On October 31, 2025, group AN-25 (majoring in Foreign Languages and Literature (English and German)) participated in a fun and educational Halloween-themed event led by Prascovia Dmitrievna Nicolaeva, Head of the Foreign Languages Department, and their assistant, Fulbright Fellow Maya Watson. This activity was not designed to celebrate Halloween, but to explore the holiday of an English-speaking country.
This English language activity featured a vibrant and educational presentation on “Halloween.”
The purpose of the presentation was to introduce students to the origins, traditions, and cultural characteristics of Halloween, as well as to enrich their vocabulary and develop listening, speaking, and reading skills.
At the very beginning of the activity, students were asked the following questions: “Do you know what Halloween is? Where and how is it celebrated?” This immediately created a lively and friendly atmosphere: the students actively shared their ideas. New vocabulary words on the topic were then studied and written down, which subsequently helped the participants discuss the holiday in English-speaking countries. This exercise enriched their vocabulary and taught them how to use new expressions in speech.
Next, Maya Watson, a Fulbright Fellow from the United States, gave her presentation. She explained the origins of Halloween and shared interesting facts about its history. Thanks to Maya’s story, the students learned that Halloween originated with the ancient Celts and that over time, it has evolved into one of the most popular holidays in the United States and other countries.
Following this, a video screening about Halloween traditions was organized; here, the students learned more about the costumes, sweets, and decorations associated with this holiday – in short, they got acquainted with the culture of English-speaking countries.
Later, the students eagerly solved a thematic crossword puzzle, which helped them review new words in a playful way. It was fun, but at the same time, the students remembered that this was a part of the learning process! After the crossword puzzle, students were given an exercise filling in missing words in a text, developing attentiveness and reinforcing their grammar skills.
This activity also included tongue twisters and poems on the topic, allowing the students to improve their pronunciation and intonation. Laughter and smiles accompanied this stage, as reciting tongue twisters in English is a real challenge!
At the end of the activity, Prascovia Nicolaeva led a debriefing, asking questions about what had been covered. The students responded enthusiastically; they had truly memorized many interesting facts.
The atmosphere in the class was relaxed and inspiring – the students’ active participation and excellent work, in complete tandem with the teacher, were noticeable. This activity left a lasting impression on everyone!
