Hi!
- Ok, François? - And you?
Stéphane... François...
- Still on the team? - As ready as ever.
Hello.
This one?
At the back, please.
Hi, I'm Herv?
A sports teacher here for 3 years.
Welcome to all our new colleagues.
The students can be tough
but they're good kids.
Hi, I'm Olivier I teach physical science
and I've been here for 4 years
I'm Patrick
and I teach multiplication tables,
and sometimes mathematics!
I've been at this school for a number of years.
Hello, I'm Anne.
I used to work in the Lyon suburbs I teach English.
I'm looking for my new colleagues.
Hi, I'm Isabelle.
I'm Christiane.
I'm Frederic, I teach history and geography
and I used to work out in the suburbs of Paris.
I'm happy to be in the city now.
I'm Julie, the year supervisor.
I'd like to welcome you all and wish you a good year.
I'm Aline and I'm the cook.
I'd like to welcome you all.
Thank you, Aline.
Hello. I'm Gilles,
I've been teaching mathematics for many years.
I'm retiring at the end of this year.
I'd like to wish the new arrivals plenty of courage.
I'm François.
I teach French and I'm starting my fourth year here.
Welcome, everybody.
We'll all meet up at midday
in the canteen for a drink to mark the new year.
You get Wednesday like you wanted.
We could swap our classes.
Nice, nice,
not nice, not nice at all...
He's nice,
not nice, watch him, not nice at all,
nice, not nice,
she's not nice at all.
Arthur, your cap.
Good morning.
That's my place.
Get lost!
Calm down now!
Stop stirring things up.
Remove your hood, please.
You two back there, there's a place here.
- One up front. - There's room here too!
Let's get one thing clear...
We waste 5 minutes lining up outside,
5 coming up, 5 settling down. 15 minutes out of an hour.
Do you realize what 15 lost minutes means?
With 25 hours a week
and 30 weeks in the year, We lose thousands of minutes.
In other schools, they do a full hour.
Imagine how far ahead they get in a year
Figure it out!
We never do an hour.
Hand up to speak.
What?
We never do an hour. You always say that.
Teachers say we do an hour's class but we never do.
8.30 to 9.25 doesn't make an hour.
All right, it's 55 minutes.
That's an important point.
Stop saying other schools do an hour.
They don't!
All I'm saying is that we waste time. Like now.
To start with, take out a sheet of paper,
fold it in two so that it can stand
on the edge of your desk clearly
and, using block capitals,
Write your full name.
Why write our names?
To know who you are.
But you know us!
We had you last year.
Esmeralda, half of the kids here are new.
Be happy. That way, people will know your name.
I'm not doing it.
I won't if you don't.
You're right.
For those of you who don't know me, I'm Mr. Marin.
Ms Marin.
- A marine? - Very funny.
Corny!
He wiped you out, sir.
Come on, it shouldn't take so long.
Five minutes to write a name.
It's ridiculous!
A biscuit for the first day?
I'm ok, thanks.
Rachel, a biscuit will buck you up.
All right...
"Witty".
That's a word
We'll try to explain later.
Are there any other words
that you don't understand?
Burak.
The word "condescension".
Yes, that's a complicated word.
Do you have any idea
What that might mean?
A vague idea but I'm not sure.
You're not sure?
We'll talk about that later then.
Yes, Damien?
"Argentite".
Argentite. What does that mean?
It's people who live in Argentina.
Right, the inhabitants of Argentina.
Of course not.
Damien, who lives in Argentina?
The Argentites.
In a soccer match,
Argentina's players are called...
Footballers.
Let's move on.
Any other difficult words in this text?
Henriette?
Is there anything that you didn't understand?
"Henceforth".
Thanks for the prompt, Samantha.
I think that will do Let's take a look at these words.
All right. "Austrian"...
Wey was the one who picked the word "Austrian".
Yes, Esmeralda.
We all know what "Austrian" is.
- People from Austria. - Wey doesn't know and...
Maybe, but everyone else knows!
We get the message.
You didn't know "misleading",
so you're not really in any position to talk.
But everyone knows what "Austrian" means!
Nobody's perfect.
"Austrian" is not a very important word, Wey.
