Teaching with Trailers: Sing

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 06 January 2017 > Webpicks

The trailers for Sing, an animated musical film about a singing competition, provide lots of opportunities for language teaching – vocabulary about animals and music, following or telling a simple story, or organising a talent show. You’ll find two versions of the trailer below. The first one is simple, usable from A1+. The dialogue is … Continue reading “Teaching with Trailers: Sing”

Born to Sing

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 06 January 2017 > What's On

Sing is a feelgood movie about a singing competition designed to save a failing theatre in a city entirely populated by animals. From the animators who made Despicable Me, The Minions and The Secret Life of Pets, Sing is full of humour, hit songs and anthropomorphic animals. It is based on a trope we’re all … Continue reading “Born to Sing”

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!”

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 14 November 2016 > Ready to Use

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, the first episode of a new five-film series by Harry Potter author JK Rowling, is set in 1926 New York and features both Segregation and Prohibition. Our A2 downloadable resource will enable your pupils to find out about the new film and understand the connection with the Harry … Continue reading “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 14 October 2016 > Ready to Use

Tim Burton’s new film is perfect for a theme on Halloween. It has scary monsters, a gothic Manor House with lots of strange goings-on, and fabulous costumes. It also has a great message about tolerance and vivre ensemble. Vocabulary and structures Developing writing skills by expanding vocabulary use of adjectives to convey a story. Modal … Continue reading “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children”

Harry’s Back!

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 13 October 2016 > What's On

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!”

Paris-New York Weekend

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 07 October 2016 > What's On

The Théâtre de la Ville in Paris is turning all New York for a mini-season and particularly the weekend of 8-9 October. The Théâtre de la Ville has pioneered an exchange with the Brooklyn Acadamy of Music, a cutting-edge performance venue in the super-trendy borough of New York. The Paris end of it runs till … Continue reading “Paris-New York Weekend”

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”

Tim Burton: Gloriously Peculiar

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 05 October 2016 > What's On

Tim Burton’s latest film is being hailed as his best in twenty years. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children could have been written for the director who has always had a fascination for misfits, from Edward Scissorhands to Ed Wood or Corpse Bride. The film is based on the best selling American novel by Ransom … Continue reading “Tim Burton: Gloriously Peculiar”