Vocable April 2025

The April 2025's Vocable is entitled "South Africa: How to mend the past?".  

In this edition you can find:

     - African historical background as well as articles about controversial situations between the nation and the US government. For example, some Afrikaners cheer as Trump amplifies claims of persecution or a corner of Cape Town dealing with tourism / heritage dilemma. (p. 6 - 11)

     - How today's generation of Youtubers becomes a source of gun-using tutorials. Weapon owners share tips and lifehacks about shooting faster etc. These people get called Guntubers. (p. 12 - 14)

     - "The London Gazette": a mine of information since 1665. Britain's oldest newspapepr is described as a treasure trove of trivia where we would find some official documents along with laws. (p. 15 - 17)

     - Project Iceworm that took place in American town that was built in Greenland in order to expand the US's power and interest (p. 18 - 19)

    - Britain's negotiations and a possible come back to the EU due to Ukrainian crisis. ( p. 23 - 24)

    - What is the "matcha obsession" and why it became such a trend between Gen Z and millennials. (p. 30 - 32) 

    - Interesting facts about celebrities and important people such as tate McRae, a populat singer, or Mike leigh, a major figure in British litterature, or Michelle Obama. (p. 34-39)

    - Why "The Great Gatsby" parties on from stage, 100 years after publication. (p. 40-41)

    - The secret to the success of "Saturday Night Live" TV humorisctic show which celebrates its 50th anniversary. (p. 44-45) 

    - The famous "Coachella Valley" : palm springs, the Cahuilla Indians, the festival capital of the world, the Salton sea and so much more... (p. 46-47)

Who won the space race?

 

President Kennedy's Speech at Rice University, 1962

 

Vocable n°914 – October 2025

 

Main topic: “The End of the American Dream?”

In this October 2025 issue of Vocable, we take a closer look at a big question: is the famous American Dream coming to an end? This edition explores how the myth of success and opportunity in the U.S. is being challenged — and how, for many, Europe might now represent a new kind of dream.

Right from the first pages, the editorial introduces the main theme: the decline of the American Dream. The magazine’s cover — showing the Statue of Liberty walking toward an “Exit” sign — perfectly illustrates the idea that America itself may be leaving behind its founding myth.

On page 6, the feature article “The End of the American Dream?” digs into this topic. It explains how immigration to the U.S. is reaching record lows, and how more and more Americans feel disillusioned with the promise of equal opportunity.

Further on, page 10 features an article from The Economist titled “Still want to be a London cab driver?” It looks at the struggles of traditional taxi drivers in London, who now face intense competition from digital platforms like Uber.

Politics takes center stage on page 16, with The New York Times’ profile “5 things to know about Zohran Mamdani.” This young American politician represents a new generation — progressive, idealistic, and determined to make change happen.

Then, on page 23, we switch to science and the environment with The Conversation’s article “Noise and light in cities disrupt birdsong.” It reveals how urban pollution — both sound and light — interferes with birds’ natural communication, reminding us how deeply city life affects the natural world.

Later, page 34 takes us into the world of cinema. In “Richard Linklater on the filming of Nouvelle Vague”, the American director reflects on his latest project, inspired by the legendary French film movement. It’s a great way to end the issue — bridging American and European cultures.

Finally, at the back of the magazine (pages 45–50), readers will find vocabulary exercises, idiomatic expressions, and a quiz to test their comprehension of the articles.

Written by Leana

Comparing American and French viewing habits

Hello Anika and Karla, we are working on streaming services, particularily Netlix. We were hoping you could help us out by filling in this form we made to know more about how Americans use the internet on a daily basis. Feel free to share this survey with your classmates, the more the merrier!

American version:

https://forms.gle/QGz8J3oVurgaR2oB7

Did you get Netflixed?

Hello Chloe, Ian and everyone!

We have created surveys so you could discover and analyze whether you are addicted to streaming services or not.

This way, we can conclude our sequence by comparing French data and American data.

Feel free to check the links below and answer the questions.

Have fun!

American survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeGJ9NhS871HWjKs2Rfk-oOjsMA9XTujU4cuFgid9zrV7kQug/viewform?usp=header 

Enea, Diemid, Amélie, Alona

Screening habits of streaming service

Hello Jace and McKinley, here is our survey to know more about you, and your screening habits, so please take a little of your time to answer it. 

Try to share our survey with other students to collect more answers.

Enjoy !

Anthony, Milhàn, Swann

American link : https://forms.gle/WQhhULzBChKh2SKA7

Netflix is your habit ?

 Hello , Lily and asher here is the link for a survey to know more about if Netflix is your habit? 

