, education, translation and interpretation, tourism, law, and many more.
Why study French?
If you're wondering why learning French is so important, here are a few good reasons to do so:
- Speaking French gives you the opportunity to communicate with more than 200 million people across five continents.
- French is the most widely studied foreign language after English and the ninth most spoken language in the world.
- French is highly valued in the automotive, textile, and culinary industries, as well as in engineering and by international organizations such as the UN, UNESCO, NATO, the Red Cross, the European Union, the IMF, the International Olympic Committee, Doctors Without Borders, Amnesty International, and FIFA. Three cities that host European institutions are French-speaking (Strasbourg, Brussels, and Luxembourg).
- It is the third most widely spoken language on the internet, ahead of Spanish. This will give you access to all this information through major French-language international media outlets, such as France 24, Radio France Internationale, and TV5 Monde.
- Learning French will be your ticket to a culture of immense richness. It is the international language of fashion, theater, cuisine, the visual arts, architecture, and dance. Knowing French gives you access to the great works of Francophone literature in their original form, as well as to French cinema and music. There is no greater pleasure than being able to read French writers in their original language, and the same can be said of French cinema and music.
- Countries where French is the native language have been at the forefront of technology, science, medicine, and even business.
- Learning French opens up opportunities in the international job market.
- France is the most visited country in the world, and there are French-speaking destinations all over the globe. If you know French, your visit will be more enjoyable, and you’ll gain a better understanding of the French way of life.
- French, in addition to being a beautiful language, is an analytical language that structures thought and fosters critical thinking.
- For Spanish speakers, French is an easy language to learn because both languages share the same Latin roots.
- The best place to learn French is, without a doubt, the country where it is spoken. To that end, Universidad ORT Uruguay cooperation agreements with universities in France, Canada, and Belgium, which allow students to participate in academic exchange programs lasting one or two months.
The best place to learn French is, without a doubt, the country where it is spoken. As such, Universidad ORT Uruguay cooperation agreements with universities in France, Canada, and Belgium, which allow students to participate in academic exchange programs lasting one or two months.
France and Uruguay
In the 19th century, Uruguay was greatly influenced by French culture. The ideas of the French Revolution had resonated since 1789 in many Latin American countries, and in Uruguay in particular.
French influence in the country was bolstered by the presence of a large number of immigrants, mostly from Béarn and the Basque Country.
National culture was not immune to this influence. For a long time, Uruguay was the only Latin American country where French was the first foreign language taught in secondary school, and the first French lycée in Latin America was established there.
Today, cultural ties are particularly strong in the scientific and technical fields. The Pasteur Institute in Montevideo, the only one of its kind in South America, is a good example.
There are more than 60 French companies operating in the country, including Gaz de France, Air France, and the Sofitel hotel chain, which employ more than 7,000 Uruguayans.
Institution offering the courses
The French courses offered by Universidad ORT Uruguay organized by the Alliance Française of Montevideo.
The institution offers a 20% discount to university students and faculty.
The Alliance Française is the official center in Uruguay for preparing for and taking a wide range of French language exams.