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”
April is World Autism Awareness Month. It aims to raise awareness about the condition. This short video by a British schoolboy with autism is a great introduction for pupils to see how he experiences life and school, and the benefits of help he has received. This video was produced for Comic Relief for the 2023 … Continue reading “World Autism Awareness Month”
Talking about emotions can be hard when you are a teenager — even more so when the feelings are about love and romance, and you have to talk about it in another language! This video of American teenagers talking about crushes is an excellent conversation starter for A2-A2+ classes. Why not use it for Valentine’s … Continue reading “Valentine’s Day: Talking about Feelings”
Although a well-loved character from British children’s literature, Paddington Bear is from Peru in South America, and in the third film in the series about him, he returns to his home country to visit his Aunt Lucy. His adoptive family, the Browns, join him on his journey. This trailer for Paddington in Peru would be … Continue reading “Paddington Goes Home”
The National Theatre’s production of The Importance of Being Earnest, starring the current Doctor Who, Ncuti Gatwa, recently wowed audiences in London’s West End. If your students are studying the play for LLCER, the trailer for the production would be a great addition to their portfolios. The trailer has no dialogue apart from Lady Bracknell’s … Continue reading “Teaching with Trailers: The Importance of Being Earnest”
Once every four years, a U.S. President is inaugurated. This video gives a succinct summary of the significance of this ritualised event. The first 1m30 gives an overview of the day from the oath to the speech and the inaugural balls, with some short extracts from Abraham Lincoln’s and John F. Kennedy’s inaugural speeches. Then … Continue reading “Presidential Inaugurations: A Video”
Richard Curtis has perfected the romcom, scripting Love Actually, Notting Hill, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Yesterday and more. His latest film is an animation about Christmas in a small English town, combining three of his own children’s books. That Christmas has Santa, traditions, humour, a variety of families, a pinch of romance and a … Continue reading “Christmas Actually”
The This is England short-film festival in Rouen has a specific programme of short films for cycle 4e classes. This year’s selection ponders the roles of young and old in today’s society, offers positive visions of a sustainable future, as well as featuring a beatboxing animated dog. If you sign up for a collège showing, … Continue reading “This is England 2024 films for Cycle 4”
The This is England short-film festival in Rouen has a specific programme of short films for lycée classes. This year’s selection features crime stories, young people forging a place for themselves in a world that isn’t always welcoming, a story of polygamy and a documentary about an inspiring ping-pong club. If you sign up for … Continue reading “This is England 2024 films for Lycée”
The This is England short-film festival in Rouen has a specific programme of short films for cycle 3 classes. This year’s selection focuses on children’s experiences, some as young carers, and stories from diverse cultures represented in the U.K. If you sign up for a Cycle 3 showing, your students will see six films ranging … Continue reading “This is England 2024 films for Cycle 3”