Would this be technically correct, grammar-wise? "J'étudie le français parce qu'il est intéressant?" Considering the definite article can be used for referring to nouns in a general sense, it could translate to "I study French because it is interesting," no? Is referring to the definite article of a noun in such a statement optional, or not?
To give another example, let's use "Je suis en cours."
Why is the sentence the way it is? Would it not be permissible to say "Je suis en le cours / Je suis en les cours," for that matter?
Is the use of the definite article in a generic statement optional, unless you are referring to the noun specifically? More than likely I am just getting tripped up as English is my first language, perhaps I'm overthinking the rules for the use of this.