This question was closed without grading. Reason: Other
Mar 28, 2023 18:17
1 yr ago
56 viewers *
French term
United Kingdom
Sensible solutions
Native in: English (Variant: Wessexois) 
Works in: French to English, English, English to French
curieux
French to English
Other
Education / Pedagogy
Secondary school reports (France)
This is a word used time and again on student report cards
"une vive curiosité"
"éleve curieux et dynamique"
"très sérieux et une belle curiosité"
"du sérieux"
I'm well aware the word means curious (noun curiosity) but although curiosity is indeed encouraged in the learning process, it somehow sounds out of place in a report, almost as if the child is either an oddball or a nosey parker. I also thought of "inquisitive" but that also seems strange.
I'm not necessarily looking for a straight translation but for one that fits the English (UK) style of school reports. Is it better to use a phrase perhaps, such as "has an inquiring mind"?
Ideas welcome and TIA
"une vive curiosité"
"éleve curieux et dynamique"
"très sérieux et une belle curiosité"
"du sérieux"
I'm well aware the word means curious (noun curiosity) but although curiosity is indeed encouraged in the learning process, it somehow sounds out of place in a report, almost as if the child is either an oddball or a nosey parker. I also thought of "inquisitive" but that also seems strange.
I'm not necessarily looking for a straight translation but for one that fits the English (UK) style of school reports. Is it better to use a phrase perhaps, such as "has an inquiring mind"?
Ideas welcome and TIA
Proposed translations
(English)
References
| The Curious Learner |
Andrzej Ziomek
|
Proposed translations
+2
1 hr
Anastasia Kalantzi
Greece
Greece
Specializes in field
Greece
EnFrGreek Medical/Mechanical/Legal
Native in: Greek (Variant: Modern) , Greek (Ancient) (Variants: Koine (common), Doric, Homeric, Ionic, Aeolic) 
Works in: French to Greek, Greek to French, English to Greek, and 5 more.
Has a studious/inquiring/bookish/academic
What's the meaning of inquiring?
adjective. seeking facts, information, or knowledge: an inquiring mind. curious; probing; inquisitive in seeking facts: an inquiring reporter.
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Note added at 1 ώρα (2023-03-28 19:33:26 GMT)
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***Sorry for the abse6of the title's last term of :spirit, mind, attitude, behavior etc.
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Note added at 1 ώρα (2023-03-28 19:34:07 GMT)
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*** typo: absence of
adjective. seeking facts, information, or knowledge: an inquiring mind. curious; probing; inquisitive in seeking facts: an inquiring reporter.
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Note added at 1 ώρα (2023-03-28 19:33:26 GMT)
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***Sorry for the abse6of the title's last term of :spirit, mind, attitude, behavior etc.
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Note added at 1 ώρα (2023-03-28 19:34:07 GMT)
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*** typo: absence of
Example sentence:
Inquiring neighbors have been stopping by all day to ask about the events of last night.
Harriet was always a bookish child.
Note from asker:
| Thanks! |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Carol Gullidge
: An inquiring mind fits the bill exactly imo (and does not seem dated!)
21 mins
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Why not indeed? Thanks a lot. :-)
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| agree |
Bourth
: Was about to post 'inquiring' - which gets my vote, therefore - and 'interested'.
1 hr
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Thanks a lot, Bourth.
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| neutral |
Daryo
: "An inquiring mind" is the one that would be really suitable, all others are more or less off the mark.
1 day 5 hrs
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It would also depend on both general and specific context of the whole document; one para isn't mostly enough. Thank you.
|
+7
9 mins
Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Ireland
Native in English
Specializes in field
Ireland
right word, right place. everytime
Native in: English (Variants: US, Canadian, Irish, UK)
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
112
has an inquisitve mind...
OR
shows a conscientious effort to learn
is a self-motivated student (with an inquisitive mind)
shows great interest in the subject/in new ideas/in improving
readily grasps new concepts and ideas...
"has an inquiring mind" is OK but never seen it/used it. A bit old hat?
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Note added at 10 mins (2023-03-28 18:28:31 GMT)
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TYPO has an inquisitive mind...
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Note added at 1 hr (2023-03-28 19:37:46 GMT)
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Well "curieux" does not equate to "curious"! Anyway I followed your own lead
Teachers have to write lots of reports so it's a matter of finding different ways of making similar comments x 30 or whatever in the class.
And have to try and say something positive
shows a conscientious effort to learn
is a self-motivated student (with an inquisitive mind)
shows great interest in the subject/in new ideas/in improving
readily grasps new concepts and ideas...
"has an inquiring mind" is OK but never seen it/used it. A bit old hat?
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Note added at 10 mins (2023-03-28 18:28:31 GMT)
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TYPO has an inquisitive mind...
