to think that teaching 14 year old Belgian children the word "prick" at school is inappropriate?

[LongtimeinBrussels]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this but here goes.

I give English lessons to two 14 year old Belgian girls. One of the sentences they were given went something like this: "Michael is being a real prick". I was horrified to see that their teacher had given them this sentence but I have been out of the UK for 24½ years and am aware that attitudes/language acceptance has changed. I couldn't help thinking though that if these girls visit the UK and use this word, people would be a bit or even ?

Would be grateful for opinions.

Okay, scary, just let me know. Also Jane Booth does maths tutoring if she's still around.

The flemish do use english swearwords, it doesn't mean so much to them. I would be annoyed at prick though.

I had an exam a couple of years ago, in flemish, marked by a doctor who was questioning me on my exam paper answers. He told me one answer was 'shit'. I couldn't take him seriously after that!

Jane Booth is the reason I may need a tutor iyswim.

scary have sent you an e-mail but I'm not sure the e-mail address is correct. Please let me know if you get it or not!

Got it, will reply at length later. Went to bed as have the school virus that is doing the rounds.

Goodness me, you can not possibly say 'idiot' instead of 'prick'!
Think of all the idiots out there, screaming bloody murder and demanding your head on the platter or similar for engaging in blatant slander of all idiots and most likely for obvious racism/sexism/ageism/...ism/....ism etc ad nauseum. [yaaaaawn]
One can not be discriminatory against idiots you know!
On the other hand, Prick United could well sue the Belgians for the very same reason....
Can't win....

Rollmops, pcness doesn't seem to be quite as advanced here in Belgium as it is in the UK!

scary, sorry to hear that. My dd's also home as is our neighbour's European School son so I think it's in all the schools!

I hope the teacher accepts the correction! I love it when things come out differently...we have had to tell all of our APs that "I am going to sleep with my friend tonight" sounds a little bit odd in English.

And years ago a (very respectable) friend of mine was telling my elderly French aunt what her father did. he was an MD of a big company. she explained, "Ah mon pere, il est PD" she meant PDG.

the difference for non French speakers is that she told auntie that her Dad was a paedophile and not a managing director. Auntie's face was a picture.

"pédé" (pronounced PD) is short for "pédéraste" = queer, poof. Not for pédophile = paedophile.

Thanks for the correction Anna!

Hondenfokker* always makes me laugh. A Dutch friend emigrated to Canada and when upon asked what his hobbies were responded solemnly "I fuck canaries".

My dog got very sick, I took him to my francophone vet and was trying to explain hondenfokker with the worlds DOGFUCKER, DOGFUCKER* screaming through my head - I was loathe to mime.

skihorse

YANBU. It is not appropriate but presumably the teacher thinks it means "idiot" or similar.

I have noticed that it is easier to swear in a foreign language. Recently I had to ask one of DH's German colleagues not to say "fuck" in front of the DC. He also uses it in the office, much to the shock of his straightlaced American colleagues.