As people around the world celebrated International Francophonie Day on March 20, Thais also expressed appreciation of the language and the culture.
The 77 member states of the Organization of La Francophonie celebrate the French language and culture every March.
The French language has a special place in Thailand as His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great grew up and studied in French-speaking Switzerland. He even gave an interview in fluent French. His older sister Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana was also a Professor of French at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Arts.
Many high-profile figures including Prof Vitit Muntabhorn, international law expert and a member of a UN Human Rights Commission of Inquiry, and tech guru Ariya Banomyong are among the 560,000 people who speak French in the kingdom.
Meanwhile, 220 schools and universities taught French to almost 30,000 students last year, according to the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF).
In fact, to French-speaking Thais, Francophonie has shaped the way they see the world.
"French is not only a romantic and poetic language, but a language of philosophy, arts and history," Wiraj Sripong, a Thai-French diplomat, said.
As a former student in international relations in France, he said French is a language that equips students with a detailed and analytical mind.
"The theory of 'sociologie des relations internationales', taught along with other theories of international relations in classes, requires students to have an in-depth knowledge in history, economics, political science and law.
"All this knowledge will help students find their guiding research question -- aka 'la problematique' -- when it comes to writing essays or conducting research," he said, adding the discussion would lead to the person always considering the pros and cons of everything.
TNN 16 chief news editor Thanchanok Jongyotying agrees. Besides learning the language, she learned the French way of thinking and an appreciation of liberty and arts.
"When we learn a third language, when we talk to the Francophone people there is more connection and cultural understanding and tolerance," she said, adding that she gained a multicultural mindset.
Being married to a French national, she learned to appreciate the culture of debates in real life.
"French people love to analyse and comment. We learn the language and became like that too," she said.
She said French and Europeans debate each other as to why they think differently -- it's not a cut-throat competition.
"When I first visited my ex [French]-boyfriend, I had to adjust a lot. I didn't understand why they had to spend up to four hours for dinner. That's because they debated things during the meal, especially after the dessert. Sometimes they raised their voice but when they finished, there were no hard feelings," she said.
She learned that European people will care for the whole EU region, not just their country. This too created a connection.
She learned the French culture, which also helped her understand the mentality of people in other European countries and their languages sharing the same root. That understanding also came with a sense of connection.
"When people from different nationalities and different mother-tongue languages talk to each other in French, I feel there is a special connection more than when talking in English," she said.
"It's a lot more fun when travelling in Europe. Many Europeans do not speak English. I can speak French and people there welcomed me well, especially in small towns. Being able to speak French, I can communicate throughout the region," she said.
Sirivan Chulakorn, former head of the French Department in the Arts Faculty at Chulalongkorn University, said although she has already retired from teaching, she still uses French as a tool for living by working as a Thai–French interpreter and translator.
Her passion for French grew when she was in primary school. With family support, she had the opportunity to study with French native speakers.
She said it was love that made her walk on the Francophonic path. Later she had found it was a tool for intellectual development. From this step, she pursued her interest in the language until she obtained a PhD in France. She was a French lecturer at Chulalongkorn University for almost 30 years.
"French is my passion. I had been teaching French since my early 30s. I can remember how happy I was when I taught French to my students at the Arts Faculty," she said.
French had given her various opportunities. She has been an interpreter for many important events, seminars, or even court cases.
She recalls one of the most memorable moments: "Back in 2006, JICA [Japan International Cooperation Agency] invited me to be a Thai–French interpreter for sufficiency economy experts to translate sufficient economic philosophy knowledge to agricultural sectors in Senegal," she said.
Jakkrin Orbaiyokvijit, 16, a Matthayom Watnairong School Grade 10 English–French major student, decided to opt for French as his third language.
He started to learn French in Grade 8, and has received gold medals for his French language skills and French general knowledge competitions for two years.
"As most of the [topics in the competitions] are from France, it is better to read them in French which will give more a precise and clear meaning," he said. "It will also help us understand how French think, and think in a French way."