Weather Webpicks

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 31 January 2017 > Webpicks

Groundhog Day, 2 February, gives lots of possibilities for revising vocabulary for weather and seasons, considering weather proverbs in English and French, and getting a bit of science into English class. The weather, like Groundhog Day, comes back around regularly, and discussing the tradition can serve as a handy reminder of weather terms. Or pick … Continue reading “Weather Webpicks”

Happy Birthday, Professor Hawking

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 20 January 2017 > Ready to Use

In this B1-level article, students will learn about Stephen Hawking, one of Britain’s most famous scientists, as he unexpectedly reaches his 75th birthday in spite of a terrible neurological disease. The film The Theory of Everything , released in 2014, pays tribute to this exceptional man, played by Eddie Redmayne who won a Golden Globe, … Continue reading “Happy Birthday, Professor Hawking”

Up Helly Aa Webpicks

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 19 January 2017 > Webpicks

The highpoint of the cultural calendar in the Shetlands, Scotland, is a spectacular Viking fire festival in January: Up Helly Aa. This video and photo galleries are useful for discussing the festival.  Find out more about the celebration in our article. In this video, an American man with Shetland roots describes discovering Up Helly Aa … Continue reading “Up Helly Aa Webpicks”

Prohibition

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 17 January 2017 > Webpicks

Ben Affleck’s gangster film Live By Night is a great opportunity to introduce your classes to the period of Prohibition. Live By Night centres on the organised crime gangs which profited from Prohibition by producing or importing illicit alcohol and running underground bars called speakeasies. The film’s website has a perfect lesson on Prohibition ready … Continue reading “Prohibition”

Martin Luther King Day on the Web

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 16 January 2017 > Webpicks

These videos will help you discuss Martin Luther King Day in class. The third Monday in January, close to MLK’s birthday on the 15th, is a federal holiday and a day of service when citizens are encouraged to volunteer in their communities. This 60-second Public Service Announcement for the day of service s simple – … Continue reading “Martin Luther King Day on the Web”

Presidential Inaugurations: Video

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 11 January 2017 > Webpicks

Once every four years, a U.S. President is inaugurated. This video gives a succinct summary of the significance of this ritualised event. The video was prepared before Barack Obama’s second inaugural ceremony in 2013, but it gives a good overview of the Inauguration as a U.S. political institution. The second minute, where a historian wonders … Continue reading “Presidential Inaugurations: Video”

Sing: Animals Have Got Talent

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 06 January 2017 > Ready to Use

In this A1 towards A2 article, your students will read about Sing (Tous en scène), the recent American computer-animated musical directed by Garth Jennings and produced by Illumination Entertainment, with the voices of Matthew McConaughey and Scarlett Johansson among other famous actors. Set in a world inhabited only by animals, it centres around a music … Continue reading “Sing: Animals Have Got Talent”

Teaching with Trailers: Sing

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 06 January 2017 > Webpicks

The trailers for Sing, an animated musical film about a singing competition, provide lots of opportunities for language teaching – vocabulary about animals and music, following or telling a simple story, or organising a talent show. You’ll find two versions of the trailer below. The first one is simple, usable from A1+. The dialogue is … Continue reading “Teaching with Trailers: Sing”

Memory Interview

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 15 December 2016 > Ready to Use

In this audio interview, actress Kathryn Hunter discusses her role in Peter Brooks’ play The Valley of Astonishment: Sammy Costas, a mnemonist who can remember large quantities of numbers and text. The play is based on the real experiences of patients described by Dr Oliver Sacks. The extract tackles both the theme of memory and … Continue reading “Memory Interview”