Hello, English Explorers!
Today is Friday, September 18, 2026—Chile’s Independence Day! Put on your imaginary explorer hat. We will talk about fun things many kids in Chile enjoy while learning new English words. Ready? Let’s go!
Cartoons Kids Are Watching in Chile
Animated adventures are a fun way to hear English. Many children enjoy shows such as Bluey, Pokémon, Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir, and Teen Titans Go!. You can watch a short episode in English with subtitles. Listen for simple words such as friend, family, and help.
Toys & Collectibles
Building bricks, Pokémon cards, dolls, miniature cars, plush animals, and board games are popular choices. Some kids also enjoy collectible figures. Try describing a toy in English: “My robot is small and silver.” Remember: games are more fun when everyone plays fairly and takes turns!
Sweet Treats & Candies
Chile has many tasty treats. Super 8 is a crispy wafer covered with chocolate, and Chocman is a soft cake snack. Cuchuflí is a crunchy rolled wafer, often filled with manjar. You may also know Frugelé fruit gummies and Negrita, now commonly sold as Chokita. Treats are delicious, but enjoy a small amount and remember to brush your teeth!
Books & Stories
Stories can take you anywhere. Younger readers may enjoy Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dog Man, or the adventures of Papelucho. Older readers can explore Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone or Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. Pick a short page in English and circle three words you recognize.
Music & Dance
Kids and young teens often enjoy upbeat pop, K-pop, movie songs, and video-game music. For today’s Chilean celebration, you may also hear cueca, Chile’s national dance. Dancers use handkerchiefs and move around each other. Make a safe dance space, choose a family-friendly song, and follow the beat: one, two, three!
Hobbies & After-School Fun
Football, basketball, cycling, skating, dancing, drawing, crafts, gaming, and reading are great free-time activities. Some children love hiking and observing Chile’s amazing nature. Ask a friend, “What do you like doing after school?” You can answer, “I like playing football” or “I like making bracelets.”
School Subjects Vocabulary
Use these words when you talk about your school day:
- Maths — Matemáticas. We solve a puzzle in Maths.
- Science — Ciencias. I learn about planets in Science.
- History — Historia. We read about Chilean history.
- Geography — Geografía. I find Chile on the map.
- Art — Artes. She paints a bright picture in Art.
- Physical Education (PE) — Educación Física. They play basketball in PE.
Grammar Power-Up
1. Like + verb ending in -ing
En inglés, después de like podemos usar un verbo terminado en -ing para hablar de actividades que disfrutamos.
English: I like reading adventure books.
Español: Me gusta leer libros de aventuras.
2. Present simple with he, she, or it
En presente simple, normalmente agregamos -s al verbo cuando el sujeto es he, she o it. Con I, you, we y they, no agregamos esa -s.
English: She plays basketball after school.
Español: Ella juega básquetbol después de clases.
Quick Quiz
Which Chilean treat is a rolled wafer that can contain manjar?
A) Cuchuflí B) Apple C) Bread
What do cueca dancers carry?
A) Umbrellas B) Handkerchiefs C) Backpacks
Which sentence is correct?
A) She play basketball. B) She plays basketball. C) She playing basketball.
Answers: 1-A, 2-B, 3-B. Fantastic work! Say one new English word aloud and share it with someone at home.