French language in Morocco?

Question

How did the French language arrive in Morocco?

Answer 1

    While France Administered most of Northern Morocco from 1912 to 1956, the French language actually came earlier to the Kingdom. Remember that throughout the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, France was the Lingua Franca of the European world and of aristocrats worldwide. Morocco, lying  just south of Europe, did not escape the influence of French culture. During the 18th century, the King of Morocco even maintained a written correspondence- in French- with France's King Louis XIV.  Neighboring Algeria was colonized by the French in starting in 1830, and French became an important language of secular education throughout North Africa.

    With French administration came French schools and French popular culture, including music, movies, radio and TV. Since then, a large Moroccan diaspora in France, Belgium and Canada has kept the French-language connection alive for returning immigrants and aspiring emigrants.

    It should be noted that nearly 40% of Moroccans speak a Berber dialect instead (or in addition to) Arabic, and Moroccans' spoken Arabic is not always mutually intelligible to speakers of other dialects. Thus French has provided Morocco with an important secular lingua franca allowing Moroccans to communicate with each other and with the outside world.