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Note added at 1 hr (2023-03-28 19:37:46 GMT)
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Well "curieux" does not equate to "curious"! Anyway I followed your own lead
Teachers have to write lots of reports so it's a matter of finding different ways of making similar comments x 30 or whatever in the class.
And have to try and say something positive
Note from asker:
| Interesting! Some of your suggestions seem to stray rather from the French one-word comment |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Yolanda Broad
9 mins
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Many thanks:-)
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| agree |
Samuël Buysschaert
14 mins
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Thanks:-)
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| agree |
Adrian MM.
44 mins
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Thanks!
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| agree |
Kathleen Kownacki
1 hr
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Thank you
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| agree |
philgoddard
: I agree with inquisitive, but I think your other suggestions stray too far from the French.
5 hrs
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Fair enough. I think "inquisitive" suits a child's mind better than alternatives
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| agree |
Lara Barnett
: Definitely - spot on!
15 hrs
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Many thanks!
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| agree |
Emmanuella
5 days
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Many thanks:-)
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+2
4 hrs
sense of curiosity, etc. OR *enquiring* mind (!)
Possibly your view of "curiosity" in English is a bit dismissive.
E.g. the name of the Mars lander of a few years ago, as suggested by a 12-year-old.
But I also think "*enquiring* mind" is good.
When you look into the "inquire"/"enquire" difference (e.g. by searching), there may be some Transatlantic difference going on, but I think that in a British/International English context the main differentiating point is that a spirity of "enquiry" connotes something significantly broader, and actively open to as-yet unknown possibilities...
Whereas arguably a spirit of "inquiry" to me is, generally, about answering specific questions relating to "known unknowns" (to coin a phrase).
E.g. the name of the Mars lander of a few years ago, as suggested by a 12-year-old.
But I also think "*enquiring* mind" is good.
When you look into the "inquire"/"enquire" difference (e.g. by searching), there may be some Transatlantic difference going on, but I think that in a British/International English context the main differentiating point is that a spirity of "enquiry" connotes something significantly broader, and actively open to as-yet unknown possibilities...
Whereas arguably a spirit of "inquiry" to me is, generally, about answering specific questions relating to "known unknowns" (to coin a phrase).
Note from asker:
| Thanks! "Sense of" nicely puts the simple "curious/curiosity" to bed without actually dumping the word, and I agree about the inquiry/enquiry distinction (as a Brit/Ire En-speaker) |
| But of course the distinction doesn't quite extend to the noun or the - we cannot say "enquisitiveness" ttbomk |
+1
4 hrs
Nicole Acher
United States
United States
Native in French
&
English
United States
Every detail matters
Native in: English , French (Variant: Standard-France)
Works in: French to English
has a lively curiosity
I like the proposed answers so far, but you might also consider using the term "a lively curiosity" which also conveys the thirst for knowledge and discovery of new things.
Example sentence:
The child has great intelligence and a lively curiosity
+2
13 hrs
shows keen interest
I deserve no credit for this answer since it is taken directly from one of my high-school reports! Also 'a keen student' (I shall spare you all the 'excellent's, 'highly satisfactory's and so on ;-)
Note from asker:
| Thanks |
15 hrs
eager to learn, discover, understand
That's the sense of the French phrases. Then up to you to decide what fits best
Note from asker:
| Thanks |
22 hrs
Andrzej Ziomek
Poland
Poland
Works in field
Poland
Jack of all trades Master of translation
Native in: Polish
Works in: English to Polish, Polish to English
curious (learner)
out of line as it may seem, suggesting the direct equivalent nonetheless
Note from asker:
| Thanks, adding "learner" avoids the misinterpretation of "curious" |
Reference comments
21 hrs
Andrzej Ziomek
Poland
Poland
Works in field
Poland
Jack of all trades Master of translation
Native in: Polish
Works in: English to Polish, Polish to English
Reference:
The Curious Learner
.
Example sentence:
This teacher resource book defines a curious learner as a child who: (1) knows how to ask questions; (2) is not afraid to try; and (3) is excited about learning!
Discussion
"un éleve curieux" would not really apply to the majority in most classes (except in highly selective schools), although calling them "oddball" would still be too strong, and someone who wants to stick his/her nose everywhere when it comes to learning could be called a "nosey parker" - in a fashion.
Agree with Bourth that the nearest translation would be "always wanting to learn new things" or "interested in learning".
You could also see "q.q. de curieux" as s.o. interested in exploring / discovering but that would more apply to s.o. who has already acquired a lot of background knowledge.
adjective
(UK also enquiring)
(of someone's behaviour) always wanting to learn new things,
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/inquirin...
interested
adjective
wanting to give your attention to something and discover more about it:
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/interest...
I don't recall seeing a one-word though like in French.