It refers to someone from the land of Austria
Which is a pretty tiny country.
We can live without the word.
Can anyone name a famous Austrian?
Mozart.
Wolfang Amadeus Mozart.
- Who? - Wolfang Amadeus Mozart.
Wolfang maybe if he were English, not Austrian.
Any other famous Austrians?
Austria could vanish, no one would notice.
Seriously, it's south of Germany So check a map, Wey.
You'll see where it is.
Souleymane, can you note the words too?
I forgot my things.
No one can lend you some paper?
- I'll do it at home. - You'll do it at home.
Sure you will. That's your approach.
Only work at home.
I'm serious.
If I could be sure of that...
Don't worry.
It'll be ok.
Thanks.
Let's move on to "succulent". "Succulent" is a word
that we'll try to guess the meaning of.
What's in "succulent"?
Suck...
Suck off.
Very funny, Boubacar.
Very witty indeed.
Here's a sentence
With "succulent".
Bill enjoys a succulent...
cheeseburger.
Cheeseburgers stink.
- Who said that? - Me.
Why a cheeseburger?
Well, since you say they stink,
you think cheeseburgers aren't succulent.
Maybe, but they're crap.
Ok, but what I just said should have made the penny drop.
What does that mean?
What?
The penny thing...
"To make the penny drop."
No one knows the expression?
If the penny drops, it means you understand.
When I say
if cheeseburgers stink, they're not succulent,
that should help you see what "succulent" means.
- What's with the Bills? - What bills?
The name Bill.
You always use weird names.
Weird? A recent US President was called Bill.
Why don't you use Aissata or Rachid or Ahmed or...
You always use whitey names.
- What names? - Honky names.
What's a honky?
Honkies, Frenchies, frogs.
You're not French?
- No, I'm not French. - I didn't know.
I am, but not proud of it.
Fine, I'm not either.
Wiped him out!
Why use these names?
Khoumba, if I start choosing names
to suit all your origins, it'll never end.
Just change a little.
What do you suggest?
Aissata. Fatou...
No, Aissata!
Excuse me. You have class 4/3 in French?
I'm class supervisor too.
Know what book you'll be reading?
No, I haven't decided.
In history, I'll start with the Ancien Regime.
If you want to link into that,
What kind of books are there?
The Enlightenment will be tough for them.
How about Voltaire? Is he tough?
He's not easy.
"Candide" is simple...
Not in their year.
"Zadig"...
Yes, but...
It'd be tough.
- 20 seconds to go. - No, sir, please!
We haven't finished.
We can't spend two hours on the imperfect.
Dalla, I can give you the time.
Sir, my pen keeps leaking.
- It's crap. - Who has a handkerchief...
Me!
Rabah...
Ask before you stand.
- May I? - Yes.
Gently, ok.
The perv!
He touched her tits!
Just give him the handkerchief!
Spare us your comments.
Goddam pedophile!
Quiet!
Sir...
Why the imperfect indicative?
Cut it out!
- Why not just imperfect? - Quiet, Souleymane!
All right, Esmeralda, Why the indicative?
If I knew, I wouldn't ask.
I can imagine.
Anyone know why we specify the imperfect indicative?
Why not just the imperfect?
Nassim.
May I wash my hands?
Go on, wash them and get it over with.
Make it quick!
He'll take a week!
- I'll go with him! - Enough!
The imperfect indicative is different than another imperfect.
Which imperfect is that?
- Agam? - The imperfect subjunctive.
Exactly.
The imperfect subjunctive.
Can anyone give me an example?
I don't believe it, Khoumba, but go on.
I may be wrong...
I think so too.
I were.
From the verb "to werr"?
- I don't know. - I wuz.
I were, we were, you were...
All right.
Not bad but you use it wrongly.
You vaguely recall the imperfect subjunctive.
Imagine I say...
"He insists that I be...
"in shape."
What is "be" in that example?
- Eva? - The present subjunctive.
Very good.
For the imperfect subjunctive,
We follow the sequence of tenses and use a past:
"He insisted..."
"He insisted that I..." Khoumba?
Were.
You really think I'll tell my mom.
"He insisted that I were'd been in shape?"
