Two Queens

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 27 February 2019 > Ready to Use

This article explores the fates of two queens who reigned in neighbouring kingdoms in the 16th century. Both linked and opposed, they had to rule in a man’s world, in a conflict-ridden society, where religious and political unrest were rife and conspiracy and treason were the norm. Through the new biopic, Mary Queen of Scots, … Continue reading “Two Queens”

Andy Warhol: From A to Z

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 29 January 2019 > Ready to Use

Andy Warhol  remains one of the most famous and iconic American artists. He contributed to bridge the gap and blur the boundaries between pop culture and fine arts and his work is a wonderful way in into American 20th century history, culture, and values. Some thirty years after his death, the New York Whitney Museum … Continue reading “Andy Warhol: From A to Z”

The Hate U Give

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 29 January 2019 > Ready to Use

The Hate U Give is a bestselling young-adult novel and now a new film. The carefully nuanced novel, written in part from experience by young African-American author Angie Thomas, gives a fascinating  insight into the life of a teenager caught between two worlds: the mostly black neighbourhood where she lives and the mostly white private … Continue reading “The Hate U Give”

Musicals

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 21 December 2018 > Ready to Use

This A2 article about musicals and the tradition of high school performances in the USA should be of particular interest to those among your students who may have seen the exhibition in Paris, but also to any student with a taste for films or music. As usual, the document is but a starting point for … Continue reading “Musicals”

Oscar Wilde: The Happy Prince

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 21 December 2018 > Ready to Use

The new biopic about Oscar Wilde’s final years after leaving prison takes its ironic title from one of the children’s stories he wrote for his sons. The film, written, directed and starring Rupert Everett has a wonderful supporting cast (Colin Firth, Colin Morgan, Emily Watson.) This B2 downloadable resource includes work on an article about … Continue reading “Oscar Wilde: The Happy Prince”

The Grinch Who Stole Christmas

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 06 December 2018 > Ready to Use Shine Bright Collège

This A1+ level article is an opportunity to introduce Christmas from the perspective of the up-coming release of the new version of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas!, one of the much-loved books by The Cat in the Hat author Dr Seuss. Vocabulary: Christmas emotions months locating expressions Grammar: simple present and preterite the indefinite article … Continue reading “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas”

Suffragettes Interview

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 19 November 2018 > Ready to Use

2018 marks the centenary of the 1918 law which gave some British women the right to vote in parliamentary elections for the first time. Dr Helen Pankhurst has particular insight into this subject, not just as an academic but as the great-granddaughter and granddaughter of Emmeline and Sylvia Pankhurst, two of the leaders of the … Continue reading “Suffragettes Interview”

They Shall Not Grow Old Film: Bringing WWI to Life

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 31 October 2018 > Ready to Use

To mark the centenary of the end of the First World War, Peter Jackson has restored old black-and-white archive footage of British servicemen’s life in the trenches. He has colourised it, and has asked lip-readers to help dub in what the soldiers were actually saying. The film’s title refers to a poem by Robert  Binyon … Continue reading “They Shall Not Grow Old Film: Bringing WWI to Life”