Halloween To Learn English

This is one of the traditions that we like the most, so we can take advantage of it as a resource to learn English with Halloween and our children.

October 31 is Halloween night in English-speaking countries. A well-known celebration in our country through movies and television. Increasingly present in our society, it is one of the parties that children like the most.

As parents or educators we can take advantage of the Halloween party and its English-speaking origin as another resource for our children to learn English.

What is Halloween ?

Halloween is a tradition of Celtic origin. It is celebrated mainly in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland. In Australia and New Zealand it is also celebrated, although the tradition is not deeply rooted.

The word Halloween comes from All Hallow’s Eve , which would be the equivalent of All Hallows Eve. On that night, it was believed that the spirits of the deceased returned to the houses to find a body to inhabit. That’s why people dressed up and had all the lights in the house turned off.

Essential vocabulary to learn English with Halloween

• Halloween . All Hallow’s Eve , All Saints’ Night.
• Trick or treat . During Halloween night, children dress up and knock on their neighbors’ doors to ask for candy. Trick means ‘joke’ or ‘trick’, and treat means ‘sweet’. Therefore, the popular translation heard in our country of “trick or treating” is not entirely correct. Trick or treat , means “joke or candy” , that is, either you give them a candy or they make you a joke or innocent prank.
  
• Costumes . Costumes There is a belief that Halloween costumes should be horror themes, but it doesn’t have to be. In reality, children dress up as anything; they can be soccer players or dancers.

• Jack’o Lantern – During this night, people put lanterns on the doors of the houses to howl the spirits. The Irish made them from turnips or beets, but when they arrived in America, they found that it was much easier to hollow out a pumpkin.

Resources to learn English with Halloween

Today there are so many opportunities for children to learn English with Halloween . From movies to books, videos or crafts that can be done at home. Let’s analyze them one by one:

Movies about Halloween

It is important to remember that watching movies in their original version is one of the best ways to learn the language. Children are carried away by images and understand much more than we imagine. The subtitles, if they are used, better in English.

In the case of Halloween , the movies give a real context to all the related vocabulary. In addition, children become familiar with traditions from other countries, which will enrich them and make them more open and sensitive.

1. Nightmare before Christmas by Tim Burton.
2. Coconut.
3. Corpse Bride by Tim Burton.
4. The Addams Family.
5. Casper.
6. Beetlejuice.
7. Monsters Inc. & Monsters University .
8. Coraline.
9. Monster House.
10. Paranorman.

Halloween crafts

Another very fun way to use English is crafts. You can do many Halloween crafts at home and take the opportunity to speak in English.

English books for Halloween

Books are another very important resource for learning English. There are many books on Halloween on the market. Remember that books contain all the key elements to learn : they are attractive, they have pictures, many repetitions, vocabulary in context and can be read many times. I recommend some of my favorites in English.

For the little ones:

1. Five little pumpkins.
2. Go away big green monster.
3. Where is Baby’s Pumpkin?
4. What’s in the Witch’s Kitchen?
5. Hoot Howl Halloween.

For the elderly:

1. Funnybones.
2. Room on the broom.
3. Wizards and Witches.
4. Horrid Henry’s Halloween Horrors.

Videos to learn English with Halloween

On the internet we can find thousands of Halloween songs and videos for children. Most are intended for English-speaking children, and others for children who are learning English. Anyway, they are all very explicit and easy to understand through images and repetition. If we add that they are very attractive and the Halloween theme is very popular among children, we are assured of success.

Let them listen to you as many times as they want. Repetition makes them memorize vocabulary and expressions. Surely they will not tire of repeating.

One of the best YouTube channels for children learning English is Super Simple Songs, with many songs and videos, resources and activities for all tastes. Also, among the YouTube channels for English-speaking children, Toddler’s World or Booya – Halloween Nursery Rhymes & Songs for Kids.

So we can always find an opportunity for our children to learn English. Halloween, as we have already mentioned, is, in my experience as an English teacher, one of the most motivating topics for children. Different cultures and traditions always add up, so you have to take advantage of them.

Happy Halloween!