After New York Comic Con and C2E2 in Chicago, Comic Con Paris will take place from 21 to 23 October. It is the European reference in terms of pop culture. After a successful first edition, and more than 30 000 visitors, Comic Con Paris comes back with a second edition, for the best of entertainment. … Continue reading “Comic Con Paris”
The third and final U.S. presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will take place on Wednesday 19th October at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. This is the last chance for the two candidates to address the millions of American voters. For the first debate on September 26, there was a record of 84 … Continue reading “This is the End… the Last Debate”
If you’re looking for a fun language activity before the holidays, how about transforming your pupils into dancing zombies? For the tenth year running, Thrill the World will try to break its own world record for the biggest simultaneous dance to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”: 22,596 people around the world! The song’s video with Jackson doing … Continue reading “A “Thrilling” Halloween”
Television adverts, as opposed to the the carefully regulated “party political broadcasts” more common in Europe, are an intriguing aspect of American politics. And they are a fabulous teaching tool, giving an insight into American culture, and perfect for educating your pupils about the media. Pupils should pick up details that repeat from one ad … Continue reading “U.S. Election Adverts”
How much does it cost to fund a presidential election campaign, and how do the candidates raise the money? We look at the thorny issue of election finance. There is a long history of politics and money. Back in 1757, “founding father” George Washington won an election to the Virginia State parliament after throwing a … Continue reading “Election Money Machine”
Ken Loach returns to his social realism roots for I, Daniel Blake, which won the Palme d’or at Cannes 2016. The film is based on interviews with unemployed and homeless people and puts a human face on recent changes in the benefits system in the U.K. it centres on Daniel and Katie. Daniel has worked … Continue reading “I, Daniel Blake by Ken Loach”
The Battle of Hastings in 1066 was a major event in English history, which ushered in 400 years of Norman rule of England. After William the Conqueror won the English crown, French became the legal language of England for 300 years. This topic is rich in elements of British culture, and fits perfectly with the … Continue reading “The Battle of Hastings”
The Battle of Hastings in 1066 was a major turning point in British history. The victory of William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, changed whole course of Britain’s history and culture. Not least the language, as French became the legal language of England for the next 300 years. The 950th anniversary of the battle this … Continue reading “1066: Battle of Hastings”
It’s been nine years since the final book in the Harry Potter series, five since the final film. There have been the exhibitions and theme parks to keep fans busy in the meantime, but now Harry Potter is really back with a vengeance! Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is not strictly speaking an eighth … Continue reading “Harry’s Back!”
For the first time ever, the Nobel Prize for Literature has been awarded not to a novelist, playwright or poet, but to a songwriter: Bob Dylan. The 2016 Nobel was awarded to the 75-year-old folk-rock legend, “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition”. The singer-songwriter was born in 1941 in … Continue reading “The Times They Are A-Changin’”