The Great Gatsby Turns 100

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 11 April 2025 > Celebrate

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is considered the quintessential depiction of the Roaring Twenties and a definite contender for the title of great American novel. On the 100th anniversary of its publication, readers return to the classic, and writers imagine new stories for its characters. Published on 10 April 1925, it was Fitzgerald’s third … Continue reading “The Great Gatsby Turns 100”

Kids Take Over Parliament

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 21 March 2025 > In the News

On 28 February, the average age in the House of Commons debating chamber was a lot younger than normal. Instead of the usual MPs, the chamber hosted the annual sitting of the UK Youth Parliament: more than 300 11-18-year-olds elected by their peers.  The debaters are MYPs: Members of the U.K. Youth Parliament. Any 11-18-year-old … Continue reading “Kids Take Over Parliament”

Civil Rights Map

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 21 March 2025 > Ready to Use Shine Bright Collège Shine Bright Lycée

What about a Civil Rights Trail Map to commemorate and remember this decade-long fight to reach equality? The map and website studied here offer a geographical exploration of the period rather than a more common and historical one, a good means for your B1-B2 students to see the Civil Rights movement from a different perspective. Vocabulary … Continue reading “Civil Rights Map”

Wes Anderson Exhibition at the Cinémathèque

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 14 March 2025 > Pedagogy

Wes Anderson is one of those film directors who has such a personal style that you can instantly recognise one of his films, whether it’s live action or animation. An exhibition at the Cinémathèque recreates the singular vision of the director of Moonrise Kingdom, Fantastic Mr Fox and The Grand Budapest Hotel. Wes Anderson was … Continue reading “Wes Anderson Exhibition at the Cinémathèque”

Bob Dylan Biopic

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 13 February 2025 > Ready to Use Shine Bright Lycée

A Complete Unknown is a biopic about the early years of Bob Dylan’s musical career. Timothée Chalamet plays the singer-songwriter when he arrives in New York City in 1961 from Minnesota with a guitar, some songs and not much else. This B2 resource will familiarise students with Dylan’s music, the folk and protest scene he … Continue reading “Bob Dylan Biopic”

Presidential Inaugurations: A Video

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 14 January 2025 > 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 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”

Save the Date: British Short Films Festival in Normandy

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 22 October 2024 > Pedagogy

The “This is England” festival of British short films based in Rouen and the surrounding region is back. he 2024 edition  will take place from  16 to 24 November. A team of teachers has put together a special programme of screenings and teaching materials for primary, collège and lycée classes.  The festival has created a … Continue reading “Save the Date: British Short Films Festival in Normandy”

1500 Euro Prize for a Class Project About Australia

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 09 October 2024 > Pedagogy

Primary, collège and lycée classes can participate in the Sadlier Stokes Prize to create projects about Australia’s participation in World War I. Lieutenant Clifford Sadlier and Sergeant Charlie Stokes of the 5th Australia Division, were decorated for their bravery in the Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux, on 24 April, 1918. The town was strategic in the … Continue reading “1500 Euro Prize for a Class Project About Australia”

Teaching About the UK Electoral System

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 25 June 2024 > Webpicks

General elections in the U.K. have a lot in common with French legislative elections. Here are some resources on the British system that can help pupils think about democracy and compare and contrast the British and French systems. The video on this page has a 1-minute explanation of how a general election works, written for … Continue reading “Teaching About the UK Electoral System”