Text Set Deux (French Slang and Idioms)
Books
1. Les Fables de La Fontaine, originales et revisitées (Verlan, argot et autres parodies)
By: Caroline Pastorelli
Ages: 8+
For French children, Jean de la Fontaine is just as famous as Dr. Seuss is for American children. This book takes the classic fables of Jean de la Fontaine and changes them into the French versions of slang, argot and verlan. This is an interesting take on these fables, and it would expose the students to French slang while also giving them the opportunity to read the same stories that French kids read.
By: Henry Strutz
Ages: 12+ (Intermediate level and higher)
This is your classic slang expression dictionary intended for students and travelers wishing to familiarize themselves with French slang and current expressions. This would be a great resource to have in the classroom, just to allow students to be able to look up phrases that are used by French people their own age.
3. Le verlan des oiseaux et autres jeux de plume
By: Michel Besnier
Ages: Intermediate +
Literally translated, the title means: The Verlan of Birds and other Pen Games . This is a book of poetry and plays on words focusing around the use of Verlan, which is a popular type of slang in France. I would use excerpts from this book in class. Since it is made up of several smaller poems, it would be perfect for use in a French classroom.
4. French Slanguage
By: Michael Ellis
Ages: Beginner+
This book provides beginners with english words and images that, when pronounced aloud, will form a word or phrase in French. Many of the most commonly used phrases in the French language are featured, and students gain a more conversational knowledge of French, rather than just learning vocabulary words. Also, the way the English words are combined produces a great pronunciation of (most of) the French words! At the very least, the students would enjoy trying to figure out the words and phrases!
5. Collins Easy Learning French- Easy Learning French Idioms
Published by: HarperCollins
Ages: Beginner+
This is a reference book that features 250 idioms in the French language. This would be a great resource to have in the classroom. I would love to do a "phrase of the week" from this book in my class. Idioms are such an important part of the French language, and they are fun to learn, as well!
6. Five Thousand French Idioms
By: Charles Marchand
Ages: Advanced+
This book was written in 1918 for use by advanced French students. What interested me in this book was the prologue, which can be seen in full in the image below. Idioms have, throughout history, been an important component in the spirit of a language. While studying current slang is fun, classic idioms that are still used today can be very valuable in the process of learning French.
8. Learn to Speak like the French: French idiomatic expressions
11. Expressions Idiomatiques
http://www.bonjourdefrance.com/index/indexexpresidiom.htm
This website provides a variety of activities for learners of every level. From the home page, you select your level, and then you can choose a mini lesson on a specific idiomatic expression. This would be a fun activity to do as a bellringer or as a whole class activity.
12. French Expression of the Week
Age: High-Beginner+
http://french.about.com/od/expressionoftheweek/French_Expression_of_the_Week.htm
This website on about.com provides 52 idiomatic expressions that are used in French, one for every week of the year! By focusing on one expression per week, students will be more likely to remember the meanings of the expressions. I would imagine that I would use the phrase throughout the week and provide some kind of assessment at the end of the semester.
By: Michel Besnier
Ages: Intermediate +
Literally translated, the title means: The Verlan of Birds and other Pen Games . This is a book of poetry and plays on words focusing around the use of Verlan, which is a popular type of slang in France. I would use excerpts from this book in class. Since it is made up of several smaller poems, it would be perfect for use in a French classroom.
By: Michael Ellis
Ages: Beginner+
This book provides beginners with english words and images that, when pronounced aloud, will form a word or phrase in French. Many of the most commonly used phrases in the French language are featured, and students gain a more conversational knowledge of French, rather than just learning vocabulary words. Also, the way the English words are combined produces a great pronunciation of (most of) the French words! At the very least, the students would enjoy trying to figure out the words and phrases!
5. Collins Easy Learning French- Easy Learning French Idioms
Published by: HarperCollins
Ages: Beginner+
This is a reference book that features 250 idioms in the French language. This would be a great resource to have in the classroom. I would love to do a "phrase of the week" from this book in my class. Idioms are such an important part of the French language, and they are fun to learn, as well!
6. Five Thousand French Idioms
By: Charles Marchand
Ages: Advanced+
This book was written in 1918 for use by advanced French students. What interested me in this book was the prologue, which can be seen in full in the image below. Idioms have, throughout history, been an important component in the spirit of a language. While studying current slang is fun, classic idioms that are still used today can be very valuable in the process of learning French.
7. 101 French Idioms: Enrich your French conversation with colorful everyday sayings
Ages: Beginner+/ Intermediate
By: Jean-Marie Cassagne
In the description of this book, it says it provides a humorous explanation of literal translations of French idioms and then gives the actual meaning in French conversation. It's always fun to talk about the literal meanings, since many of them are quite ridiculous. This book approaches idioms in a very fun way, and I think that students would really enjoy it!
8. Learn to Speak like the French: French idiomatic expressions
By: Arnold Borton & Henri Mauffrais
Ages: Intermediate+
This book works like a reference book in that you can look up idioms by topic. What I really like about it is that each expression is followed by a sample sentence that gives a clear example of how it would be used in conversation.
9. Five Thousand French Idioms, Gallicisms, Proverbs, Idiomatic Adverbs, Idiomatic Adjectives, Idiomatic Comparisons. for Advanced French Students
By: Charles Marchand
Ages: Advanced
Getting into the history of the language, this book explores old French proverbs and idioms that form the basis of the French language that is spoken today. Even though the book is meant for advanced students, I could see myself pulling phrases out of it that corresponded with what we were teaching in a lower level class.
10. A Dictionary of French and English Equivalent Proverbs
By: Teodor Flonta
Ages: Intermediate+
Instead of looking at phrases unique to French, this book focuses on expressions that are used in both French and English. Since students would already be familiar with the majority of the English expressions, they would more easily be able to incorporate these expressions into their conversational French.
Websites
http://www.bonjourdefrance.com/index/indexexpresidiom.htm
This website provides a variety of activities for learners of every level. From the home page, you select your level, and then you can choose a mini lesson on a specific idiomatic expression. This would be a fun activity to do as a bellringer or as a whole class activity.
12. French Expression of the Week
Age: High-Beginner+
http://french.about.com/od/expressionoftheweek/French_Expression_of_the_Week.htm
This website on about.com provides 52 idiomatic expressions that are used in French, one for every week of the year! By focusing on one expression per week, students will be more likely to remember the meanings of the expressions. I would imagine that I would use the phrase throughout the week and provide some kind of assessment at the end of the semester.
13. Les Expressions Idiomatique
Age: Beginner+
I really like that this site divides idiomatic expressions into three categories: body parts, animals, and then general. This kind of organization helps students draw meaning from the symbolic nature of each of these things within the French culture. This site also provides origins for each expression, which could lead to some great culture discussions.
14. Funny French Sayings
Age: Beginner- Intermediate+
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/funny-french-sayings.html
I really enjoy this website of funny French sayings. This would be really easy to use once a week for a while to give the students some insight into some funny French expressions that are used regularly. The images that go along with the phrases are engaging, and I think students would really enjoy reading the humorous explanations.
Age: Beginner- Intermediate+
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/funny-french-sayings.html
I really enjoy this website of funny French sayings. This would be really easy to use once a week for a while to give the students some insight into some funny French expressions that are used regularly. The images that go along with the phrases are engaging, and I think students would really enjoy reading the humorous explanations.
Applications
15. Expressions Idiomatiques
Age: Intermediate/ Advanced
This is an application that can be downloaded to an ipad or iphone that helps students learn idiomatic expressions in French. I like that it has a variety of expressions and that the explanations are also in French. The downside to this is that beginner and even early intermediate students would struggle to read the meanings of the idioms.
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