Penny Lane Arts and Culture

Pop Culture - Learn English Games

Sun, 7 Apr 2013 11:29:31 +0900

It is wonderfully refreshing how social-media websites such as Facebook, Twitter and Youtube influence and shape popular culture. Long gone are the days when the newspaper editors, TV directors and record-company executives could choose what to put before us. This new freedom has allowed new artists to find their audience, and given birth to some new and interesting crazes.

English Castle Magic - Learn English Games

Sun, 10 Jun 2012 18:54:20 +0900

It is probably true to say that most of the people who visit the UK spend most of their time in London and around the south. There is so much to see and do there that you can forgive people for not venturing further. However, with just a little effort, a trip to Northumberland could provide an unforgettable journey into a land steeped in historical magic.

Read about Northumberland and then try the games below. The same words are used in both puzzles. If you start with the word search you will find it easier.

Summer, gone from these shores - Learn English Games

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 08:54:23 +0900

It is so long since I have written - and I apologize to Justin and all his students of English for neglecting my duties. I have been busy, but busy doing rather dull things most of the time and you would not be interested in those! But one or two things I have done might be of interest and I will write about those soon.

Read about summer in the UK and then try the games below. The same words are used in both puzzles. If you start with the word search you will find it easier.

Birthdays - Learn English Games

Sun, 10 Jul 2011 07:33:55 +0900

I have been thinking a lot about birthdays recently. I come from quite a large family and there are many birthdays at this time of year. For some reason most of them are in June and July. In those months this year there is one week with four family birthdays, two weeks with three and two weeks with two. Two of them are on the same day! But in August there is only one, none in September but three in October all grouped together again. Then there is only one in each of November, December, January, February and March, two in April and three in May. And these are only my close family!

I Love David Hockney - Learn English Games

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 05:48:11 +0900

David Hockney is an artist, now in his 70s, who has been working all his life. As a young man he was known by some people as a British version of Andy Warhol - a bit outrageous and very new. But over the years he has shown his originality and his talent in many different ways.
Read about David Hockney and then try the games below. The same words are used in both puzzles. If you start with the word search you will find it easier.

Local Markets - Learn English Games

Sun, 12 Jun 2011 09:05:00 +0900

Local markets, generally known as Farmers’ Markets, are becoming more and more popular in the UK - most weekends there is one somewhere nearby. They differ from general markets in that the producers of the goods themselves bring them to sell directly to their customers.

Read about local markets and then try the games below. The same words are used in both puzzles. If you start with the word search you will find it easier.

Flamenco - Learn English Games

Tue, 7 Jun 2011 19:59:24 +0900

Flamenco is a wonderful - and very old - Spanish art form. Many people think of it as being just about the dancing, but the music (especially the guitar), the singing and the hand-clapping are all a part of it. And even if they have never been to Spain, lots of people may have seen some flamenco, either ‘live’ or on TV or film. All over the world there are people who go to flamenco classes. I am told that in Japan it is very popular - according to Wikipedia there are more schools in Japan than there are in Spain! Certainly some Japanese dancers are now performers in Spain.

Are FC Barcelona the greatest football club - ever? Learn English Games

Mon, 30 May 2011 08:16:27 +0900

Now there’s a question! - and it’s one being asked a lot in this part of the world, especially after their brilliant win over Manchester United recently. I have seen them play before. The last time was one of the matches with their big rivals at home, Real Madrid. On that occasion though, the game was rather a bad-tempered affair that included a lot of play-acting on both sides. But this match just had Barcelona playing beautifully.

The Viking Sagas - Learn English Games

Sat, 28 May 2011 17:01:22 +0900

There was a wonderful program on TV last week about The Viking Sagas. It was only an hour long but was packed full of information, beautiful and extraordinary scenery - and detail of one of the sagas, or stories, called The Laxsdaela Saga.

Read about the Vikings and then try the games. The same words are used in both puzzles. If you start with the word search you will find it easier.