There is something strangely fascinating about being scared.

A dark room.
A strange sound coming from upstairs.
A message from an unknown number.
A story someone tells you late at night and says, “This really happened…”

We know we are safe, yet somehow… we still want to know what happens next.

That is exactly what inspired my Summer Scary Stories lesson.

 More Than Just a Horror Lesson

For this special summer project, I wanted to create something different from a simple “let’s talk about horror movies” class.

Instead, I want us to enter the story.

Maybe we will investigate an urban legend.
Maybe we will try to explain a mysterious event.
Maybe we will discuss a horror movie that kept you awake at night.
Maybe we will open a novel and ask ourselves why its story feels so unsettling.

Or perhaps you have your own theory about a story that nobody else believes…

I want to hear it.

In our lesson, we can explore:

Horror movies & series — from psychological horror to supernatural stories and Japanese horror.

Novels & scary stories — characters, atmosphere, symbolism, endings, and the questions that remain after the final page.

Ghost stories & urban legends — mysterious tales from Japan, Tunisia, and around the world.

Unsolved mysteries & strange events — examining clues, theories, and different explanations.

The psychology of fear — why do we enjoy being frightened? Why does the unknown feel so powerful? And why can a simple sound sometimes be scarier than a monster?

And the best part?

You choose the story.

If there is a particular movie, novel, urban legend, ghost story, mystery, or other scary tale you have been wanting to discuss, you can send it to me before our lesson.

I will prepare questions and activities around your choice so that our conversation feels personal rather than like a standard lesson.

And yes — you can choose whether we speak English or French.

 A Little Cultural Exchange

One of the things I love most about scary stories is that they reveal something about the cultures that created them.

Every country seems to have its own way of explaining the unknown.

Japan has its yūrei and countless urban legends.
Tunisia and the wider Arab world have fascinating traditions surrounding supernatural beings and mysterious places.
Europe has centuries of folklore, haunted castles, witches, and strange local legends.

So perhaps during our lesson, you will introduce me to a Japanese legend I have never heard before…

…and I will tell you a creepy story from Tunisia.

That sounds like a fair trade, right?

 You Don't Have to Be a Horror Expert

You don't need to know anything about horror.

You don't even have to believe in ghosts.

You simply need to be curious.

You can come with your favorite movie, your favorite scary story, a strange legend you heard as a child, or simply the question:

“What would you do if this happened to you?”

We can talk, debate, investigate, imagine, laugh, and perhaps get a tiny bit nervous along the way.

Because sometimes the best stories are the ones that make us look over our shoulder after we've finished reading them.

☕ And one final little mystery…

This lesson is arriving at a particularly special moment for me on Cafetalk.

I am celebrating my 100th Cafetalk lesson! ??

So, naturally, I couldn't celebrate such a milestone without bringing my new special cup along for the occasion.

Maybe you'll see it during our lesson…

if you dare to stay until the end. ☕

I hope to see you on the other side of the story.

The lights are low.
The story is waiting.
The only question is…

Are you ready to be scared?