Learning Culture Belongs to Language Learning

As it did last year, Karen Lankeshofer’s intermediate ESOL class at the Rush-Henrietta Adult Literacy Program carved jack-o-lanterns for Halloween.This was a first-time experience for many of the students who come from a host of nations. The class had already learned about the customs associated with Halloween. Now they had the opportunity to put their new-found knowledge into practice.

Small groups designed, held and cut, all the while discussing in English what they imagined the end product would look like. After the pumpkins were successfully transformed into jack-o-lanterns, the class held a lottery to determine who would take the jack-o-lanterns home. There was a lot of fun, a lot of laughter and a lot of English learning!