Hamilton, a hip-hop musical about one of America’s Founding Fathers, is one of the most unlikely Broadway hits ever. It is finally arriving on this side of the pond, playing to sold-out houses in London’s West End. Hamilton is the brainchild of Lin Manuel Miranda, singer, dancer and author of In the Heights, his first … Continue reading “Hamilton Musical Arrives in London”
If you want to discuss Thanksgiving with your class, there are some really useful sites and online resources. This site has lots of pictures and information about the first Thanksgiving in the U.S.A., in 1621, when British colonists, or Pilgrims, invited the Wampanoag Native Americans to a big meal to thank them for teaching them … Continue reading “Thanksgiving on the Web”
This short video of a NASA astronaut on the International Space Station discussing how he is going to celebrate Thanksgiving is a great way to introduce or revise this American holiday as well as food vocabulary. ISS Expedition 50 Commander Shane Kimbrough of NASA explained how he and fellow American, Peggy Whitson, were going to … Continue reading “Thanksgiving Dinner in Space”
This illustrated map produced by the U.S. State Department provides a visual presentation of U.S. states associated to landmarks and industry. It could be used at various levels, depending on what is to be achieved by the students. We have provided teaching suggestions and a worksheet for an A2 level. This is a good opportunity … Continue reading “U.S. Landmarks and Icons Map”
How did an Italian explorer working for the Spanish crown become an American hero? Columbus Day is a federal holiday in the U.S. It is celebrated on the second Monday in October and commemorates Christopher Columbus arriving in the Americas on 12 October 1492. In fourteen hundred and ninety-two Columbus sailed the ocean blue Children’s … Continue reading “Columbus Day”
“A Ghost Story”, “Brooklyn Yiddish”, “The Rider” win Prizes at 43rd Deauville American Film Festival. David Lowery’s A Ghost Story is the big winner of the 43rd Deauville American Film Festival winning three awards on 9 September : the Jury Prize the Revelation Prize the Critics’ Prize A Ghost Story is a supernatural drama with Casey Affleck and Rooney … Continue reading “2017 Deauville American Film Festival winners”
2017 marks the centenary of the birth of Irving Penn (1917-2009), one of the greatest photographers of the 20th century. A new exhibition at the Grand Palais in Paris the first major retrospective of the American photographer’s work in France since his death. This exhibition, curated by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York in … Continue reading “Irving Penn, Master of Light”
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”
Stephen King is the prolific author of suspense, horror, sci-fi and fantasy books like Carrie, The Shining and The Stand. He has seen his work adapted into movies, TV shows and even comic books. In August, The Mist TV series was launched on Netflix and Dark Tower hit cinemas. A new version of It will … Continue reading “It is the King!”
Some say he invented rock and roll. He was certainly one of the first to popularise it. Chuck Berry has died, practically guitar in hand, at the age of 90. His 1955 song “Maybellene” was a top five hit a year before Elvis Presley hit Number One with his first single, “Heartbreak Hotel”. It already … Continue reading “Chuck Berry, Rock and Roll Pioneer”