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”

Talking about Science Competition

Posted by Speakeasy News > Sunday 25 March 2018 > Pedagogy

If you know a great science communicator – maybe a teacher doing DNL lessons for classes européennes – let them know about the British Council FameLab competition. Participants need to explain a scientific concept for non-experts in just three minutes! And why not have your pupils do something similar? FameLab is an international competition with … Continue reading “Talking about Science Competition”

False News Travels Faster and Further

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 23 March 2018 > In the News

A scientific study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology shows that false news spreads on Twitter much further and faster that true news items. Just like spoken gossip and rumours, people just can’t wait to share or retweet something unusual or shocking. The study found that false news stories are 70 percent more likely to … Continue reading “False News Travels Faster and Further”

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”

Arctic Mystery

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 12 March 2018 > Ready to Use

This B1 article will allow pupils to discover the mysterious disappearance of the 1845 Franklin Expedition to find the North-West passage, and the subsequent search expeditions and forensic archaeology which has begun to provide answers. Grammar past simple of regular verbs + some irregular verbs.  Vocabulary ships and the sea. the Arctic. science, archaeology, forensics … Continue reading “Arctic Mystery”

Jeans for Genes Teen Videos

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 13 September 2017 > Webpicks

On Jeans for Genes Day, 22 September, many people across the UK wear jeans to school or work to raise money and awareness of genetic disorders. The Jeans for Genes charity provides excellent videos telling the stories of children living with the disorders. We’ve made a selection suitable for class use. This film is only … Continue reading “Jeans for Genes Teen Videos”

Hurricanes Webpicks

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 08 September 2017 > Webpicks

Hurricanes are dominating the news at the moment but how do hurricanes form and how are they classified? This video and animation are useful teaching tools. This animation from U.S. National Hurricane Center shows the intensity of different levels of hurricane. It is purely visual and can be used for description. This report for children … Continue reading “Hurricanes Webpicks”

Lucky Stars: NASA’s New Astronaut Class

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 20 June 2017 > In the News

NASA received a record 18,300 applications to join its 2017 astronaut candidate class. The agency has just announced the 12 lucky people chosen for two years training to potentially become astronauts. And as NASA continues to open more opportunities to women, five of the new recruits are female. The 12 new astronaut candidates will undergo … Continue reading “Lucky Stars: NASA’s New Astronaut Class”