Not "I were'd been".
Learn to use it first.
"That I were in shape".
- The sequence of tenses. - No one says that.
I was right!
"I were"!
Will you let me answer
the question?
- If you care. - You may.
Before mastering something, the imperfect subjunctive,
you're telling me it's no use.
Start by mastering it, then you can call its use into question.
Sir, why are you criticizing us?
They're right, that's the way people talked in the old days.
Even my gran didn't say that.
Or your great granddad. It's from the Middle Ages!
No, it isn't.
It is!
It's bourgeois.
Tell me, when was the last time
you heard someone talk like that?
Yesterday, with friends, We used the imperfect subjunctive...
No, someone normal!
All right, all right...
Can I reply?
Yep!
I'll talk this over, but calmly.
All right, not everyone talks that way.
In fact, people who do are pretty rare.
I'd even say only snobs
use the imperfect subjunctive.
What's a snob?
Snobs are slightly affected, slightly precious people
Who tend to put on airs.
Homosexuals?
No, not homosexuals.
You can be affected and refined
Without being homosexual, Boubacar.
In any case,
this register may seem formal and a bit affected
and even bourgeois.
But these different registers exist
as I keep telling you,
you need to be able to use them.
Familiar, current, formal,
oral and written. Move between them
and use them all. Yes, Lucie?
How do we know what's for written and what's for oral?
Why is a word more for one register?
Normally, that's something
that you pick up as you go along.
You need to use intuition.
What's "intuition"?
Intuition is when you can't use thinking.
When you can't really...
It's not knowing
but more like sensing something.
When you sense things.
What if you don't sense?
If you don't sense them, well...
You gain intuition by using the language.
That's when you learn to distinguish
almost automatically between oral and written styles.
Souleymane wants to say something.
Shut it!
What does he want to say?
Go on!
Calm down!
If he says, you'll tell.
Cut it out! No fighting!
- I'll whop you! - Don't act tough!
What's wrong?
Boubacar, turn round.
- What is it? - Nothing.
- Apparently not. - Don't send him to the principal.
If I tell you, I'm good for Guantanamo!
I'll be tased.
You won't be "tased".
- You have a question? - Yep.
So ask it.
- It's too wicked. - It's not.
It's the pits for you.
- Just ask it. - I have your word?
Hurry up!
This is what I heard, ok? I didn't say it but I heard...
People say you like men.
- I didn't say it! - Who says that?
Just people.
They say Mr. Marin likes men.
Others say that, not you?
- You not interested? - No way.
- So why do you ask? - For the others.
I'm a spokesman.
But you don't care?
If you like men, fine.
Exactly.
So is it true?
You are asking me!
Homosexual isn't an insult, sir.
You say it isn't but it seems to be a problem for you.
You find it odd, men liking men.
Maybe it is, I don't know. Is it true or not?
No, it's not. Feel better now?
Yeah? Sure.
Sorry to disappoint you.
All right, if Souleymane doesn't mind,
now he's settled his hang-ups,
let's get back to the imperfect indicative.
Yeah, like that! Not bad.
What are you doing?
- What's up? - Get lost.
Who asked you? Look at your mug!
It's fucking ok!
Take these jerks, then we'll see.
Go on, show me your backs.
These guys suck.
Another one.
- Classy display. - You bet!
Got one for me?
Can't afford it.
- How much? - Too much.
Stop thinking I'm broke like you.
She screwed up there. She thinks it's a regular verb.
No, the verb's "swim". Swimmed.
Justine...
Swimmed.
Justine, work it out yourself.
Swummed. That's better, it mixes the two.
Swammed!
She put "swemmed".
Ok, thank you...
Try "swommed"!
You can sit down.
Let's see...
She can't write!
She can't write? Can you, Rabah?
- You bet! - Go on then.
Conjugate it properly.
First, swimmed.
Carry on.
Cut it out!
Swammed!
Wrong again.
Just kidding.
- It's not like that. - So what is it?
S.W...
Without an "l".
Right, no "l".
Why make fun of Justine,
When you can't do better?
I can.
Justine wasn't so wrong...
That's enough!
You can't focus for more than 20 seconds,
like 3-year-olds.
