In fact, 31st October wears a lot of different costumes around the globe. Some are spooky, some are sweet, and some skip the putrid party altogether.

So, grab your broomstick and join us on a whirlwind tour of bone-chilling fright fests across the planet.

The Party People Who Celebrate Halloween in Different Languages 

• Germany – Little monsters at the door warn “Süßes, sonst gibt’s Saures” = “Sweets, or it’s sour for you”. Who dares argue with that?

• Ireland – This is where it all began, so naturally they claim to do it best. Derry throws one of Europe’s biggest Halloween bashes. And you’ll find bonfires, fruity barmbrack and spooky carved turnips everywhere.

• Japan – Tokyo’s streets become a giant costume catwalk, where going all in on cosplay, dressing to impress and wishing everyone a Happī Harōin is the order of the day.

• Mexico – Día de los Muertos rolls out the welcome mat for the dead to walk once more. For this purpose, families build colourful ofrendas piled with marigolds, sugar skulls and their dearly departed’s favourite snacks to rouse them from their eternal sleep.

Spooky Assortment

•  Brazil – Some Brazilians celebrate Dia das Bruxas (Witches’ Day). Others champion Saci Day, which honours a cheeky one-legged trickster from Brazilian folklore.

• Catalonia – La Castanyada swaps sweets and chocolate for roast chestnuts and delicious little almond cakes called panellets.

• Costa Rica – 31st October means masquerade, specifically calling for giant handmade folklore masks.

• France – The real star of spooky season is La Toussaint (All Saints’ Day) on 1st November, which is a calm and reflective day for visiting family graves. Although fancy dress parties happen too, soundtracked by bloodcurdling cries of “Des bonbons ou un sort!” = “Sweets or a spell!”

No Delight in Fright 

• China – Halloween isn’t a big deal here. Instead, spirits get their moment during the Hungry Ghost Festival in summer.

• Mongolia and Uzbekistan – Authorities sometimes discourage Halloween celebrations, preferring to protect local traditions instead.

• Russia – It’s not officially banned, but the church and government keep it at arm’s length as an undesirable Western import. 

Treat Yourself to Another Language This Spooky Season 

So, which side are you on when it comes to Halloween in different languages? Team pumpkin, team marigold or team chestnut?

At la Academia, every celebration is a brilliant excuse to learn a new phrase.

Get in touch and book a class or course in whichever language sends shivers down your spine.

It’s these blustery autumn days when the thought of a sun-drenched Spanish sojourn next year keeps you warm inside.

So, why not learn Spanish now? And by next year, you’ll step off the plane ordering tapas effortlessly instead of pointing inanely at the menu. 

But Why Bother to Learn Spanish When You Can Muddle Through? 

For a start, there’s a newfound confidence and competence when you’re able to:

• Tackle buses, trains and taxis without confusion
• Order food and drink assuredly
• Chat with locals, who’ll appreciate the fact you’re trying rather than expecting them to speak English, (which the Brits are notoriously guilty of)

What’s more, Spanish is also the world’s second most spoken language. So, it’ll keep paying off long after your sun-bronzed skin reverts back to pale and interesting.

And if you learned Spanish at school? It’s high time to dust it off.

You’ve Got Two Ears and One Mouth 

It’s great to cross sí, no and cerveza off your Spanish holiday to-do list. But it’s not the only way to boost your Spanish language learning power.

In addition, why not pop on a Spanish playlist or binge a Spanish television series?

You’ll pick up so much by letting the language sink in while the rain batters your window pane. 

Less Desk, More Fiesta

 At la Academia, our teachers come from both Spain and South America, bringing the cultural quirks besides the vocab.

You can expect:

• Lively, interactive Spanish classes for adult students
• Trips to restaurants, cinemas and exhibitions to practice
• An end-of-course party with international food and drink

Get in touch to learn Spanish this season so you’re ready for the next:

NEW Complete Beginners Spanish Course

• Start: Tuesday 3^rd November 2026 with teacher Adriana
• Time: 7.00 – 9.00pm
• Duration: Six weeks (same day and time weekly)
• Cost: £120.00

Picture this… a sea of Lederhosen, a stein of beer in hand, confidently ordering your next round in pristine German. Ok, perhaps fairly pristine.