Enjoy !! 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfz_GhvraSBnG1b-meWoeftUSa0mdmcOap98wDMxyn1mQUyow/viewform?usp=dialog

By Justine, kaila , mahé , uhaina 

A quick survey to see if high schoolers have been “Netflixed.”

Hello fellow mates,

We, Yeshi, Théodore, Eugénie and Eneko, created this short survey to find out whether high schoolers at André Malraux and Snow Canyon High School in Utah have been “Netflixed” or not.

Please kindly take a short moment to answer a few fun questions about your screen habits. 

This survey is for everyone, but especially for Lyna, Samantha and Diana, our beloved pen pals. 

We hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we did creating it. 

It would be a kind favor if you could also share this survey with other students so that we can get even more answers.

Thank you for your time.

American survey link: https://forms.gle/Wnn6kfiTGnkVg14v8

screening habits americans students vs french students

Hello Jenny and Boston, we have worked on Netflix with our class and we wanted to see the differents use of netflix by the students in France and in America. Here is a link for a survey to know more about your screening habits.

It will be very helpful if you could share the link of the survey to your friends so we could have multiples answers. 

Thank you and enjoy our survey!

American students link: https://forms.gle/LtSbrvdMGFDRczTy6    

Marie-Louise, Marni, Kauan, Constance

Netflix and Us: Habits and Perceptions of French and American Students.

 

Hello Steph and Chunner!

We are Lilly, Leana, Oscar, Charles and we created a survey. We asked French and American people a few questions to explore their cultures on Netflix and screens. See how their views compare. Answer survey and share the link with your friends, your family...Absolutely do it ! Thank you, bye!!

American student :

https://forms.gle/9edxGuKUHiUrH3My6     

Leana, Oscar, Lilly, Charles

Didam 2024

    Le vendredi 12 septembre 2025, la classe de terminale AMC (anglais monde contemporain) est allée au musée DIDAM à Bayonne pour visiter une exposition de 2 journalistes très connus en France. L'exposition s'intitule :" Plantu et Reza : regards sur le monde". 

Plantu est un dessinateur connu pour ses caricatures qui parlent de l’actualité et de la paix dans le monde. Il a beaucoup travaillé pour le journal Le Monde. 

Reza, lui, est un photographe qui voyage dans de nombreux pays pour raconter, à travers ses photos, des histoires de guerre, d’exil mais aussi d’espoir. 

Cette sortie a permis à la classe de découvrir la force des images et de mieux comprendre comment l’art peut faire passer des messages importants.

Mars 2025

 

In this magazine you can find articles about:

p.6-11: American Healthcare in crisis : The U.S healthcare is criticized for its costs and inequalities.

p.14-15: London's pie-and-mash shops are disappearing : Traditional London food.

p.18-19: Justin Trudeau's legacy : An assessment of the Canadian Prime Minister.

p.22-23: Los Angeles has lost some of its trailblazing architecture : Fires in Los Angeles devastated architecture.

p.34-35: Are you ready for another pandemic? : The risk of a new pandemic.

p.36-37: Was Anderson, one of the cinema's great auteurs : Wes Anderson's unique visual and narrative style.

February 2025

     In the 2025 February issue of  Vocable you can find articles about : 

   - Alaska and on the difficulty of supplying by plane

   - Adults buyings toys 

   - Value of masters degrees in the U.S. and in the U.K.

   - TV series influencing travel 💓💓💓

   - Biography of Malcom X

   - The decline of the U.S. marijuana industry

   - Politics in New Zealand

   - Science : Insects in winter / Making babies without sperm or eggs)

   - Cinema with the release of the films : Queer and The Brutalist 

   - Music with the group post punk Adwaith 

   - Different profiles such as Angelina Jolie and Daisy Johnson.

“Pencils as Weapons Against Censorship”

This cartoon was drawn by Plantu, a famous French cartoonist known for his political and press cartoons.

It shows a group of people demonstrating and holding pencils in the air, which symbolizes protest and unity.

The drawing is mainly in black and white, but some details are in color to highlight their importance: the French flag, the Phrygian hat represent for the citizens, and the green pencils which represent weapons against censorship.

On the one hand, the cartoon is a tribute to the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris in 2015, with hidden symbols like the dove with newspaper wings or the paper in the corner. On the other hand, it is also a call for the defense of freedom of speech, showing French citizens fighting for their rights.

Finally, the cartoon clearly refers to Eugène Delacroix’s famous painting Liberty Leading the People, which shows the idea of resistance and people fighting together. This painting is also very significant for French citizens.