People aged 14 or 15 like you're supposed to be...
If I ask a question,
they should know.
Your kidding around goes too far!
- Not at all. - Everyone thinks so.
Dead right.
Everyone thinks so or only you think so?
No, everyone!
I think you push it.
If I cut you some slack, you'll never get anywhere!
You go too far!
And you know why!
I'm sick of these clowns! Sick of them!
I can't take any more!
They're nothing, they know nothing,
they look right through you when you try to teach them.
They can stay in their shit! I'm not going to help them.
They're so basic, so insincere,
always looking for trouble.
Go ahead, guys.
Stay in your crap neighborhood.
You'll be here all your lives and it serves you right.
I'll see the principal
and tell him I'm not working with 3/2 again.
No more technology for the rest of the year. Too bad.
It's been three months now and they haven't done a single thing!
Have you seen them in the yard?
It's like they're in heat!
They're all over each other like animals.
It's crazy! It's the same in class.
Kevin spent a whole hour going...
I've never seen the like of it in 5 years.
Enough!
No more.
We're not animals.
Sorry, I'm...
It's dumb.
Come on.
Let's get some air.
One extract isn't a lot to read.
No one did it?
We're wasting time here.
Let's read it again then.
Who wants to read?
Great... Excellent work atmosphere today!
Khoumba, go on.
No way.
You won't read?
I don't want to.
The class revolves around your desires?
- I don't want to read! - I don't care!
What did Khoumba just do?
Sneer.
I meant her attitude. What did she show?
Insolence.
That's right, you're an expert.
You're all angrulo with me! What is this?
That's not true.
Try saying it in French. What am I?
"Angrulo".
Say it in everyday French.
You've got it in for me!
That's normal French.
I just want you to read.
I have the right to ask you to read, don't I?
Don't you think so?
No one has read it and you're picking on me!
I'm not. I want to work
and I've chosen you as I have the right to.
Drop it!
Start reading.
I won't read.
You tell me to shut up, then to read. What is this?
What's what?
Make your mind up! Think it through!
We'll talk it over after class.
- It won't be fun. - Sure.
You won't say that later.
Esmeralda, are you on strike too
or can you read for us?
It's her life.
In that case, will you read for us?
I'd be delighted to!
All right, we're listening.
"Dear Kitty,
"I'm known as a bundle of contradictions.
"As I've told you several times, my soul is split in two.
"On one side, my exuberant cheerfulness,
"my mocking approach to everything, my joy in life
"and my ability to take things lightly.
"By that, I mean not seeing
"any wrong in flirting,
"giving a kiss, embracing someone,
"or telling a tasteless joke.
"That side lies in wait, pushing back the other side
"Which is more beautiful, purer and deeper.
"The truth is that no one knows Anne's better side
"and that's why most people
"can't stand me.
"I can be an amusing clown for an afternoon,
"but then everyone has had enough of me.
"So the nice Anne has never once
"been seen in company.
"But, in her loneliness, she always triumphs.
"My best to you. Anne Frank. Anne's diary ends here."
It ends here. Why?
Because the police turned up at the rooms
Where they were hiding and deported them.
She died shortly after.
That's what I asked earlier. We talked about it.
I learn about Anne Frank
because she talks about herself and so I get to know her.
When I ask you to write your own self-portraits,
I'll expect the same.
In other words, to learn things through your feelings.
You can talk about facts
that will allow me to know you better.
Yes, Lucie?
What we write won't be as gripping as...
as what Anne Frank wrote.
Our lives aren't as gripping.
All right...
Juliette?
Someone aged 70 could talk about their life,
but we have nothing to tell at 13.
At 14, 15 or even 13, you've had experiences.
Less than someone aged 70. They've lived a lot more.
- Ok. - They've seen life.
It's funny. You don't think your lives are interesting.
We just come to school, go home, eat and sleep.
You come to school, eat, sleep. Fine.
The bare facts of your life are dull.
- But what you feel is interesting. - That's my business.
Maybe, but I'm interested.
That's different.
Why is it different?
Because you're a teacher.
It's not the teacher talking.
- It's your job. - It's the human being.
