Masks bridge cultures and languages

Halloween and El Día de los Muertos are two days apart and both use masks. This course will teach students in English and Spanish about the holidays and they'll make some masks too.  - - Donna Poisl

Written by Gloria Hatrick

Halloween masks may be scary, but speaking in a foreign language can be even scarier — which is why fun is such an important part of learning a new language, according to Cyndi Turtledove, artistic director of LESTA (Learn English/Spanish Through the Arts).

On Saturday, Oct. 5, Turtledove will begin teaching a five-week mask-making course in which, in addition to designing masks, students will cross cultures and gain comfort and confidence interacting in both English and Spanish. The course will build to a performance, celebrating both El Día de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) and Halloween.

El Día de los Muertos falls on Nov. 2, just two days after Halloween. The celebrations take very different approaches to the spirits of the dead, Turtledove said.
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