Practically speaking: French is similar enough to latin that most SAT vocab prep was far easier. It also helped when I learned spanish, because again the two ar

Practically speaking: French is similar enough to latin that most SAT vocab prep was far easier. It also helped when I learned spanish, because again the two are quite similar. Spanish has been useful at several points when I spent some time building things in Latin America, I actually wouldn't have had that opportunity if I didn't speak the language. Fluffier: Watching french language movies and listening to French language music have given me an appreciation for the culture that I don't think I'd have if I didn't speak the language. I don't think I'd have as much understanding of the western European mindset if I didn't speak a western European language. There are also some things where there's a perfect word for that thing in French and those passing moments bring me joy. Lots of these things will be also influenced by my having grown up in Belgian culture at home, but again culture and language are so closely entwined. I am a cultural mutt, which has occasionally made me feel not quite entirely of one place or the other, but on balance has been greatly enriching.