I think you're only saying that to get us to talk and stuff
but it's not true.
It isn't?
What isn't true?
The fact that you're interested in knowing all that.
So I'm not interested at all
and I'm pushing at this
to convince you it's interesting?
Not as much as you say.
Maybe I am exaggerating a little.
It's only natural since you don't agree with me.
But, deep down, I'm totally sincere.
Why is it such a problem for you
to talk about your lives?
Boubacar?
Well, there's stuff...
There's private stuff.
Of course.
What could be hard to say about your private lives?
Burak?
We may be ashamed to say certain things.
Yes, it has to do with shame.
Things you find it hard to say and even harder to write.
In your life, when were you ashamed?
You can be ashamed of a pal's mom.
Why? Because you find her ugly?
No. For instance, Rabah's mom...
She offered me lunch but I refused
because I was ashamed.
Ashamed to eat with her?
Because it's beneath you?
I don't understand. Tell me why.
I'm ashamed to eat with her because I respect her.
You never eat with people you respect?
I mean, she's not my girlfriend!
You can only eat with a girlfriend?
Tell me why. I'm interested.
I can't explain it. In any case, I'm ashamed...
I always hang out with Rabah,
so I respect his mom.
I don't eat in front of her.
So if Boubacar eats in front of us, he doesn't respect us.
No, it's not that!
You can't understand.
I'm not smart enough?
You just can't understand.
Rabah?
I was at a party with Camemberters.
"Camemberters"?
Yeah, like you.
What's a Camemberter?
Someone who stinks of cheese.
So the people at the party stank of cheese?
They were all in suits and ties.
I was in my baggies and got these weird looks.
- You were ashamed? - Yeah.
Because of the looks.
They were embarrassed because of you
and you felt the same.
They weren't embarrassed.
They looked at me like I was an E.T.
You are an E.T.!
"Why's that Arab here?"
Ok, so it was a race thing.
I don't know.
But the snacks were bacon-flavored.
So?
So I... abstained.
Right. Bacon, ham... Ok, I get it.
Wey?
Young people now have no shame.
Young people now? Like you?
Drop your briefs!
They have no shame.
It's normal. Always normal.
Are you like them?
No, I'm not.
Are you ashamed?
Yes, ashamed for them.
I'll waste your ugly mug!
Anyone can speak but you stay polite, ok.
So why are you ashamed for them?
They have no shame.
They yell, they hit each other.
They make jokes, bother others. No shame.
Wey, aren't you confusing
shame and discipline?
You find the others
rowdy and impolite?
It can be shameful too.
Louise?
You can be ashamed of your appearance.
Absolutely.
Tell me, Louise,
What are you ashamed of?
My ears.
Your ears?
Can we see?
You're ashamed of your ears?
What's wrong with them?
They stick out.
- You think they stick out. - Mine too.
I think that covers it all.
You have all you need to figure it out.
Take out your exercise books.
Note the following exercise for next Thursday.
It's very simple: "Write your self-portrait."
A self-portrait isn't an autobiography.
I don't want your life story.
Describe yourself and your personality.
We'll read them in class and see how we can use them.
Don't forget.
Khoumba!
You know I want to see you.
Give me your report book.
Why?
You know why.
No, give it to me. Politely. That's enough now.
Put your photo on it.
Is it normal to refuse to read when a teacher asks you to?
- Is that normal? - There's others in the class!
I can't turn a blind eye to this.
Can I?
What happened this summer?
What happened during the vacation?
- I didn't see you. - I know.
I'm intrigued. At the end of the year in June,
We'd gotten on pretty well together.
You participated in class. Since September,
since the start of this year,
you're not cooperative,
you keep sulking,
you refuse to read... What happened?
I don't like reading now. Can you hurry, please?
No, I won't hurry!
Explain. Why have things changed all of a sudden?
I can't stay a kid forever.
So it's a kid thing to cooperate?
That's it.
There's others in the class.
Of course, when you work, it's...
I haven't finished.
My mom's waiting for me.
I want an apology first.
An apology for what you did.
"I apologize for being insolent, sir."
Sorry. Ok?
No, not "sorry".
"I apologize for being insolent."
Go ahead.
I apologize, sir...
