Week of October 20, 2025

A short 3 chapter book-like weekly newsletter for English learners to uplift and inspire you to start conversations, express yourself, and speak your mind in English about interesting topics, books, and current events.

Author: Adriana Franyuti

from www.englishreadersenglishspeakers.com

Important note: Difficult vocabulary is highlighted in yellow. The meaning,  synonym, or explanation of these words is in parenthesis and in a list at the end.

Paris, France. A basket lift (equipment with a basket or platform at the end of a mechanical arm to lift workers to high places) used by thieves outside the Louvre museum. Robbers broke in and fled with jewellery. Photograph: Alexander Turnbull/AP

Hello friend,

Brace yourself (literally: to physically position your body to prepare for an impact; as an idiom: to mentally or physically prepare for something difficult or shocking) or sit down or take a deep breath before you read the next sentence….

We are 10 weeks away from finishing the year 🤯. 

As amazing as that sounds, this is what is called the “last stretch” which means the final part of a journey, when the finish line is in sight, but it still takes focus and energy to get there.

I’ve seen people take 2 very different routes at this time. One route is to take it easy and almost let time pass until the end of the year. You know who they are. They think that everything is starting to wind down (come to an end), and Christmas is just around the corner, and they can start planning their end-of-year vacations without any problem. And on the other route are the people who are running around like a chicken with its head cut off 🐥 (act in a panicked or chaotic manner). They’re trying to complete all the projects they promised to start, they are sprinting (running at full speed) to reach their end-of-year goals and feel like time is running out fast.

What camp are you in my friend?  Are you in the relaxed camp or in the frantic camp?

Time has become such a constraint (restriction) in our lives that we often forget that the last stretch (see above) isn’t about rushing or resting, it’s an opportunity to realign. It’s pausing for a moment to ask ourselves…what really matters in these last 10 weeks? What do I want to finish with confidence and pride?

The truth is, finishing strong doesn’t mean doing everything. It means doing the right things, with purpose. It’s bringing your best energy and reminding yourself that you’re capable of soooo much more than you think.

So take a deep breath (again!), find your rhythm, and try to step into these last 10 weeks with fresh motivation. Keep learning, keep speaking, keep growing, in your English and in your life.

You don’t need a perfect ending. You just need a powerful one that makes you proud of how far you’ve come.

Let’s make these last 10 weeks count! Together.

Happy reading and speaking in English,

-Adriana

English Readers English Speakers

What's happening in the world this week?

Monday October 20: Start of Diwali - Festival of Lights

Diwali is a five-day festival celebrated by Hindu’s, Jains and Sikhs worldwide. Primarily associated with Hinduism, Diwali is one of the most widely celebrated Hindu festivals. The name comes from the Sanskrit "Dipavali", which translates as "row of lamps".

During Diwali lamps are lit, fireworks are set off and buildings are decorated in fancy lights. These lights signify the triumph of good over evil, of light over darkness and of knowledge over ignorance. People also exchange sweets, gifts, and wear new clothes. For many, Diwali is a time to reflect, be with family, and celebrate hope, prosperity, and new beginnings. 

💬 Conversation Starters:
1.  Have you ever seen how Hindus celebrate Diwali?
2. What holiday or celebration in your country uses lights, fireworks, or illumination to symbolize something?

Friday October 24: United Nations Day

This year marks the UN's 80th anniversary.

The organization was created after World War II to promote international peace, security, human rights, cooperation among nations, and social progress, including access to healthcare and education. It’s the most universal international organization, making it truly global in reach. 
This day reminds us that global challenges affect everyone, and collaboration is essential for creating solutions that benefit the world as a whole. Schools, governments, and organizations often host discussions, lectures, and activities to encourage awareness and action on this day.

💬 Conversation Starters:

1. What global issue do you think countries should cooperate on more closely?
2. If you worked for the UN, what kind of project would you want to lead?

Book-to-movie adaptations for the rest of 2025

This week, we’re turning the page from books to the big screen! Several exciting book-to-movie adaptations are coming out for the remainder (a part that is left over) of the year, offering a perfect opportunity to enjoy stories in both book form and screen formats. Here are my top 4 recommendations.

Why does this matter for English learners? Reading a book and then watching its movie in English is a powerful immersion tool. You’ll see how words on the page become spoken dialogue, notice pronunciation, tone, and natural expressions, and reinforce vocabulary and grammar in context. Plus, watching movies is so much fun🍿. I love it when learning and entertainment are blended together (combined), don’t you?