For context, the Oktoberfest First-Timers Guide sets the scene: “It dates back to the horse race as a part of the public celebration of the wedding between crown prince Ludwig and his Therese on October 17, 1810.  

“Due to its tremendous success and the search of the young Kingdom of Bavaria for points of identification, the festival has been repeated ever since”, it continues. “It’s usually visited by more than six million every year and is said to be the largest fair in the world. It’s neither a holiday nor a season or a type of event.” 

It’s a phenomenon.

And now you too can learn German and live the dream every time Munich’s Oktoberfest is in full swing during late September – early October. 

Why the Autumn Rush to Learn German? 

Interestingly, Brits who swore German was too hard suddenly want to learn it when summer fades into autumn. Adult learners pile into German courses in preparation for jetting off to Munich or heading to a Bavarian bash closer to home.

But the last thing you want is mind-numbing grammar drills. On the contrary, you want the good stuff, such as:

• Ein Maß, bitte – Your golden ticket to that world-famous German white nectar
• Wo ist die toilette? – Arguably the most important question after the above
• Prost! – The toast you’ll say at least 954 times

In addition, Oktoberfest puts method behind the madness, which makes learning German more pleasurable and less painstaking. 

How Oktoberfest Makes German Fun 

The German language has a bit of a reputation in terms of vocabulary, including really, really long words. The good news is festival fever changes the game for the following reasons:

• Social not stuffy – Learning feels like party prep.
• Musical element – The soundtrack of Oktoberfest makes practice addictive.
• No passport required – Germanic beer halls across the UK serve up Oktoberfest on your doorstep if you’re not Bavaria-bound this year. 

Immerse Yourself in German Culture

At la Academia, we see time and time again adult students starting with a few festival phrases and catching the bug. And a polite “Danke schön” expands into proper conversations, deeper travel experiences and even fluency.

So, why stop at ordering pretzels? Get in touch to learn German.

Let’s start by talking about the country. Bulgaria gave the Slavic world its alphabet and it throws one almighty party every year to mark the occasion, on Bulgarian Independence Day, on 22nd September. 

This occasion celebrates the moment Bulgaria officially waved goodbye to Ottoman rule for good in 1908, with marching bands, wreath-laying, folk concerts, fireworks, and church bells ringing out joyfully.

Moreover, you can expect to hear a variety of different languages cheering for the mother country. 

What Languages are Spoken in Bulgaria?

This is a consideration if you’re thinking about visiting, moving to or working in Bulgaria. Although it’s a solid catch all tactic to learn Bulgarian rather than get too provincial.

So, what’s the spread? 

• Bulgarian – The undisputed star of the show, spoken natively by around 85% of the population and written in Cyrillic, which the Encyclopaedia Britannica describes as the “writing system developed in the 9^th-10th century for Slavic-speaking peoples of the Eastern Orthodox faith, currently used exclusively or as one of several alphabets for more than 50 languages, notably Belarusian, Bulgarian, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Macedonian, Montenegrin, Russian, Serbian, Tajik, Turkmen, Ukrainian, and Uzbek”.

• Turkish – The largest minority language, spoken by roughly 8-9% of the country.

• Romani – Another rich linguistic thread spoken by about 4%.

• English – The popular second language for younger Bulgarians and people working in the tourist industry.

• Russian – Still widely spoke, especially by seniors who grew up with it in school.

There’s no shortage of language options to go at. But what about learning Bulgarian specifically? Is it a good move?

Why Are Brits Choosing to Learn Bulgarian?

 Unsurprisingly, it’s rarely a random decision. People typically learn Bulgarian for the following reasons:

• Relationships and family – A Bulgarian partner, spouse, or in-laws who deserve more than Google Translate over Christmas dinner.