No, "I apologize for being insolent."
Be sincere. I want a real apology.
Can you hurry up, please?
- My mom's waiting... - For your apology.
Let's deal with this.
I want a sincere apology
that'll stand for the rest of the year.
We won't go on like this.
I apologize for being insolent.
More conviction!
I'm not saying it 50 times!
You two!
What are you up to?
We're waiting.
May I?
Hurry, I'm listening!
I apologize for being insolent. May I go now, please?
Cut it out!
I didn't mean it.
Two weeks ago, at the last meeting,
the teachers suggested
introducing a penalty point system for the students
based on the driving license system.
If students broke a rule,
they would lose points.
As it's the teachers' idea, I'll let them speak.
Since last September,
We've noticed an increase in problems within the school.
Punishment has no effect on the students.
So we had the idea
of a penalty system.
The students would have, for example, six points each
and, depending on the misdeed, they'd lose one or two points.
And when they run out of points?
They go before the disciplinary committee.
As a parents' representative,
this is typical of the school's bad habits.
You always condemn the students
but never praise them.
They earn praise on their own.
They do it with their grades, by moving up a class
and we do it in staff meetings
by encouraging them to work.
There's the honor roll, the congratulations...
That all counts!
In your system,
you take away points for misdeeds
but why not go further
and give points to those who do good things?
Like gold stars!
I'm all for praising the students
but if students collect points and end up with 34 points, say,
that leaves room for all kinds of trouble
We can't control.
Without going as far as these imaginary 34 points,
six points to start with
means they can cause trouble without punishment.
Losing a point or two isn't a real punishment.
It can create a dangerous sense of impunity.
For me, the idea's totally wrong-headed.
In that case,
We could find a punishment
Where the students lose all their points in one go.
But why bother with the points in that case?
It's tricky.
What you call a sense of impunity gives us room to maneuver.
When you're dealing with punishments
that are cut and dried,
you can't adapt them to each case.
I don't agree.
The rules apply in the same way to all the students.
They break them, they're punished.
If not, why bother with rules?
Dealing with extremely strict rules creates the greatest tension.
Take cell phones.
We agreed on a rule
that cell phones were not allowed in class.
Sorry, but I break that rule
because it wasn't a problem for me.
There's room to be tolerant.
The reign of the arbitrary.
No, the law and the spirit of the law.
We could talk all night but it's not possible.
We have other topics to tackle.
In particular, one vital issue,
a very sensitive one, concerning the staff coffee machine.
It's a sensitive issue, all right!
There's a real problem this year.
The price of a coffee has gone up from 40 centimes
to 50 centimes.
That may seem petty but with several coffees a day
at 8, at 10 or at 4 in the afternoon,
it works out at a lot.
So we've clubbed together to buy a coffee maker.
That way, we can drink as much coffee as we want
Without having to count.
Mr. Pierre will be delighted to reply.
First of all, this machine was installed in 2001
to replace a machine
that needed the intervention of an outside company for restocking,
repairs, etc.
It was very expensive and not at all profitable.
We switched to the new machine which isn't profitable yet.
I'm sorry to hear that!
And so we increased
the price of coffee by ten centimes.
The thing has to be economically viable.
Nobody's shocked?
It's clear and logical to me.
Good evening.
Don't move.
We have to go. We haven't finished.
Respect.
Adolescents learn to respect their teachers
because of threats
or the fear of having problems.
For starters, I respect you
and respect must be mutual.
For instance, I don't say you're hysterical,
so why do you say I am?
I've always respected you
so I don't understand why I have to write this.
I know you have it in for me but I don't know why.
I shall sit at the back
to avoid any other conflicts
unless you come looking for them.
I admit I can be insolent,
but only if provoked.
I won't look at you again,
so you can't say my look is insolent.
In theory, in a French class,
you talk about French, not your grandma, your sister
or girls' periods.
And so, from now on, I won't speak to you again.
Signed Khoumba.
- What's up? - It's a secret.
A secret?
It won't stay a secret for long.
Why have you changed places?
No reason.
I felt like it.
A problem?
No, not at all.
No problem.
I wanted a change of scene.
Ok, that's enough.
