More Ball Games Please

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 02 May 2025 > Shine Bright Collège Webpicks

Since the 1970s, signs saying “No Ball Games” have been a familiar sight on British streets. Ball games were synonymous with noise and broken windows. But now a London council is changing the signs to encourage young people to participate in sport. Half of young people don’t do the recommended amount of physical activity per … Continue reading “More Ball Games Please”

Turner: 250th Anniversary

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 02 May 2025 > Celebrate

One of Britain’s favourite painters, JMW Turner, was born 250 years ago, but his art continues to inspire, just as it inspired the Impressionists in the 19th century. It has a modernity that stands in contrast to his contemporary rival John Constable. It’s hard not to believe Turner would have been proud of the iconoclastic … Continue reading “Turner: 250th Anniversary”

80th Anniversary of VE Day

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 30 April 2025 > Ready to Use

The world is about to celebrate the 80th anniversary of a cornerstone day: VE Day, on May 8th. What about celebrating this day with your students by reading letters and testimonies from the period? These B1 activities based on authentic letters and testimonies from people who experienced WWII and VE Day will help the students get … Continue reading “80th Anniversary of VE Day”

New for Lycée: Shine Brighter Seconde

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 30 April 2025 > Pedagogy Shine Bright Lycée

Shine Bright 2e is back in an all-new edition, Shine Brighter, to accompany you putting in place the new curriculum for seconde from September. It’s packed full of themes designed with students’ interests in mind. Watch the introductory video to find out more: In the new curriculum, there are 6 cultural axes in 2e, with … Continue reading “New for Lycée: Shine Brighter Seconde”

Shine Bright 6e: New Curriculum

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 30 April 2025 > Pedagogy Shine Bright Collège

There’s a new curriculum for English in 6e from September. Our authors have been busy coming up with themes and documents to correspond to the curriculum and appeal to teachers and pupils alike. Have a look at the introductory video: In the new curriculum, there are 5 cultural axes in 6e, with several “objets d’étude” … Continue reading “Shine Bright 6e: New Curriculum”

Easter Traditions

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 16 April 2025 > Webpicks

Easter traditions are fairly similar from one English-speaking country to another, but it’s nice for pupils to discover them and compare them with their own traditions. Although originally a religious festival, many of the popular traditions such as chocolate eggs and the Easter bunny have more to do with secular celebrations. New York City’s Easter … Continue reading “Easter Traditions”

The Great Gatsby Turns 100

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 11 April 2025 > Celebrate

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is considered the quintessential depiction of the Roaring Twenties and a definite contender for the title of great American novel. On the 100th anniversary of its publication, readers return to the classic, and writers imagine new stories for its characters. Published on 10 April 1925, it was Fitzgerald’s third … Continue reading “The Great Gatsby Turns 100”

Keep Calm and Carry On!

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 08 April 2025 > Celebrate

This slogan from 1939 symbolises British identity in 2025 . You can find it on T-shirts, mugs, postcards and posters. The simple white words appeared on a red poster prepared for World War Two. But the poster wasn’t distributed. In 1939, the British government was prepared for a major war, and possibly an invasion. It … Continue reading “Keep Calm and Carry On!”