YES Newsletter! Issue 15/ October 2025

YES Newsletter!

Issue 15/ October 2025

Dear Staff and Students,

As most of you will know, October is the month of Halloween, which is celebrated in most English-speaking countries. 

This month, we will look at festivals in other countries around the world who celebrate festivals similar to Halloween. 

Don’t forget to answer our write-in question to share a Halloween-like festival from your country!

Let’s go!

Student Graduation

Congratulations to Hadeel, who graduated from her part-time Pre-Intermediate English Course with her teacher, Gwyn, this month! 

Although she was only here for a short time, she was a quick learner, and warmth and sense of humour made an impression on all of us. 

We wish her all the best for the future, and hope to welcome her back soon. 

Well done, Hadeel! 

Halloween 

The festival of Halloween, with its origins in the Gaelic festival of Samhain in Ireland and Scotland, this festival marked the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter or the “darker half” of the year. People believed that access between the worlds of the living and the dead was possible during this time. 

Nowadays, people celebrate this festival in English-speaking countries around the world, often dressing up in scary costumes and going “trick or treating”. 

However, there are many similar festivals around the world, dedicated to remembering and honouring the dead, and we will look at a few of these…

Around the World!

Dia de Muertos (Mexico)

A colourful holiday to celebrate and remember loved ones who have died, focusing on the connection between the living and the spirit world, featuring flowers and iconic skull imagery. 

Obon Festival  (Japan)

A Buddhist holiday where families honour the spirits of their ancestors. Traditions include lighting lanterns to guide spirits home, and offering food and prayers. 

Movie of the Month 

Coco (2017)

Young Miguel dreams of becoming a famous musician, but is faced with his family’s ban on music. He goes into the Land of the Dead to find his great-great-grandfather, a legendary singer, and starts an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind his family history. 

Set in a Mexican town and centered on the tradition of “Día de los Muertos”, this film looks at themes of memory, family, music, culture and the celebration of life and death.

Language Learning Tips:

For Lower Levels: Watch with English audio, and subtitles in your 1st language.

For Higher Levels: Watch in English, with English subtitles.

Travelling to the UK: Stay Connected!

Arriving in the UK for your studies? With Connectivity, you’ll be connected as soon as you land. No need to search for a SIM card or wait in line at the airport or any shops.

Our eSIM mobile plans are made for international students like you. Choose your activation date, install your eSIM in minutes, and enjoy data, calls, and texts right away. No contracts. No hidden fees. Just a smooth, digital solution that works. 

With Connectivity, you get:

• Instant connection upon arrival in the UK 
•   Choice of activation date to match your travel plans 
• Easy eSIM setup with no physical SIM card needed
• True unlimited data plan 
• Multilingual support service 
• Reliable UK coverage through Vodafone 5G network

And if you’re planning to travel or study in France or Spain, we’ve got you covered there too!

To get your plan, check their website here and redeem our 10% discount code: YES10

Purchase & set an activation date for your digital eSIM before arriving so you can use your plan as soon as you land in the UK, hassle-free.

You will receive a QR code by email to install your eSIM on your phone easily!

No stress. No delays. Just connection. 

Wishing you safe travels!

Talk to us!

Question of the Month 

We want to hear from you! Feel free to write your answer in English and send it to us at info@yeschool.uk (or drop it off at reception). We’ll share some of the best answers in next month’s newsletter!We would love to hear about more festivals like this from around the world- tell us about a similar festival you celebrate in your country!  Question: Do you have any festivals similar to Halloween in your country? How do you celebrate? If not, do you know any festival similar to Halloween in another country? Tell us about it! You can also write a message and see all previous issues of our Newsletter on our YES Blog.Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for interesting and exciting content!

Last Month’s Question:

What is a famous musician or band that comes from your country? What is a popular song from your country? 

Student Write-In (Eren- Turkiye):

“2 popular bands from Turkiye are Athena (rock and ska) and Dumon (rock). They started producing in the 90s. Song by Athena: Serseri Mayir. Song by Dumon: Kufi.”

Student Write-In (Miguel– Spain):

“Fito y Fitipaldis (pop): Por la boca rive el pez, Soldadito marinero. JC Reyes (reggaeton): Dejavu, A300, Sola. Al Safir (rap): Shars 2020, Shars 2019.”

Student Write-In (Ibrahim– Germany): 

“In my opinion, Luciano and Benno are the best.”

Student Write-In (Pooja- India)