Currently Reading the electronic book ‘Cher Connard’ by Virginie Despentes…
After teaching French for more than 20 years I thought I had seen and taught it all: The basics, the tenses, the subjunctive, legal terminology or else… And then, a student who had reached the proficient level with me (he had started with me at beginner level) asked me to teach him French slang, something that had never ever been requested before.
Initially puzzled, I wondered how I would do that as French slang is a huge topic and there are many different styles or types of it (Depending on the group(s) we belong to, we would use different types of words and expressions).
My first impulse was to share the French slang I knew, which is what I was reading in French female magazines, while on holiday, and started scanning some articles for him. I would list the key expressions, would research all the definitions and explanations and would create bespoke exercises for him to practise.
Then, I looked for books including many familiar slang expressions. Some book sellers recommended a variety of options. One was a book with a main character who was a transexual prostitute getting trashed by a client. I checked a few pages and read a few dialogues and was so shocked by the language used, the vulgarity of it, how graphic the scenes were… That I realised I could not teach this type of vocabulary as I did not know anyway half of the expressions used.
I ordered a slang dictionary whose introduction enlightened me on the fact that the slang words were initially used like a secret code by small groups in the known.
I then looked at the latest book releases and found an amazing book to teach a widely used range of slang expressions. It’s ‘Cher Connard’ by Virginie Despentes.
The plot feels to me a bit improbable but the slang vocabulary used in this books is so incredibly varied and rich. It is the perfect book for my student at this level.
What astonished me while researching this topic is how often slang expressions are used mixed with very high level of French and complex structures, like with the subjunctive mood or more formal words… As if you still had to show a certain style and ability even when speaking in a familiar way.
At the moment, while my student enjoys the book ‘Cher Connard’, I am now looking for some slang expressions in songs and will have a look at rap productions to identify if I can find anything interesting.
It’s only the start of the search…
Annie Gentil-Kraatz
In Heidelberg, Germany, on the 19th of October 2022