🎬 1. Frankenstein

Based on the novel by Mary Shelley
Release Date: November 7, 2025 (Netflix)
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Starring: Jacob Elordi, Oscar Isaac, Mia Goth

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, often called the world’s first science fiction novel, tells the haunting (creepy) story of a scientist who brings a creature to life, only to be horrified by his own creation. Guillermo del Toro’s new adaptation dives deeper into the emotional side of the story, exploring loneliness, rejection, and the search for belonging. The book’s timeless themes of humanity and morality are brought to life through del Toro’s signature gothic visuals, making this one a must-watch (and must-read!) classic for English learners.

🎬 2. Regretting You

Based on the novel by Colleen Hoover
Release Date: October 24, 2025
Director: Josh Boone
Starring: Allison Williams, Mckenna Grace, Dave Franco

Colleen Hoover’s Regretting You is an emotional story about a mother and daughter struggling to reconnect after a tragic loss. The book explores love, grief, forgiveness, and the secrets that can divide families, all told in Hoover’s heartfelt and conversational writing style that’s great for English learners. The movie promises to bring these emotional dynamics to the screen, with powerful performances that capture the tension between two people learning to understand each other again.

🎬 3. Wicked: For Good

Based on the musical inspired by the novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
Release Date: November 21, 2025
Director: Jon M. Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jeff Goldblum

Gregory Maguire’s Wicked reimagines The Wizard of Oz from the perspective of Elphaba, the misunderstood green-skinned girl who becomes the Wicked Witch. The story explores friendship, power, and how the world often misunderstands those who are different. Wicked: For Good, the second part of the two-part adaptation, continues Elphaba and Glinda’s story, filled with soaring music (emotionally uplifting), stunning visuals, and moral depth. For English learners, it’s a great example of expressive dialogue and rich emotional language.

🎬 4. The Housemaid

Based on the novel by Freida McFadden
Release Date: December 19, 2025
Director: Paul Feig
Starring: Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar

Freida McFadden’s psychological thriller The Housemaid became a viral hit for its gripping (exciting) twists and simple, fast-paced writing style, perfect for intermediate and advanced English readers. The story follows Millie, a woman who accepts a job as a live-in maid for a wealthy family, only to discover that nothing in the house is as it seems. The film adaptation promises intense suspense and dark secrets that will keep viewers guessing until the very end. It's a perfect companion for readers who love mystery and tension.

Why Speaking Practice Is the Secret Ingredient to Real Fluency

Reading, listening, and learning vocabulary are essential parts of your English journey, but speaking is where it all comes together. It’s the moment your knowledge turns into communication, and your ideas turn into confidence.

The truth is: you don’t get confident before you speak, you get confident by speaking. Just like a muscle, your fluency grows stronger each time you use it. The more you practice speaking, even if it's not perfect, the faster your brain adapts and starts thinking in English.

Many learners spend years improving their reading and listening but rarely use their voice. The result? They understand English well, but when it’s time to speak, their mind freezes or translates word by word.

So what Can You Do About This?

Here are a few small but powerful ways to build daily speaking practice into your routine:

🎙️ Record yourself speaking
Choose a simple topic (like what you did today or what you’re reading) and record a one minute message. You’ll hear your progress week after week.

📖 Read out loud
Use your current book, a short article, or even this newsletter. Focus on pronunciation and rhythm, not on sounding perfect. 

💬 Talk to yourself in English
Narrate what you’re doing, describe what you see, or plan your day aloud in English. This helps your brain think faster and more naturally in the language.

🗣 Join a conversation group
Speaking with others keeps you accountable (responsible) and makes practice fun. Hint (clue): you’ll experience this firsthand in our upcoming Think in English Training on October 29! More on that in the Final Notes section.

The more you use your English, the more natural it becomes.
Don’t wait to be perfect, start speaking, and fluency will follow.  

What's next?

👩‍🏫 I'm hosting a new live free training on Wednesday October 29, called "Think in English, speak naturally: The secret to speaking English without translating". It's a brand new training I'm excited to share where I will show you how to improve your fluency and confidence by understanding the deep connection between speaking and thinking in English. During the training I will share my 3-level Thinking Framework for speaking fluent English that can unlock how you express yourself fully in conversations. If you haven't signed up, save your spot now!

Register for training

New vocabulary in this issue

basket lift = equipment with a basket or platform at the end of a mechanical arm to lift workers to high places 
brace yourself = literally: to physically position your body to prepare for an impact; as an idiom: to mentally or physically prepare for something difficult or shocking
last stretch = final part of a journey, when the finish line is in sight, but it still takes focus and energy to get there
wind down = come to an end
like a chicken with its head cut off = act in a panicked or chaotic manner
sprinting = running at full speed
constraint = restriction
remainder = a part that is left over
blended together = combined
haunting = creepy
soaring music = emotionally uplifting
gripping = exciting
accountable = responsible
hint = clue

Let's end with a laugh 😂

©The Far Side by Gary Larson