Christmas present ideas for language learners

Christmas is coming up so I thought I’d share some present ideas with you guys! I know it’s only November… But I also know that some of you are super-organised (I’m trying to be, ok?) and are already thinking about what to get for people. 

Getting a Christmas present for a language learner is not an easy task. That’s because you never know exactly what level that person is at. Also, if they’re serious about their language learning, they probably already have the popular or obvious resources, textbooks and dictionaries. 

That’s why my list of ideas includes some universal gifts that language learners will enjoy, no matter what level they’re currently at. Are you ready to dive in? Let’s get started! 

1. The Wanderlust Scratch Off Map 

The first idea on my list is exactly what I mentioned above – something you can’t go wrong with because it doesn’t require you to know the level of the person you’re buying for. 

The Wanderlust Scratch Off Map is a beautiful map of the world, which you can use to track your travel or to track your languages. You can scratch off the golden foil that covers the map once you’ve visited a new country, or you can do it once you feel confident that you can communicate in a country’s language. That’s why it’s a perfect Christmas gift for both travellers and language learners. 

If you’d like to know more about the map, watch my video below, on which I’ve partnered up with the creators of the map – a brand called Wander and Explore. You can also get a 20% discount code (to be used on Amazon). 

2. Flashcards 

Flashcards are little cards that language learners can use to learn vocabulary. You put a word or phrase in the language you’re learning on one side and its translation on the other side. You can then flip the card over and learn that way. Or you can use the cards to mark objects around your house and see their names every time you walk past, which will help with memorising the words. 

If you think flashcards would be a good fit for a friend or family member you’re buying a Christmas gift for, you can either get pre-made flashcards or you can just get them colourful cards or sticky notes and some nice pens, so that they can produce their own. 

One company that produces pre-made flashcards and which I can definitely recommend (not sponsored!) is FlashSticks. They make very nice, good-quality flashcards in various languages, including British Sign Language! 

3. A planner

A physical planner is definitely something every language learner needs. When you write things by hand, they tend to stick in your memory a bit better. 

I personally own two planners and I would like to feature both of them on this list. 

The first one is the Productivity Planner. It’s a nice planner than helps you make your to-do list less overwhelming.

Each day, you decide what the most important thing to do (or to learn) is and there’s a section in the planner to write that down. Then, there’s a separate section for writing down a couple of things that would be great to do (or to learn) once the first thing on the list is done. And finally, there’s a section for a couple of nice-to-have things. 

The other planner I use is the Motivation Journal, which is something I have created to help language learners stay motivated, track their progress and celebrate success.

It includes sections for writing down your plans, your successes and things that you’d like to improve on. It contains some motivational quotes as well. 

A planner is definitely something any language learner will be able to make use of, so a nice little Christmas gift! 

Another idea is to get one of the pretty little notebooks that Lindsay over at Lindsay Does Languages offers. 

4. A resource on how to learn languages 

Like I said above, it’s difficult to buy a resource or a textbook for a language learner when you don’t know exactly what level they’re at. A good compromise will be to get them a resource that will teach them not the language but the techniques and strategies that they will need in order to learn any language effectively. 

Language Learner Pro is exactly that. It’s a course that teaches you how to learn effectively and independently, even if you’re busy. It’s got strategies for learning grammar and vocabulary, and maximising your listening and speaking practice. 

You can get 20% off this course this Christmas. Just use code LLPXMASYT19 at checkout (expires on Christmas Day 2019). 

If you think an online course is not something your language learner friend or family member will enjoy, you can get them a book instead – one that teaches the techniques of learning a foreign language. 

A good example is Benny Lewis’ book Fluent in 3 Months in which he shares the strategies he has used to learn many foreign languages. 

5. A resource on how to learn vocabulary effectively 

This is similar to the idea above, although this gift is slightly more specialist. If you’re looking for a Christmas present for a language learner, you can get them something that will help them master a specific area of the language, such as vocabulary. 

The Vocab Club Premium is an example of such a resource. It’s a self-paced online course that teaches you how to learn vocabulary effectively, make sure you don’t forget it and that you can use it in context when speaking the language. 

The Vocab Club Premium is part of the 5-Minute Language School so I can offer you a 20% discount this Christmas. Use code TVCXMASYT19  at checkout (expires on Christmas Day 2019). 

6. A novel or simplified novel

If you’re buying a Christmas present for someone who’s at least at intermediate or upper-intermediate level, you can just get them a novel or a non-fiction book in the language they’re learning. 

If they’re below that level, get them a simplified novel. Simplified novels are versions of well known novels that have been adapted to make the language a little bit simpler and more accessible for learners who are below a certain level of proficiency. 

7. A language learning-themed phone case, tote bag or laptop case

You may also decide that you just want to get something pretty, something that your language learner friend or family member will be able to carry around with them. In this case, you can find a number of items that are language learning-themed but they’re not for language learning as such. 

For example, Lindsay over at Lindsay Does Languages has a selection of items with very nice language learning-themed designs. They include phone and laptop cases, tote bags, notebooks, and more. 

I hope you found this list useful! There will be more end-of-year content on the blog soon so stay tuned! 

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