The End of an Era

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 09 September 2022 > In the News Shine Bright Lycée

On 8 September, the British Royal Family announced the death of Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 96. Britain’s longest reigning monarch had been on the throne for 70 years, which had been marked this summer by Platinum Jubilee celebrations. She was immediately succeeded by her son Charles, who will be known as King … Continue reading “The End of an Era”

Bye-bye Boris

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 05 September 2022 > In the News

Boris Johnson learned who would replace him as British Prime Minister on 5 September:  Liz Truss. The change came after Mr Johnson admitted he had lost the faith of his own cabinet and MPs and the Conservative Party held a two-month long election to choose a new leader. It may seem surprising that Britain can … Continue reading “Bye-bye Boris”

Gothic Nightmares: Fuseli

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 05 September 2022 > Shine Bright Lycée What's On

Under the pseudonym Henry Fuseli, Swiss artist Johan Heinrich Füssli, became one of the leading lights of the 19th-century British art world and a popular proponent of Romanticism and the Gothic. His many depictions of Shakespearean scenes, the supernatural, dreams and nightmares are rich food for the imagination. A new exhibition at the Musée Jacquemart … Continue reading “Gothic Nightmares: Fuseli”

This is Our BBC Video

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 01 September 2022 > Shine Bright Lycée Webpicks

As a standalone activity or an introduction to our resource on the centenary of the BBC, this cleverly edited video provides the BBC’s answer to the question, “What is public-service broadcasting?” Or simply an introduction to the variety of programming that it has pioneered.  If you show pupils the video on the Indy 100 news … Continue reading “This is Our BBC Video”

Happy 100th Birthday to the BBC!

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 30 August 2022 > Celebrate Shine Bright Lycée

The British Broadcasting Corporation is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2022, just as it faces the biggest threat to its existence. The Conservative government has announced the end of the licence fee paid by British residents to access the BBC for 2027. Without the licence fee, the BBC’s future as a public-service broadcaster, not dependent … Continue reading “Happy 100th Birthday to the BBC!”

Festival America is Back!

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 16 August 2022 > What's On

Festival America is usually a bi-annual celebration of the literature of the Americas in Vincennes (94). After two years of COVID cancellations, the festival is finally having its 10th edition celebrating 20 years from 22 to 25 September. The festival attracts large numbers of authors: 61 this year, mainly from the U.S. but also from … Continue reading “Festival America is Back!”

Deauville with an American Accent: Film Festival 2022

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 15 August 2022 > What's On

It’s that time of year: the cream of Hollywood, and independent U.S. cinema will be crowding the boardwalk at Deauville for the American Film Festival from 2 to 11 September. There are 13 films in the main competition, seven of them first films and a couple by joint directors. Hollywood is famously obsessed with LA … Continue reading “Deauville with an American Accent: Film Festival 2022”

100 Years of the BBC

Posted by Speakeasy News > Sunday 14 August 2022 > Ready to Use Shine Bright Lycée

The BBC is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year: founded in 1922 to produce radio programmes, it’s become a major British cultural force across TV, radio and increasingly digital platforms. This B1 resource has students use the BBC 100 website to find out about the corporation, its history, faces and voices, then prepare a podcast … Continue reading “100 Years of the BBC”

Irish Population Returns to Pre-Famine Levels

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 09 August 2022 > In the News Shine Bright Lycée

The Irish Central Statistics Office recently announced that the country’s population had surpassed 5 million for the first time since the Great Famine (1845-49). A notable event in a country whose history and culture have been marked by waves of emigration. This excellent infographic would be a great addition to Shine Bright 1e File 9 … Continue reading “Irish Population Returns to Pre-Famine Levels”