                    Kauan , Marni , Marie Louise ,Constance 

Secularism and peaceful coexistence

This cartoon was made by Plantu. He is a famous French cartoonist known for his political drawings. We chose this cartoon because it shows the three values of the French republic. First, it defends peace and democracy. Moreover, it represents equality between religions in the country .

On the umbrella we can read "liberty, equality,    secularism". After that , in the center , the three religions are represented under the umbrella as if it is protected . On the left we can clearly observe a Christian church next to a mosque and a synagogue . By the way , the person holding the umbrella is a Marianne figure , a symbol of the French republic . 

Finally, this cartoon shows that secularism allows people of all religions to live together peacefully under the values of the French Republic.

Anthony . A / Swann .B 

The power of Drawing (Plantu)

 Plantu whose real name is Jean Plantureux is a French political cartoonist. He has became well known for his satirical and political drawings published for décade in Le Monde. He published is first Caricature in 1972. The Caricature’s name is « La liberté guidant le peuple ». It’s an homage to « Je suis Charlie » movement after the 2015 attack at Charlie Hebdo. The central figure is Marianne by Eugène Delacroix. In his painting he changed the weapons into pencils to show the power of drawing when you want to claim things. 

We choose this Caricature because he draw that Caricature to show that we don’t need violence to passed message. 

Eugénie 

Théodore 

Eneko 

Halimi Veil Law 2017

 The author of this cartoon is Plantu, a famous French press cartoonist.He work for Le Monde, and became well known for his political drawings. Here, he represents two iconic French women: Gisèle Halimi and Simone Veil.He chose them because both played a important role in the fight for women’s rights.Halimi was a lawyer and activist, while Veil defended and passed the law on abortion.The drawing shows how activism and politics worked together.Plantu’s style is simple, with black and white lines and touches of red for symbolism.This cartoon was chosen because it celebrates equality and social progress.It also reminds us that women had to fight hard to gain fundamental rights.

In conclusion, the gorvenement in United States give the power to ban abortion. The french governement is desagree with that. And now it is written in constitution. 

Leana Charles Lilly Oscar TE 

Halimi-Veil Law, 2017

 We chose Plantu’s cartoon entitled “ Loi Halimi-Veil” , illustrated in 2017. We can observe the former French Minister of Health and the former President of the European Parliament : Simone Veil. On the left, we can notice Gisèle Halimi, a former French lawyer. 

They both defended the right to abortion in France. They are both running on a track field, while holding the female symbol and a legal document. 

These two women are unsung heroes of France. They fought for women’s rights. 

It’s a paramount cause in today’s society. It is still an issue in certain countries. So it is certainly a topical issue.

Due to some recent events that took place in the United States of America, where Trump opposed abortion, the French government decided to add this law about abortion to the Constitution.

Yeshi Amélie Enea Alona 

Halimi-Veil Law, 2017

«  Vous ne me faites pas peur » Simone Veil.

An afternoon at the theatre (in English)

1ère LLCE were joined by 2nde students interested in the arts and the like for an afternoon at the theatre to watch a performance called "Poe's Dark Verses".

Here is what some of them had to say about the play:

"I really liked the plays though it was hard to understand sometimes because of their accents and Old English. I didn't know Edgar Allan Poe before, but I am glad we went to watch the plays" Lisa, 2B.

"I really liked the plays because it presented characters facing strong emotions such as love, anger or fear and it made it really interesting" Mélissande, 1B.

"I am giving it a 4 star rating because I found it to be a very good performance. Acting was good and creative. But I found it too short and at some moments too difficult to understand (maybe because of Old English" Axelle, 1B

"I really enjoyed watching the play. I had a lot of curiosity about each part. I experienced a lot of emotions watching it, not only because of the play but also also because of all the work done behind it all, the actors, the lights, every detail, all of it was just amazing. I liked it very much" Mahetzy, 2B.

"I thought the play was really good and I felt a lot of emotions. The woman's acting struck me the most. Even though I had not studied all of the poems I understood most of them and got a good idea of what Poe's writings are about" anonymous. 

Join the LLCE section and visit museums, cities or attend theatrical representations!

Top 5 Tips for Poetry Performance: Doing Poetry Right with Renee M. LaTu...

ALCA´s workshop (5)

 The Bear Went Over the Mountain, 

William Kotzwinkle, 1996

                 

   

               

Can you speak like a bear???

ALCA´s translation workshop (3)

                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                        Windfall, Jean Hegland, 2004

 

An excerpt from the English edition of the novel:

 

 

 

 

Now, can you guess which translation is from Ms Bru and which 2 were created by AI?

 

A Hundred Days

Hello to our American Penpals !

A short video about the American tradition of the 100 days and the French one called "Père-Cent".

