Read “The Diary of a Wimpy Kid” in the original language to improve your English • Le Suricate Magazine

Title: Diary of a Wimpy Kid, English edition of Journal d’un deconflay
Author: Jeff Kinney
Author: The door of youth
Release Date: June 28, 2024
Gender : Comedy, Juvenile, Illustrated

Diary of a Wimpy Kid in French) is the first volume in a series of children’s novels about the setbacks of an American schoolboy. Popular among pre-teens, the series has been criticized by some authors for poor language. In response to this criticism, the French publisher recently published the original version with annotations in French. Thanks to the definitions and explanations inserted in the margins of the text, fans and new French-speaking readers can (re)discover Greg Heffley’s adventures in English – without the lesser known or translation difficulties.

Greg Heffley is a college student’s favorite anti-hero

Greg is a 12-year-old middle school student who is considered a failure by his classmates. Before being serialized novels, his adventures were streamed online as short illustrated episodes. Their caustic humor instantly appeals to 10-15-year-old readers who identify with this anti-hero who goes beyond the expectations of his parents and teachers. With little interest in school and less in family activities, Greg multiplies his avoidance strategies. His disregard for restraining orders often makes for funny scenes, like when Greg plays up a tree in the school play and gets the chance to throw apples to “first in class.”

Global success

In 2007, the series was published in novel form under the title Success Diary of a Wimpy Kid. The following year, a French translation appeared by Seuil Jeunesse. This is the beginning of a long adventure because Diary of a Wimpy Kid Over time has become a real right. Along with novels, action books, video games, animated films… its annotated English version release Diary of a Wimpy Kid It is part of this line and aims to encourage 12-16 year olds to study in English.

Reading with

Rather than a bilingual version, this is the complete original version of Volume 1 Diary of a Wimpy Kid, translations and explanations of all complex words, as well as idiomatic turns of phrase, in the margins. While the format chosen allows for more fluid reading, this formula has its limitations. It presupposes the reader’s (mis)knowledge of certain terms – sometimes at the risk of defining already known terms and omitting explanations that may be useful to some. Also, the terms included in the glossary at the end of the book are very rarely used. Many slang terms are rarely taught in school. The fact that they aren’t placed in context (unless you luckily find the relevant page pointed to) doesn’t make them any easier to remember.

Finally, the main merit of this version Diary of a Wimpy Kid Although initially aimed at 9-12-year-olds, the series has continued to be revived, proving to be very popular among teenagers.