Ireland has a rich literary heritage and is fond of honouring it. On 16 June every year, it is author James Joyce who is remembered, as Joyce fans all over Ireland and the world celebrate Bloomsday in honour of his novel Ulysses. Ulysses, published in 1922, consists of 18 episodes mirroring Homer’s Odyssey and takes … Continue reading “James Joyce and Bloomsday”
As well the 28 Files, the Shine Bright AMC contains 34 pages of Landmarks: timelines and key information about the history and culture of English-speaking countries with an AMC angle. They were written by Juliette Hanrot, who teaches history and geography in DNL. These reference pages can be used to give pupils essential background when … Continue reading “Shine Bright AMC Landmarks”
The St Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin was one of the first victims of the COVID pandemic last year and it’s been cancelled again this year for the same reason. But never fear! Let’s face it, most of us were not going to get to Dublin to celebrate Paddy’s Day on 17 March, but we … Continue reading “St Patrick’s Festival 2021”
Every year, the Education Ministry finances 400 courses in language and culture in EU countries for language teachers in primary or secondary. Applications need to be in by 17 January 2021. The two-week courses take place during the summer holidays. Brexit oblige, the English-language ones are in Dublin this year, from 12 to 21 July. … Continue reading “Travel to Ireland for Training Courses”
After so long cooped up, it’s time to think of travel! If you teach English in secondary school, you can apply to spend two weeks teaching and observing in a school in the UK or Ireland. France éducation international (formerly the CIEP ) gives teachers possibility to spend two weeks in UK or Ireland to … Continue reading “Short Teaching Stays in the UK and Ireland”
A quick roundup of the latest collège lessons in English on France 4. Follow the link below for the subjects of the previous programmes. There are now so many we decided to start a new list. You can find the detailed schedule here. 18 May 4e School in the U.K. … Continue reading “The Latest Classes on TV for Your Collège Students”
One of Ireland’s most popular folk singer-songwriters, Declan O’Rourke, spent fifteen years writing a song cycle of stories about the Great Irish Famine. He’ll be presenting his award-winning songs at the Irish Cultural Centre on Thursday 4 April. Chronicles Of The Great Irish Famine has been hailed as O’Rourke’s masterpiece, and he received the prestigious … Continue reading “Singing the Great Famine”
Stretch St Patrick celebrations for one more night with traditional Irish band Altan, in concert in Rennes on 19 March. They’re also in Colomiers on 13 April. The five members of Altan, mainly from Donegal, have been playing together for more than thirty years. Fiddle, guitar, accordion and bouzouki blend to play traditional tunes and … Continue reading “Fabulous Irish Music in Rennes and Colomiers”
The new biopic about Oscar Wilde’s final years after leaving prison takes its ironic title from one of the children’s stories he wrote for his sons. The film, written, directed and starring Rupert Everett has a wonderful supporting cast (Colin Firth, Colin Morgan, Emily Watson.) This B2 downloadable resource includes work on an article about … Continue reading “Oscar Wilde: The Happy Prince”
Ireland has long been one of the most socially conservative countries in the European Union. But things have been changing and the country’s current Prime Minister is a sign of the times. Since the creation of Irish Free State in 1922, the post of Taoiseach*, Ireland’s equivalent of Prime Minister, has been held by … Continue reading “Changing Ireland”