Gifts for Language Learners in 2020

Cast your mind back to March 2020. Or maybe not; it was a scary time. But one of the trends that appeared once people realised they would be home a lot more, and some would have a lot more time on their hands, is a spike in language learning -- or at least, a spike in the intention to learn a language. Maybe there's a person with that intention in your life. Or maybe there's someone who's been studying French or German for years. Either way, help is at hand for the perfect gift for them in 2020.

Audiobooks

Audiobooks are a great way to learn a language or even just train your ear to get used to the sounds of it. When you buy a gift membership for Libro.fm, your recipient can choose which books to listen to according to their interests and levels. They can choose to listen to kids' books, for example, or an adult book at a slower rate, or to listen to an audiobook and read along on paper when they are figuring out how the language is read.

Board Games

Scrabble is, of course, the quintessential word game, available in a wide variety of languages, and you don’t even need an opponent. Challenging yourself regularly is a great way to build vocabulary. Bananagrams is another good one to try, as well as other games such as Pictionary and Taboo: for learners up to intermediate level, I’d recommend the children’s version of these. My local toy shop, Labyrinth on Capitol Hill, would be a great place to get these.

A Calendar

One key to language learning is consistency. These daily desk calendars from Living Language will help build up knowledge a little at a time. And when you buy them from Bookshop.org, you're investing in independent bookshops, too.

Fridge Magnets

Who can resist a bit of fridge poetry? And all the more so when it’s educational as well as fun? Go to magnetpoetry.com for magnet kits in French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Swedish and Norwegian.

Lessons!

Maybe you know someone who would really value the occasional feedback on their language skills, or the opportunity to practice conversation or ask questions on the more tricky aspects of grammar. Some language tutors, offer gift vouchers so that the giftee can book themselves in at their own convenience for some extra practice.

Magazine Subscriptions

A specialist language-learning magazine is an invaluable tool. For adult learners of French at all levels, there’s Bien Dire; for Spanish, you can’t do better than Punto Y Coma. Mary Glasgow is an organisation that publishes magazines for teenage language learners. For more advanced learners, a great option is to find a mainstream magazine allied with their interest: Vogue, or National Geographic, or France Football, for example. Whatever your friend or family member is into, there’s bound to be something for them.

A Planner

A few years ago, something called a Passion Planner changed my life. As well as the expected calendar pages, it's got space for task lists, monthly and weekly goals, and extra room for notes which would be ideal for writing down new vocabulary each week. This planner from a company started by a young woman just a few years ago will help the language learner to schedule in practice and sessions with their tutor as well as set goals throughout the year to help them reach the level they are aiming for.

A Practical Guide

Whether they’ve tried to learn before and got stuck, or are starting from scratch and are not sure where to begin, my eBook will help. Written from eight years' experience of teaching Spanish and French to adults, it’s packed full of tips about strategies and resources for learning, and answers questions like “how can I stay motivated?” and “do I really have to learn grammar?”. You can snap it up at any ebook retail store.