French is one of the most widely used languages in the world, spoken in five continents.
The United States trades with French-speaking countries more than any others, and
more tourists visit France than any other country in the world. The French excel in
medicine and biosciences, transportation, hydroelectric and nuclear power, as well
as in fashion, wine, art, dance, and film. French-speaking countries in Africa encompass
an area larger than the United States. In the Americas, French is spoken not only
by 7 million Canadians, but also by people in Haiti, Martinique, Guadeloupe, and in
pockets of Central and South America. There is also a substantial number of native
French speakers within the U.S. in Louisiana.