• Property and holidays – Bulgaria’s a key hotspot for British property developers, in addition to the country’s ongoing tourist trade.

• Relocation and work – An emerging tech scene is luring digital brains. And you’d presumably rather not mime your way through the supermarket if you’re one of them?

• Cultural appeal – Folklore, cinema, cuisine, and Cyrillic script. Irresistible if it’s your thing.

Plus, there’s an added bonus. The Bulgarian language is a cheat sheet into the wider Slavic language family. Think of it as a friendly warm-up if you’re planning to tackle Russian, Ukrainian, or Polish down the line.

Why Now?

Chasing romance?

Relocating?

Want to earn yourself Cyrillic bragging rights?

At la Academia, you’ll discover in person and online tuition options to learn Bulgarian your way.

Get in touch and tell us what you want and need.

The colourful festivities begin just before midnight on the eve of Mexican Independence Day on 16^th September.

Melia Hotels’ Mar Bauza sets the scene in her The Grito: Mexico’s Independence Day article: “The most awaited moment arrives when the president appears on the main balcony of the National Palace, takes the flag of Mexico, rings the bell and ends with the well-known ¡Viva México! ¡Viva México! ¡Viva México!”

Now, consider what really drives the fiesta energy. Language.

This is why it’s practically impossible to immerse yourself in Mexican culture if you don’t learn Spanish first.

Mexico is One Nation with Many Voices

Surprisingly, Mexico doesn’t have an official language written into its constitution.

So, what’s going on in terms of who speaks what?

• Spanish dominates as the go-to language of government and daily life.
• It shares the spotlight legally with 68 indigenous languages, which are all recognised as equally valid as Spanish.

As a result, Mexico is a linguistic fiesta in its own right, although it’s most typical to learn Spanish for integration into the fabric of everyday work and play.

Think about it:

• Over 90% of the Mexican population speaks Spanish on a day-to-day basis.
• Mexico is home to more native Spanish speakers than any other country on earth, even Spain itself.

So, learning Spanish is basically learning Mexico’s mother tongue.

Why the Decision to Learn Spanish is Transformational for Your Mexican Experience

 Every “Hola” feels more meaningful when you understand the legacy.

So why not join us, at la Academia, to take your Mexican adventure to a completely different level? 

• SPANISH – Complete Beginners 1

The Upper Room, Cheadle
Starts Wednesday 23rd September
7.00pm – 9.00pm for six consecutive weeks
Only £120.00 for the FULL course

• SPANISH – Complete Beginners 2

la Academia with Andrea
Starts Monday 28th September
9:30am – 11:00am for six consecutive weeks
Only £120.00 for the FULL course

Get in touch to learn Spanish and the history, identity, and the mother of all parties behind the words.

Why so? Well, the likes of French merci, German schadenfreude, Italian amore and Japanese ikigai have wormed their way into everyday British chat.

But you could say Portuguese has sat waiting on the sidelines, while steadily making its way up the queue over time.

So, here’s why the time is right to learn Portuguese now, in 2026-27.

Why Learn Portuguese?

Hands up if you’ve binged a Brazilian telenovela or hummed along to fado on the radio.

Anybody?

It’s not your fault. The thing is, Brazilian culture is brilliant, but it’s mostly contained within Portuguese speaking countries. For this reason, it doesn’t flood UK screens like French cinema, Italian opera and Scandi noir.

This is just one of many reasons why learning Portuguese is so exhilarating. It equips you to paint your own picture first hand.

But this doesn’t mean it lacks real substance. On the contrary, take a look at what the numbers demonstrate:

• 265-270 million speakers across four continents – This is global powerhouse level rather than a niche hobby

• Official language of burgeoning economies like Brazil, Angola, Cape Verde and Mozambique. The University of Leeds Portuguese course information explains why Brazil is an especially big deal: “Brazil is one of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) ‘powerhouse’ economies and the reputation of Portuguese speaking countries continues to grow on the world stage”.

• Named by the British Council as one of the languages most vital to the UK’s future prosperity

All the same, it’s churlish to underestimate the cultural richness of the bossa nova, fado, and a literary tradition you’ve never had the chance to discover until.