Let's get to work.
No, sir, please!
Please, sir!
You're just copying what you did at home.
You've had plenty of time.
Esmeralda...
Huh?
I have to?
Yes, absolutely.
My name is Esmeralda Ouertani, I'm 14,
I live on Allée du Père Dhuit,
Paris 20,
With my two parents and my three brothers and sisters.
Later, I'd like to be a policewoman
because people say all policemen are bad
and so we need good ones.
If not, I'd like to be a rapper
and I'm a fan of Bakar,
Médine, Younes, Marvin and Mafiak'1 Fry.
Otherwise, I like eating, sleeping and hanging out in the 'hood.
Or rather?
The neighborhood.
You can say it right.
When you write, you use the standard style.
Don't make me correct you.
Wey, go on.
My name's Wey, I'm Chinese,
I'm 15, I have two sisters, I'm the youngest.
My hobby is playing video games, at least 4 hours a day.
I find it hard using French correctly.
It's so hard expressing myself that others don't understand me.
That's why I don't communicate much.
I hardly ever go out. Nothing much interests me outside.
The environment doesn't suit me here since I'm allergic
but I don't know what.
Allergic to yourself, that's what.
That's good, Wey.
I feel that I know you better
after hearing your self-portrait. That's the goal.
- To tell us things. - It had to be him.
His just happens to be good, not ours.
No, not at all.
I can congratulate Wey
and I'd gladly congratulate you if you managed to do it well.
Rabah, read us
- your self-portrait. - No.
How can I congratulate you if you don't?
I don't need that.
Make your mind up!
We're listening.
My name's Rabah, I'm 14,
I listen to rap.
I love my village in Kabylia and go there every year.
I like music, rap and slam.
I have two brothers but I don't like school.
I don't like tramps.
I like Zidane,
I like to talk and I like Psy 4 de la Rime's videos.
Go Marseille!
- We can manage without Marseille. - Go Paris!
We don't need it in a self-portrait.
He skipped two lines!
That's all!
Cut it out!
Go, dude!
"I like to make love".
- I never wrote that! - "I like to look good for the women
"and I like summer
"to see girls' cleavage."
Why not, Rabah?
I never wrote that!
It looks like your writing.
No way.
There's no shame in liking cleavage.
It's not a sin.
Souleymane, stop rocking and read your self-portrait.
I'm curious.
No, not huh.
I wrote nothing.
I saw you writing earlier.
- No, I wrote nothing. - You did.
Nothing!
We're listening.
I'm Souleymane.
I have nothing to say about me because no one knows me but me.
All right!
That's good. A bit long maybe.
You can't make the effort that the others did?
I don't talk about myself.
How come the others do?
That's their problem. I don't talk about my life.
He just can't write, that's all!
What's up, you cop?
You talking to me, cop?
- I can live with it. - Enough!
Arrest guys instead of talking to me.
Got your cuffs?
- Chill! - Your breath stinks!
- Chill! - Heard of Aquafresh?
Souleymane, there's no need to be offensive.
Need a toothbrush?
You're a lot better at oral insults than writing.
He can't even write his name.
Zip it! What does this say?
Spare us your Koran.
Shut it. What's wrong with the Koran?
I'll spare you when you calm down.
- Calm down. - It's the Koran.
Bullshit!
What's that tattoo, Souleymane?
Why are you showing it?
He claims it's Koran.
What is it? Why are you showing us?
It means shut your mouth!
It doesn't mean that!
So give us the real translation. Go on, tell us.
I don't want to.
You show it in my class so tell us.
It says here, right here:
"If your words are less important than silence, keep quiet."
What I said!
I said that!
It's not what you said.
Why isn't it the same?
It's different. I think it sounds better.
Yes, it's better put.
If only you could write such interesting things on paper,
that would be great.
I think so too.
That proves you can do it.
After these first few self-portraits, I'd like you
to rewrite them and polish them,
making sure you answer the questions that we listed:
What I like and don't like,
my qualities and flaws, Who I'd like to be...
Come in!
Stand up, please. Good morning.
That goes for those at the back too. Come on, stand up.
Cherif, you heard me? Everyone has to stand.
It's a way of greeting an adult.
