Peacebuilding for St Patrick’s

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 16 March 2023 > Webpicks

Ireland is celebrating 100 years of independence in 2023. This St Patrick’s Day video from the Irish government looks back at a hundred years of peacebuilding milestones to the background of the beautiful traditional song “Danny Boy” sung by Tolü Makay.  The video covers Irish membership of the League of Nations and then the United … Continue reading “Peacebuilding for St Patrick’s”

St Patrick’s Day on the Web

Posted by Speakeasy News > Saturday 11 March 2023 >

St Patrick’s Day, 17 March, is a great time to inject some Irish culture into your classroom, with these videos, audio and interactive activities. Happy St Patrick’s Day – some of the figures may be a bit approximate in this promotional video, but it’s great for becoming familiar with some Irish traditions and traits, and … Continue reading “St Patrick’s Day on the Web”

Happy St Patrick’s!

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 09 March 2023 > Celebrate

St Patrick’s Day, 17 March, is the Irish national day. But there are many communities of Irish origin around the world and on St Paddy’s Day, everyone is Irish! There is a large Irish community in the U.S. and the parades in Chicago and New York are famous. The Chicago River, and the Liffey in … Continue reading “Happy St Patrick’s!”

Ireland Has a New Holiday

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 06 February 2023 > Celebrate

Ireland has a new bank holiday: St Brigid’s Day, the first to be in honour of  a woman. From 2023, it will be marked on the first Monday in February. St Brigid is one of Ireland’s three patron saints, alongside St Colmcille and St Patrick. Like so many Irish celebrations, the Catholic saint’s day on … Continue reading “Ireland Has a New Holiday”

More Red Nose Day Webpicks

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 18 March 2022 > Webpicks

Red Nose Day (18 March in 2022) encourages people to raise money for projects in the UK and the developing world by “doing something funny for money.” But it also aims to raise awareness of poverty, disability and homelessness, particularly among schoolchildren, who are massive supporters, along with school staff, of Red Nose Day. Here … Continue reading “More Red Nose Day Webpicks”

Valentine’s Day Slideshow

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 04 February 2022 > Ready to Use

This A1+-A2 slideshow will provide your students with information about the tradition of Valentine’s cards but also about the origins of Valentine’s Day, according to legend, and a connected celebration in Ghana, Chocolate Day. The accompanying activities help develop speaking and writing capacities. Vocabulary and structures Saying and writing dates and numbers (150 million…) Pronunciation: … Continue reading “Valentine’s Day Slideshow”

Guy Fawkes Webpicks

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 02 November 2021 > Webpicks

To “remember, remember the fifth of November”, as a children’s rhyme says, A1+-level pupils can watch a slideshow about Bonfire Night. At A2-A2+, useful links can be made with the history curriculum  It’s worth giving pupils a few basic facts about the failed plot and the annual celebrations. This Powerpoint presentation from the UK Parliament … Continue reading “Guy Fawkes Webpicks”

Guy Fawkes: Man in a Mask

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 28 October 2021 > Celebrate

November 5, or Guy Fawkes Night, is when British people remember the failed “Gunpowder Plot” to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605. Every November, British people light bonfires and set off fireworks to remember the day when the Houses of Parliament, and King James I, were almost blown up by terrorists. In a … Continue reading “Guy Fawkes: Man in a Mask”

Trick or Treat to Do Good

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 27 October 2021 > Celebrate

Halloween is an important fundraiser for UNICEF U.S.A. Trick or Treat for UNICEF was started in 1947 and 31 October was declared UNICEF Day by President Lyndon B. Johnson 20 years later. It allows kids “put some meaning in their Halloweening” by collecting money for the United Nations Childrens’ Fund.  The campaign was started by … Continue reading “Trick or Treat to Do Good”