French might not be your favourite subject. I mean, it might be – and if it is, you should definitely take it. Keep learning and improving, discover new words, and build on what you already know. But it probably isn’t your favourite subject, or you wouldn’t be having a hard time deciding whether or not to take it!

If you struggle with French, why should you continue to take it?

It’s always better to start early. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve heard, as adults, say that they wish they’d paid more attention to French while they were in school. Some have tried to learn French later, but it’s always easier to build on what you’ve known for years than to start from scratch.

Knowing French will help you to learn other languages. Even if you aren’t interested in knowing French, learning it anyway will make it much easier for you to learn languages in the same “family.” For example, you will have an easier time learning Italian, Spanish, or Romanian if you already know French.

Your job choices will double – at least – if you speak French. No matter what you want to do when you’re older, you will have many more opportunities to do it if you speak French. Most jobs in Ontario actually require people to speak and understand both English and French.

You’ll be able to watch and read some pretty cool stuff. If you like reading comic books, your library will double. You’ll be able to read things that French kids enjoy, like Astérix and Obélix. You can watch movies like Le Roi et L’Oiseau. That has the added bonus of being little brother or little sister-proof, so when you feel like a break, you can pop in a French DVD – they won’t understand! Voilà – instant alone time.

Before you decide to stop taking French, think carefully about whether or not you might one day wish that you hadn’t. Make a pro/con list. Talk to your parents, or do some French research online. If you decide that you definitely don’t want to keep learning French, fine – but make sure that you don’t stop just because it’s difficult. It’s usually the harder things in life that end up being most worthwhile.