The majority of French speakers reside in Africa, whose young and growing population points to present and future French language growth. On the global stage, French also—perhaps most importantly—sets an example in valuing and welcoming local forms of French. Local forms of French are being welcomed in the French language globally and in French language learning and use in the US. In addition to the importance of valuing local forms of French in a global sense, it is also important to think of the students who may be in our classrooms, who may include French language speakers with origins spanning the globe along with those learning French as an additional/ world language. It is essential for educators and for local stakeholders who seek to encourage French language learning and use in our local communities to take into consideration not only French as a global language but also the French spoken by students in local communities and in the Americas.

Source: New York Times February 22, 2024 19:07 UTC