Unique Gift Ideas for Language Learners
Posted by Got a language learner in the family? With the holidays approaching, now is a great time to start thinking about what would make them happy. Forget the new pair of socks or wool sweater. If you truly want to give them a unique present, explore our gift ideas for language learners!
Books
Language lovers also tend to be book lovers. Because, what better way to indulge in our love for words and foreign cultures than reading a novel? And the best part is that books can also be used to learn a new language!
Photo by Mental Health America via Pexels
A very common strategy many people use is rereading a book in their target language. Since one has already read the book many times, they will not have to struggle to understand the content.
Instead, they can focus on the language and learn new words and structures while having fun. For example, an English speaker who is learning Spanish with Harry Potter may read the first sentence of the book and understand the setting of the story, even if they do not know many of the words:
“Mr. and Mrs. Dursley of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.”
“El señor y la señora Dursley, que vivían en el número 4 de Privet Drive, estaban orgullosos de decir que eran muy normales, afortunadamente.”
In this way, if you know a Harry Potter fan, a great gift for them could be giving them one of the books of the saga in the language they are learning.
Some good books that make great gifts are:
- The “Harry Potter” saga
- The “Lord of the Rings” saga
- The “Twilight” saga
- The “A Song of Ice and Fire” saga
Subscriptions
While a few years ago a language learner’s best friend was his coursebook, now most people prefer to learn using different platforms. Want to practice your listening skills? Use Spotify on your phone (pro tip: you could use our own Spotify playlists for this!). Want to boost your vocabulary? Watch movies on Netflix and use subtitles.
For reading, what’s better than Scribd? In this way, with just a few gadgets and subscriptions, you could give a language learner a very nice gift!
Some useful subscriptions are:
- Audio platforms, like Spotify and Audible. In the former, you can find songs from all over the world. So, K-Pop lovers can learn Korean as they listen to Lovesick Girls by Blackpink, and those who prefer Spanish boleros can enjoy songs like Historia de un Amor by Luis Miguel. In the latter, there are thousands of audiobooks in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Japanese, Italian, and German.
- Video platforms, like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, or HBO Go. There, you can find shows and movies in foreign languages like La Casa de Papel, and The Romanoffs.
- Kindle Unlimited or Scribd for books. Some of the titles you will find in their catalogs are The Hunger Games Saga, La Llamada de la Tribu, and Enna Andersen und das verschwundene Mädchen.
Language Learning Courses
This may seem like a given, but courses are an excellent gift for language learners. They come in all shapes and colors, but right now, online classes are very popular due to their flexibility and safety.
Many people prefer taking private online classes because of their customization. Since there is only one student in the class, the teacher can prepare a curriculum tailored to the level, interests, and goals of the student.
Our French teacher, Julie, teaching an online class.
Still, many others prefer to grab the opportunity to interact with foreign cultures and sign up for Online Open Group Language Courses. In this way, they can learn a language together with students from all over the world who are at the same level of proficiency. Of course, this means that there is not as much customization as with private classes, but students claim it is a price worth paying!
Those who are looking for a middle ground between the aforementioned options may opt for Online Closed Group Courses. In these cases, one can study with their friends, colleagues, or any other group of people who are at the same level of proficiency. In this way, the whole group can have the classes customized to match their needs while still learning through communication with one another.
So, if you want to give your loved one a special gift, a language course could be the way to go! Your options are:
You can even contact us and our team can prepare a beautiful gift card for you!
Gadgets
The best way to access the limitless language learning resources we have at our disposal is through technology. So, whichever linguistic skill you want to master, you are going to need a device to help you with that!
To help someone develop their reading skills, an ebook is a great tool. Some of the most popular brands are Amazon Kindle and Kobo. They give you access to millions of books in foreign languages in just seconds. And the best part is that they come with a built-in dictionary that allows you to check the meaning of unknown words without having to interrupt your reading.
Those who want to understand spoken discourse better may appreciate receiving a new cellphone or car stereo. In this way, they can listen to songs and podcasts in foreign languages as they commute.
To improve one’s oral skills, a computer or a smartphone are a language learner’s best friend. With them, they can record themselves speaking and practice spotting pronunciation errors and then work on them.
Some of the best models are:
- Ebooks: Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Voyage, Kobo Libra H2O
- Computers: Dell XPS 13, Macbook Air, Google Pixelbook Go i5 Chromebook
- Cellphones: Samsung Galaxy S20, iPhone 11, OnePlus 8 Pro
So, if you have a friend or family member who is learning another language, give them a meaningful gift that will show how much you care and how much thought you put into it.
And if you do not know what to pick among so many options, why not start with a language course? In this way, your loved one can begin to develop his language skills with the help of a native tutor. The best part is that there are courses in many different price ranges.
Looking for something fun and budget-friendly? Pick a Language Trainers Connect Course. Need something more premium and personalized? Our Private Online Courses are the best!
Which gift will you choose? Let us know in the comments!