 

 

South East Asia

Study the map before clicking on the link to take the quiz!

https://quizizz.com/embed/quiz/5eddb7f68e36cb001b8f4acb 

From nature to biomimicry ?

 Biomimicry is in all the environnement. Biomimicry looks like nature but it's not the same thing. A lot of people didn't know that because biomimicry and nature are similar. Biomimicry is in order to create and it's a process which is really long and it act to a long time. We have biomimicry in medicine for example and now we have this in research for the environnement to be durable in the time !

Biomimicry ,the planet savior?

 Scientists and architects of the world work on one device which can be more environnementaly friendly and Biomimicry should be able to responde to our problem.In fact if we need to be more ecologic we need to look at what the nature can propose.

It is for this reason that scientists and architects have began to create new technologies inspired by nature.For example we have many houssing which use air conditionning oh the thrmites,or the shinkansen which mimic the shape of the king fisher to be more efficient(faster,less noisy).

Biomimicry is the most optmited way for our future.

THE SCIENCE OF NATURE

 Today i will be teaching you about the science of nature about all we can learn and have learned from it.
Biomimicry is a science that started in the 2000's it is the science of studying the envorinment that is surounding us, using it to change our ways, reduce our carbone footprint, upgrade our medical facilities and much more.

For example biomimicry has been used to develop bacteria repleing surfaces using patterns from the skin of a shark that has been studied and thanks to the studies done on it we managed to recreate the body patterns that allow's the shark to never let bacteria on his skin.

Biomimicry is used in many ways, the construction industry for example as been using biomimicry to develope better pipelines and water system to reduce our carbone footprint and reduce the cost of constructions.

It is also used in the medical department for healing thanks to micro mushrooms used for hundreds of years in the making of antibiotics it also helps repel bacteria ans many other ways have been found to use it inside our hospitals.

Biomimicry is also used in teh productions industry, the transport industry and even in the food industry for example dough as been made for thousaands of years using a very particular species of micro mushrooms that helps the dough rise when getting cooked thos same mushrooms can be used to make alcohol wich is in our society masively produced.

Knowing the histroy of humanity we can learn a lot about discoveries that could be part of biomimicry even if it wasn't named biomimicry back then some of the things we use daily have been inspired by the nature surounding us, after all that is how the first human managed to make technologies until now by looking trying and recreating.

Thanks for reading my article and i hope you have a wonderfull day.

WHEN BIOLOGISTS AND ENGINEERS MEET

A lot of problems exists and for some of them like pollution or transport, or the bacterias or virus that affect us, we HAVE a solution ! 

Biologists and engineers have come to a common groud. Buildings can't continue to polute that much. Air conditionning systems and the systems to keep your house warm are good for us but not for the environment because it creates a lot of carbon dioxyde in the air. It's the case in a big mall in Africa where the air conditionning systems are inspired by termite's mounds. Those little insects create small holes in their mounds to let the air pass in there. In hospitals, they are inspired by shark skins, because bacterias can't fix in it. So they want to put it in hospitals in order to protect ramps, beds and stairs.

Climate can change just by imitating nature

 Hello everyone, the topic of today's blog article is about nature, about imitating nature and It Is a whole part if science, It Is a whole part if science, It Is Called biomimicry and It has already helped improving our lives, It Is the case of the velcro,also been used in the shinkensen (the fastest japanese train maded) and a lot more.

Biomimicry can improve a lot of things , like air conditionning, water distribution and a lot while using renewable energy, biomimicry is about making biologist and architect cooperate.Biomimicry works because we're just imitating nature, it's not about invention it's about innovation, we just use the work carried out for billions OF years

Biomimicry is the future for life

 To beging biomimicry is an innovation inspired by nature for example for the bullet train an engineer created a nex design for the train like the beak of a bird because when the train exited a tunnel it created a sonic boom, now with the new design there is no sonic boom.

Biomimicry is the futur beacause it can reduce fossil energies and use more sustainaible energy and it was better for the planete and biomimicry permit to reduce pollution and save money.

Biomimicry, the most important to save the world

 Biomimicry is a goal to save the world with sustainable energy and other.

Today pollution is most by present in the world. The people make idea to reduce the pollution. But the bacteries is an other problem but the biomimicry is here for this. With human invention the bacteries can be destroyed it's important to make people aware the people to mimicry. Recycling is the best solution to reduce emision (gaz and other), reduce pollution today. biomimicry can be used for buldings for exemple.

All people can raise awareness and if you want can be make a solution, invention to protect environnement

ALCA's Translation workshop (1)

 

AI and I: atelier de traduction (1) "The Grapes of Wrath", John Steinbeck, 1939.