Brontë Family Webpicks

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 04 July 2018 > Webpicks

The three Brontë sisters lived short, isolated lives in early nineteenth century England, but they produced some outstanding novels, in particular Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. The bicentenaries of their births are being celebrated from 2016 to 2020. To find out more about the Brontës, visit the Brontë Society site, which has information about each … Continue reading “Brontë Family Webpicks”

Back in Black… Hole

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 04 July 2018 > In the News

On Friday June 15th, after a memorial service which saw Stephen Hawking’s ashes interred at Westminster Abbey, his “message of peace and hope” was sent to the stars. Ashes to Ashes… The ashes of British physicist Stephen Hawking were buried Friday June 15th in a corner of Westminster Abbey between the graves of Charles Darwin … Continue reading “Back in Black… Hole”

Nelson Mandela

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 04 June 2018 > Ready to Use

This year marks the centenary of Nelson Mandela’s birth, on 18 July 1918. Our Biobox video quiz will allow you to familiarise your students with Mandela’s life from A2 level. And in this B1 article your students will learn about Mandela and his part in the abolition of apartheid and the building of a democratic … Continue reading “Nelson Mandela”

Nelson Mandela Centenary

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 04 June 2018 > Celebrate

Nelson Mandela was born a hundred years ago, on 18 July 1918. In 2009, the United Nations declared his birthday International Mandela Day, when people around the world are encouraged to give service to their communities, as he gave service to the people of South Africa. Rolihlahla Mandela was born into the Madiba clan in Mvezo, … Continue reading “Nelson Mandela Centenary”

Frankenstein Online

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 17 May 2018 > Webpicks

There are lots of interesting online resources on Mary Shelley and Frankenstein to help you celebrate the 200th anniversary of the publication of her iconic novel. Here’s a selection. Why not start a sequence on Frankenstein with our downloadable “Who Am I?” quiz about Frankenstein’s monster? (Right-click once the link opens and choose “Save As” … Continue reading “Frankenstein Online”

Frankenstein at 200

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 17 May 2018 > Celebrate

Frankenstein was published in 1818, written by a very unconventional young woman. Its genesis is as intriguing as its lasting influence. Without a volcanic eruption, Frankenstein and the vampire fiction genre may never have seen the day. In 1815 Mount Tambora in Indonesia erupted violently, in the largest and most deadly eruption recorded anywhere in … Continue reading “Frankenstein at 200”

Mother of Frankenstein

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 17 May 2018 > Ready to Use

2018 marks the two hundredth anniversary of the publication of Frankenstein, a novel which has gone on to occupy a unique place in the collective imagination. In this A2+ article, your pupils will discover Mary Shelley, the teenage author who lived an exceptional life. These documents about Mary Shelley could be part of a larger … Continue reading “Mother of Frankenstein”

Stephen Hawking: Death of A Scientist

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 14 March 2018 > In the News

Professor Stephen Hawking, possibly the most famous modern scientist, has died at the age of 76, after beating enormous odds to survive and work for 55 years with the debilitating motor neurone disease. Hawking had an exceptionally brilliant mind. He became the prestigious Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University at just 35. But by … Continue reading “Stephen Hawking: Death of A Scientist”

Stephen Hawking: a Unique Scientist

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 14 March 2018 > Ready to Use

On the occasion of the death of Professor Stephen Hawking, we’ve updated this B1-level article, which we published for his 75th birthday in 2017.  Students will learn about Hawking, one of Britain’s most famous scientists, who had a brilliant career in spite of a terrible neurological disease. The film The Theory of Everything , released … Continue reading “Stephen Hawking: a Unique Scientist”