It doesn't mean submission or humiliation.
Good. Sit back down.
I've come to introduce a new student.
Carl. Try to make him welcome
until the end of the year.
Thank you.
Carl, go sit in the third row, in that free place.
Khoumba, move your things.
Take a sheet of paper and a pen and try to catch up with the others
We'll talk after.
Don't forget the homework for Monday without fail.
Let's finish with this.
Goodbye.
Carl, stay here a minute or two.
Welcome.
I don't know if you know but I'm Mr. Marin,
your class supervisor.
If there's a problem, tell me.
I know who you are... Why you're here.
The principal told me but that doesn't matter.
We'll start from scratch here.
It will all go well.
You've seen that we...
We're on self-portraits to be handed in next Monday.
Maybe you could do one too.
Know when the next class is?
Monday, at 9.30.
Good.
You like French?
Like everyone, I guess.
That doesn't mean much. Ok, off you go.
You know what a self-portrait is?
You're sure?
Have a good day.
Pleased to meet you.
Sit down, please.
Thank you for coming.
I know it isn't easy.
We're very pleased with Wey.
Very pleased. All the teachers at the staff meeting said so.
He's kind, he's pleasant...
It's good to have him in class.
And it's showing in his grades. We have...
the usual good grades in mathematics. He's doing well there.
13/20. In French, we have a 9 here...
Not a lot.
He doesn't speak French very well yet but that's only normal.
He speaks a lot. He tells me about a lot of things.
He talks about his computer.
- He's into that. - Always too late.
He works too late?
Yes, too late, not sleep good.
After, school not good.
Eyes get sick after.
Yes, his eyes...
He may spend a lot of time on the computer
but things are fine at school for now.
He works well and he doesn't seem tired.
Nassim... I'd like him to do...
He can go far.
He has all he needs.
At his age, I wasn't that lucky.
I'm behind him.
Anything he needs, I get him.
But he has to do right.
Things are good at home with him
but I'd like him to keep on studying.
Me and his mother,
We'd like to be proud of him.
That's what we ask of him.
I think we all agree on what we need to do.
It's crazy how alike you are.
We're lookers in the family.
You're right.
An adolescent who talks with his family,
Who has good grades,
Who has friends,
even if he's a bit of a loner,
he's an outcast?
He's a boy who talks with adults, Who exchanges with them.
Maybe he doesn't with you
but that means
he's just a teenager trying to define himself.
I was useless at school for years.
I rejected the idea of making us fit in with the system.
Do his black clothes bother you? The way he looks?
I don't get it.
I'd like him to go to the best, to Henri IV.
Henri IV?
Why?
Standards again...
Because they have very high standards.
A mother wants the best for her son.
She's scared I'll feel lost in high school because the others
Went to fancy private schools and Dolto High isn't like that.
It's a pity that the teachers...
I don't want to accuse anyone...
Go on, accuse us. It's a pleasure.
Why don't you try
to push the better students a little harder, say?
They get bogged down by other students
Who aren't as good.
My mom makes stuff up. Dolto High isn't useless.
I didn't say useless, I said average.
I didn't call it useless.
We talked about Souleymane a great deal
at the staff meeting.
Many teachers have complained about his attitude
that is very negative.
Many complain that he comes without his things.
When he comes, as he's often absent.
I think you know that.
No, we didn't know.
Souleymane tells us he works hard.
- Sorry? - She doesn't think so.
There have been notes in his report book
since September, three months now.
Notes about the problems he was having.
She signs them without knowing because she can't read.
You read the notes too?
Yes, but I'm just his brother. You see?
But you knew there was a problem?
No, I didn't know. He says things are fine when I ask.
Does he work at home?
He stays in his room.
I see...
She doesn't understand the notes.
I realize that.
You know the situation now.
I'm telling you officially: there's a problem.
Talk to him.
I'll talk to him about it.
Just having a...
Maybe a conversation with his father
could help.
I'll talk to my father and see what we can do.
We're not settling scores.
We want to improve things.
- Your mom? - You bet.
Ugly old crow!
Your ma's ugly, and so are you.
She sulking?
No, she hates photos.
Me and my bro pissed her off.