Benefits of French outside France? My first question would be: Is that even a question? Given that France is taking over the world by storm with the decline in the English language, learning French is inevitable.
Even after English replaced French to a large extent in the world during the rise of the US as a superpower, the declining hold of the US and its stagnant economy is paving way for the French to reclaim what is lost to the English language in the 20th century. Until the 18th and 19th centuries, the use of French was very prominent from a political, intellectual, and economic point of view, when France was a leading economy. For centuries France was considered as a powerhouse of the continent. It was the center of all that ever happened in Europe, starting at Charlamagne (and one may argue before).
When the Normans conquered the United Kingdom in 1066, they spoke French so that French became England’s court language and the language of the aristocracy. Moreover, for quite some time, French was spoken in the Vatican, and the Pope (most of the fourteenth century), that influenced people to learn both Latin and French.
The best of best Universities but of course with the exception of the likes of Oxfords were present in France. Thus, it was both mandatory for self-benefit and beneficial to learn French when in France!
For anybody to truly grow in life, it is important to keep up with the modern world. Our current modern world has made the knowledge of a second language a necessity. Considering this, choosing the most beneficial language for yourself is extremely important. This is where French comes into play. It is one of the most beneficial languages across the globe. Hence, it is time that you consider learning French.