Right, Let’s Get You Speaking Portuguese

At la Academia, we’re launching our new season Portuguese Complete Beginners course this September:

• Where: la Academia, Cheadle
• When: Starts Friday 25th September 2026 for six consecutive weeks, with teacher Eulalia
• Time: 1.00 – 3.00pm
  Cost: £120.00 for the full course

A bit further down the line than a beginner?

Intermediate

• Saturdays 12.30 – 2.00pm with teacher Eulalia
• Cost: £90.00

Get in touch to learn Portuguese or fine tune your existing Portuguese skills, for career, travel, heritage, or sheer curiosity.

Well, Italian is the language of gelato, opera and, according to Rat Pack crooner Dean Martin, the times “when the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie”.

It’s always been a main character energy.  And it’s always a sassy choice to learn Italian for your career, learnability, and holiday plans.

1) Learn Italian for Career Fluency

In terms of popular modern foreign languages, everyone and their nonna seems to learn French or Spanish. But not so many learn Italian. This works in your favour for the following reasons:

• More demand, less competition – Fewer UK students study Italian. So, you’ll stand out from the crowd.

• Made in Italy, sold in the UK – Italian fashion houses, automotive design studios, luxury retailers, and gourmet food brands have deep commercial ties with the UK. And no surprises they’d rather deal with someone who doesn’t need Google Translate.

• Opens EMEA job doors – Learning to speak Italian can make you the no-brainer candidate for job roles in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

2) Cognitive Cheat Code

Italian and English share a Latin family tree. This means:

• You’ll recognise more words than you might expect from your very first lesson.

• Pronunciation is refreshingly logical because it’s mostly spoken the way it’s spelled.

• Grammar quirks aren’t soul destroying, which can be a real kicker with some other languages.

3) Aligns with the Finer Things in Life

• Ordering the right wine?
• Haggling at a Sicilian market?
• Understanding your waiter’s eye roll when you ask for Hawaiian pizza?

Learning Italian is a career strategy. But it’s also your not-so-secret weapon to living a little more dolce.

Why Bother Learning Italian in 2026?

Roughly 85 million people worldwide speak Italian. But truthfully, you’re not going to sign up for Italian lessons to pad out stats.

You’re doing it for the good stuff – the food, the wine, the art, the history, and the wonderfully animated people who talk with their hands as much as their mouths.

At la Academia, our students have a blast in the classroom when they learn Italian. Will you be joining them?

NEW Complete Beginners Italian

• Start: Wednesday 23rd September 2026 with teacher Guido
• Time: 7.00 – 9.00pm
• Duration: Six weeks (same day and time weekly)
• Cost: £120.00

Intermediate

• Fridays 10.15am – 12.15pm with teacher Guido
• Cost: £90.00

Italian isn’t the obvious choice, which is rather the point. So, get in touch to book your place in the cool class.

The truth is French has stubbornly refused to budge from its spot as one of the top three languages UK adults want to learn.Pourquoi? Let’s take a closer look.

Learning French Isn’t Starting from Scratch

Chances are you didn’t subconsciously blank from memory everything you learned in your school French lessons.

So, half-remembered vocabulary and verb tables hiding in your head make learning French friendlier than wrestling with a brand new alphabet. 

You Can Use French – a Lot

The many and varied benefits of learning French are proof of why it continues to entice UK language learners. For example:

• France is a neighbour – France, Belgium, and Switzerland are a short hop away, making them ideal for holidays, second homes, emigration or retirement.

• French a career flex – French pops up everywhere in fashion, aerospace, hospitality, tourism, food, finance, and diplomacy. For this reason, it’s handy to learn French if you want to sound sharp at an international event, meeting, or on a Zoom call.

• It trains your brain younger – French classes are a workout for your mind, besides the sheer satisfaction of nailing a tricky tense and gradually increasing your fluency over time. 

Even royalty and rock stars are on board. 

