Columbus Day

Posted by Speakeasy News > Saturday 23 September 2017 > Celebrate

How did an Italian explorer working for the Spanish crown become an American hero? Columbus Day is a federal holiday in the U.S. It is celebrated on the second Monday in October and commemorates Christopher Columbus arriving in the Americas on 12 October 1492. In fourteen hundred and ninety-two Columbus sailed the ocean blue Children’s … Continue reading “Columbus Day”

United Nations Webpicks

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 19 September 2017 > Webpicks

A slideshow, an article and a video to explain the United Nations General Assembly to your students, and let them see how young people can participate. This article from BBC children’s news programme Newsround does exactly what it says on the tin: explains “What is the United Nations”? The language is fairly simple. It’s usable … Continue reading “United Nations Webpicks”

President Kennedy Slideshow

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 13 September 2017 > Ready to Use

In 2017, the U.S.A. has been commemorating the hundredth anniversary of John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s birth. In this B1-B2 sequence, pupils view a short, downloadable animated slideshow giving basic facts about JFK’s life. They will then work in groups to expand their knowledge before preparing a presentation in the Bac oral format. Language and structures John … Continue reading “President Kennedy Slideshow”

Hurricanes Webpicks

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 08 September 2017 > Webpicks

Hurricanes are dominating the news at the moment but how do hurricanes form and how are they classified? This video and animation are useful teaching tools. This animation from U.S. National Hurricane Center shows the intensity of different levels of hurricane. It is purely visual and can be used for description. This report for children … Continue reading “Hurricanes Webpicks”

Labor Day Video

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 04 September 2017 > Webpicks

The first Monday in September is Labor Day in U.S. and Canada and heralds the beginning of the school year. This 1-minute video presentation explains the holiday. Perfect for a quick injection of Anglophone culture! It’s an animated slideshow with written text rather than voiceover and can be used from A2. It presents the holiday, … Continue reading “Labor Day Video”

Postcrossing: Postcards Project

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 30 August 2017 > Pedagogy

Postcrossing est un site internet. Il s’agit un réseau social qui permet de recevoir et d’envoyer des cartes postales partout dans le monde. Comment l’exploiter en classe d’anglais ? Pourquoi ne pas organiser un concours de cartes postales ? Le premier projet décrit ici a été organisé deux années de suite au Lycée Albert Camus de Bois-Colombes. … Continue reading “Postcrossing: Postcards Project”

School of the Air in Australia

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 30 August 2017 > Ready to Use

In this A2 article your students will discover the special distance-learning schools which provide classes for children in the Australian Outback who live hundreds or even thousands of kilometres from the nearest school. We suggest going further with two downloadable short videos. For full listening-comprehension they require a B1 level, but there is plenty that … Continue reading “School of the Air in Australia”

The Romans in Britain Teaching Resources

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 28 August 2017 > Webpicks

London is celebrating its Roman past with the Londinium festival. Access and download teaching resources on the Romans in Britain from A1+ to B1. There are articles about Hadrian’s Wall at A1+, A2 and B1 levels, with accompanying interactive comprehension activities, as well as a B1 audio on British Queen Boudica’s resistance to the Roman … Continue reading “The Romans in Britain Teaching Resources”

Celebrate European Languages

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 23 August 2017 > Celebrate

The annual European Day of Languages on 26 September is a great reason to have some multilingual mingling and celebrations in your classroom! And for an instant teaching activity on comparing languages, why not get your pupils to participate in the competition to design a T-shirt for the 2018 event? Or participate in a world … Continue reading “Celebrate European Languages”

Labor Day: Back to School

Posted by Speakeasy News > Saturday 22 July 2017 > Celebrate

The Labor Day holiday weekend signals the end of summer for Americans. Although it takes place at the beginning of September, and the hot weather may continue for weeks, after Labor Day, schools start again it feels like the summer vacation has ended. Labor Day is the U.S. version of May Day in most other … Continue reading “Labor Day: Back to School”