Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is an iconic dance troupe, and a fixture in the American cultural scene. The company is residence in Paris for three weeks this summer with some of its most famous works. Nothing destined Alvin Ailey to be a dancer. Born in 1931 in Texas, segregation limited his life choices. But … Continue reading “American Dance Theater in Paris”
Director Gurinder Chadha has given cinema audiences a glimpse of British Asian experience with films like Bend it Like Beckham or Bhaji on the Beach. Now a series of chance encounters has led her to examine a difficult period in her family history and that of the country of her ancestors: the Partition of India … Continue reading “Partitioning India”
Dunkirk tells the story of one of the most extraordinary events of the Second World War: the evacuation of 338,000 men from the beaches of Dunkirk in northern France, against incredible odds. In May 1940, the Nazi Army was on the offensive. Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands and Belgium rapidly fell, then they set their sights … Continue reading “The Miracle of Dunkirk”
This B1-level article focuses on an important yet little recounted moment during WWII, the evacuation of British and Allied forces from the beaches of Dunkirk by the Royal Navy, aided by hundreds of civilian boats. This symbol of solidarity has been adapted into a movie by director and screenwriter Christopher Nolan. Language and structures Historical … Continue reading “Dunkirk”
As many British cyclists set off on the 2017 Tour de France, Mark Beaumont set off on a much longer cycling challenge. He is trying to cycle around the world in 80 days, in homage to Jules Verne’s classic adventure novel. To qualify for the Guinness World Record for cycling around the world, Beaumont needs … Continue reading “Around the World in 80 Days”
Dans notre série de suggestions pour tirer un maximum de bénéfice des documents fournis aux élèves, voici une idée pratique et simple d’activité qui favorise l’implication de tous et donne un feedback essentiel aux professeurs : l’utilisation de ce que l’on appelle exit cards dans les pays anglophones. Chaque élève se voit remettre une petite carte … Continue reading “Exit and Entry”
The centennial of John F Kennedy’s birth in 1917, and the recent film about Jackie Kennedy have put this short-lived but much-admired President back in the headlines. Here are some resources that will allow you introduce JFK into your classroom. The JFK Centennial site has a nice section on the President’s legacy. There is a … Continue reading “President Kennedy Webpicks”
Emma Watson has already hidden feminist books for people to find in New York and London. On June 21 and 22, she distributed 100 copies of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale in Paris. Atwood’s dystopian novel is a feminist classic, and has recently been adapted for a very popular streaming TV series in the U.S. … Continue reading “Emma Watson Hides “The Handmaid’s Tale” in Paris”
The Queen’s Speech is shorthand for the UK’s State Opening of Parliament, which takes place annually at the beginning of each parliamentary session. The monarch reads out a speech to the assembled Houses of Lords and Commons detailing the government’s programme of legislation for the upcoming year. The State Opening is one of those occasions … Continue reading “What is the Queen’s Speech?”
The David Hockney exhibition at the Centre Pompidou in Paris from 21 June to 23 October is a retrospective of the British pop artist’s work. Who better to acquaint your pupils with Hockney’s painting than the man himself in this excellent short video. Warning: There is a brief image of a naked man diving into … Continue reading “David Hockney Video”