Who is the Poet?

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 23 March 2020 > Celebrate

A famous poet is celebrating an important anniversary. Find out who by watching the quiz below.  

He Wandered Lonely as a Cloud

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 31 January 2020 > Celebrate

William Wordsworth was a leading light of the Romantics, famous in habitant of the Lake District, and Poet Laureate. 2020 marks his 250th anniversary. Wordsworth (1770-1850) is chiefly remembered as a nature poet in his beloved Lake District, where he was born and lived much of his life. But he was also a radical in … Continue reading “He Wandered Lonely as a Cloud”

Do Good in December

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 02 December 2019 > Celebrate

Do you fancy using an advent calendar in class in December as a cultural reference, but want to avoid the religious connection? How about using this fabulous December Kindness Calendar instead? Produced by British charity Action for Happiness, it encourages you to do a kind act each day, like counting your blessings or seeing how … Continue reading “Do Good in December”

Thanksgiving U.S.A.

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 22 November 2019 > Celebrate

Many in the U.S. consider Thanksgiving the most American of holidays. The feast appeals to every religious and ethnic group, honours a turning point in American history, and encourages a spirit of good will. Plus, Thanksgiving offers one of the best meals of the year! In 1620, a group of 102 British people men, women … Continue reading “Thanksgiving U.S.A.”

Why Black Friday?

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 14 November 2019 > Celebrate

As Black Friday approaches, we wonder why a specifically American date in the commercial calendar has taken over first the internet and now high-street shops around the world. Black Friday is the day after the U.S. Thanksgiving, which falls on the fourth Thursday in November. It’s a long weekend and approximately a month before Christmas. … Continue reading “Why Black Friday?”

Halloween Experiment

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 25 October 2019 > Celebrate

Celebrate Halloween with a new A1+-level video of a fun science experiment involving a pumpkin and foam! There is a new video with interactive comprehension activities for Halloween in the Banque de ressources anglais cycle 4. To see the resources, register now or log in: Vidéos > A1+ > Rencontres avec d’autres cultures > Halloween … Continue reading “Halloween Experiment”

Vampires from “Dracula” to “Twilight”

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 25 October 2019 > Celebrate

The cinema industry has long had a love affair with vampires, most often Dracula, based on Eastern European legends and Bram Stoker’s eponymous book. An exhibition at the Cinémathèque in Paris is a great opportunity to revisit the fascination with the undead across the arts: literature, painting, TV and film. It’s also an opportunity to … Continue reading “Vampires from “Dracula” to “Twilight””

On Route 66

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 08 August 2019 > Celebrate

Route 66 has mythical status in the U.S.A. and around the world. It’s been immortalised in songs, novels and films. Although it’s no longer a major highway, it still draws visitors keen to experience the iconic home of the road trip. Every September, enthusiasts gather in Springfield, Illinois, for the Mother Road Festival, using the … Continue reading “On Route 66”

Landing on the Moon

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 15 July 2019 > Celebrate

NASA is marking the fiftieth anniversary of the first Moon landings. Fifty years after Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the Moon, and 47 years after the end of the Apollo program, the U.S. space agency is preparing to go back to Moon by 2024. On July 20, 1969, Armstrong and Aldrin boarded the … Continue reading “Landing on the Moon”