Famous Brits Who Speak French

King Charles has been chatting away in conversational French for decades on official duties, while his son Prince William holds his own in French during royal tours.

And rock icon Mick Jagger is fluent enough for French interviews and owns a 16^th century château in the Loire Valley.

If it’s good enough for them…

Parlez Vous Francais?

At la Academia, we’ve got courses for every level to learn French at our Cheadle school with tutor Elisabeth: 

NEW Complete Beginners

• Starts: Monday 28th September 2026, 1.00pm – 3.00pm
• Duration: Six weeks (same day and time weekly)
• Cost: £120.00

Conversation course

• Tuesday, 11.00am – 12.00pm
• Cost: £70.00

Intermediate

• Monday, 7.00 – 8.30pm
• Cost: £90.00

Get in touch to book your place. Allez!

But things can get lost in translation once the final whistle blows. This is when teams and staff are faced with things like press conferences, contract negotiations, even going out for a meal in a new city.

English has become the dressing room lingua franca at top clubs. But it’s not unusual for a single squad to speak a dozen different mother tongues.

Additionally, not every star signing, coach, or agent arrives fluent.

For all these reasons, languages for football have become a reliable set piece off the pitch for many clubs.

Languages for Football Kick Off Multiple Benefits

Language links the whole team in many and varied ways you might never have even thought about. For example, it:

• Cultivates team spirit – One Premiership manager wanted his whole squad speaking the same language, figuratively and He achieved this by arranging lessons club-wide, ensuring a multilingual dressing room was a united one.

• Aids international signings – A Spanish manager threw himself into six weeks of intensive English coaching as he settled into UK life and became a press conference pro.

• Clears the Home Office hurdle – Football icons aren’t exempt from the official exams need to work on UK soil. As you can imagine, a red card isn’t an option.

• Supports the next generation – Young players, apprentices, and players’ children often need extra help with GCSE and A Level tuition in English, Maths and Sciences as they acclimatise to their new home.

A Final Score You Can Reliably Predict

At la Academia, we’re here to make sure nobody, from managers to midfielders and mothers, is left on the touchline by language barriers.

Get in touch with your questions about learning languages for football and score yourself a guaranteed home win.

Their language learning frenzy started in February with Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance. And it’s continued to soar ahead of his DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS World Tour dates, with Tottenham Hotspur Stadium the only UK venue on 27^th and 28^th June.

Correspondingly, fans are going feral to speaks the same language as their idol.

Tap Into the Zeitgeist of the Super Bowl and Spurs

Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio did something revolutionary when he took to the Super Bowl stage earlier this year.  He performed entirely in Spanish. And it transformed one of the biggest TV moments into a celebration of Latin culture.

Language Magazine article Spanish & Sign Language Take Center Stage reported Bad Bunny telling a press conference, “This moment, the culture – that’s what makes these shows special.”

Colonies of fans worldwide are feeling this, social media is exploding, and you don’t have to scroll far to discover lapine activity such as:

• Non-Spanish speakers selling out Spanish courses – The desire to deeply understand his lyrics is feral

• Puerto Ricans breaking down his slang – There’s layers to this man’s lyrics any self-respecting fan needs to know about

• Everyone else scrambling to catch up before the tour arrives 

Bad Bunny Has Spoken. Now It’s Your Turn to Learn Spanish

Want to sing along at Spurs? Hold your own on a Spanish holiday? Understand the music living rent-free in your head?

At la Academia, no previous experience is needed to learn Spanish in a relaxed, friendly, and high impact environment.

Available formats include:

• Beginner through to Advanced levels – face to face in the Cheadle school
• Intermediate levels available on Zoom
• Spanish Conversation Class to use it so you don’t lose it

Selling fast… our next legendary NEW Spanish Complete Beginners six week courses:

• Wednesday 23^rd September, 7.00 – 9.00pm weekly, £120 at the Upper Room Café, Cheadle

• Monday 28th September, 9.30 – 11.00am weekly, £120 at the school with Andrea

Get in touch to start your Spanish era here.