Hollywood on Sea

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 31 August 2017 > What's On

The cream of Hollywood talent will be on display once more on the Normandy coast from 1 to 10 September for the 43rd Deauville American Film Festival. The festival seems to expand every year and now includes not just the feature-film competition, tributes and premières, but a selection of documentaries on American themes and “Season … Continue reading “Hollywood on Sea”

American Week in Rennes

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 17 March 2017 > What's On

Chicago is the focus of the first ever American Week organised by the Institut franco-américain in Rennes, from 20 to 24 March. Chicago, the third-largest U.S. city has plenty to offer. The so-called Windy City, situated on Lake Michigan has a rich architectural and cultural heritage. The American Week will give you the opportunity to … Continue reading “American Week in Rennes”

Hidden Figures in the Space Race

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 17 March 2017 > Ready to Use

In this B1-level article, your students will learn how a group of dedicated female mathematicians known as ‘human computers’ used their talents to help NASA launch rockets, and astronauts, into space. Even if Virginia’s Jim Crow laws required them to be segregated from their white colleagues, the black women of Langley’s group contributed to America’s … Continue reading “Hidden Figures in the Space Race”

Hidden Figures: Teaching with Trailers

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 08 March 2017 > Webpicks

The film Hidden Figures reveals the untold true story of a team of African-American women mathematicians, or “human computers” who helped the success of the Apollo Moon landings program in the 1960s. These videos are a great follow-up after using our B1-level article and teaching activities with your pupils. This short video introduces the film … Continue reading “Hidden Figures: Teaching with Trailers”

Media Education: Moonlight

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 17 February 2017 > Webpicks

Nominated for seven Oscars, Moonlight is a coming-of-age movie about Chiron, an African-American boy growing up in the 1980s and 1990s in a poor housing project in Miami. A short video gives a fascinating insight into how the film was made, and is perfect for working on éducation aux médias et à l’information. We wouldn’t particularly … Continue reading “Media Education: Moonlight”

Oscars 2017: NotSoWhite

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 16 February 2017 > What's On

The 2016 Oscars received as much publicity for the people and subjects it didn’t honour as the red-carpet dresses or the tearful speeches. The #OscarsSoWhite campaign complained that the nominations to all four top categories only featured white faces and white stories. The 2017 nominations are a radical change. Even if the nostalgic musical La … Continue reading “Oscars 2017: NotSoWhite”

The Big Founder!

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 20 December 2016 > What's On

McDonald’s is the company which represents what people love or hate the most about America. This biopic, based on the book of the same name covers the main moments in the company’s history. It begins in 1954 when Ray Kroc (the Founder of the title) meets the McDonald brothers in their fast-food restaurant in San … Continue reading “The Big Founder!”

National Theatre Live

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 03 November 2016 > What's On

See a play in English… at the cinema! The National Theatre Live brings broadcasts of acclaimed West End productions to cinemas around the world. Coming up in France, performances in Valbonne, Aix en Provence, Strasbourg and Paris. London is a mecca for excellent theatre productions, and the National Theatre’s productions starring the crème de la … Continue reading “National Theatre Live”

I, Daniel Blake by Ken Loach

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 14 October 2016 > What's On

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”

Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Webpicks

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 05 October 2016 > Webpicks

Tim Burton’s latest film, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, is based on the best selling American novel by Ransom Riggs. The overriding message of the story is one that fits well into any classroom full of teenagers: be different, don’t feel you have to conform to artificial norms, and respect others for their differences. … Continue reading “Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Webpicks”