<P> French has traditionally been the foreign language of choice for English - speakers across the globe . However, since 1968, French has ranked as the second-most - studied foreign language in the United States, behind Spanish . Some 1.2 million students from the elementary grades through high school were enrolled in French language courses in 2007 - 2008, or 14% of all students enrolled in foreign languages . </P> <P> Many American universities offer French - language courses, and degree programs in the language are common . In the fall of 2013, 197,757 American university students were enrolled in French courses, or 12.7% of all foreign - language students and the second - highest total of any language (behind Spanish, with 790,756 students, or 50.6%). </P> <P> French teaching is more important in private schools, but it is difficult to obtain accurate data because the optional status of languages . Indeed, the study of a foreign language is not required in all states for American students . Some states, however, including New York, Virginia and Georgia, require a minimum of two years of study of a foreign language . </P> <Table> More than 1000 Inhabitants <Tr> <Th> Town </Th> <Th> State </Th> <Th> Total Population </Th> <Th>% Francophone </Th> <Th> No . Francophones </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Madawaska </Td> <Td> ME </Td> <Td> 4,534 </Td> <Td> 84% </Td> <Td> 3,809 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Frenchville </Td> <Td> ME </Td> <Td> 1,225 </Td> <Td> 80% </Td> <Td> 980 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Van Buren </Td> <Td> ME </Td> <Td> 2,631 </Td> <Td> 79% </Td> <Td> 2,078 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Berlin </Td> <Td> NH </Td> <Td> 10,051 </Td> <Td> 65% </Td> <Td> 6,533 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Fort Kent </Td> <Td> ME </Td> <Td> 4,233 </Td> <Td> 61% </Td> <Td> 2,582 </Td> </Tr> </Table>

Where is french spoken in the united states