ETA Christina Stoll and the English Club at SMAN 2 recently had an exciting late Halloween and early Christmas celebration! The club watched “The Nightmare Before Christmas” together and discussed upcoming holiday traditions. Students also tried some American sweets that children typically find in their Halloween bags, such as Jolly Ranchers. Overall, this was a relaxing and exciting afternoon for students who had been diligently preparing for end-of-semester exams all month.

After the movie, a fruitful discussion emerged about the differences among various holiday celebrations across Indonesian ethnicities, including dance performances, choir performances, and different types of family gatherings. Since Palangkaraya is an ethnically diverse city, with many students’ roots in Palangkaraya tracing back to transmigration initiatives from the Indonesian New Order, they were able to discuss differences they do not typically talk about. This was a great way for students who are already fairly proficient in English to watch a classic American movie and ask about various holidays from an American perspective.

Christina Stoll is currently teaching at SMAN 2 Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan.