Are you looking for the perfect gift for a language-obsessed friend or loved one?
Or perhaps theyâve recently expressed an interest in studying Italian or Japanese, and youâd like to surprise them with a nice present!
If thatâs the case, this is the list for you.
Here are 6 unique (and reasonably priced!) gifts for the language lover in your life!
A Quick Guide on How to Choose the best gift for language-lovers from this list
If youâve never learned a language before but have a friend who is, it can be difficult to come up with a thoughtful gift for him.
These questions will help you to choose the best gifts for language learners.
- Is the gift for a language learner who is a beginner, intermediate, or advanced?
- What are the language learnerâs other interests?
- Is he/she at the beginning, middle, or end of the language process? (learning vocabulary, want to improve speaking, comprehension, or pronunciation, want to grasp more words as an advanced learner)
- What is his motivation for learning the language? (for fun, will live, study, or work abroad, has to study for an exam, is a language aficionado)
Keep these questions in mind as we go on to the list of gifts for language learning.
If youâre having trouble deciding, ask yourself these questions. They should, ideally, help you choose an awesome gift.
PRO TIP: If youâre not sure where they are in the learning process, be a little sneaky. Come talk to them about their learning journey. They are beginners or intermediates, what language skills they are working on, as well as why they are learning the language. Simply take an interest in their language journey and then select a gift depending on their answers.
Language notebook
A shiny new notebook for writing in another language or taking grammar notes is always a good idea.
Every time I get a new notebook, it seems like a whole new universe of possibilities opens up, and Iâm even more motivated to achieve my goals!
However, you should check that the notebook you buy is suitable for your language learner.
Iâve received notebooks with no lines (blank pages for sketching) or with extremely thick spirals that constantly bend and break in my backpack.
The best language notebooks are small and contain lines to help you organize your thoughts.
Trust me when I say that your friend or loved one will appreciate the gesture much more if they can put the present you gave them to good use!
A few gadgets you could get to add to this present are small color-coded sticky notes that can help them separate the journal into sections, lots of pens and highlighters, or blank flashcards for practicing the new words.
Board games
Learning is easier when youâre having fun, and learning languages is no exception.
A language-themed board game makes an excellent present for families or anyone learning a new language.
Board games are terrific gifts for language nerds that you can play after opening gifts on Christmas morning, from classics like Scrabble that are available in practically every language you can think of to new games like Kloo, which comes in French, Spanish, Italian, and English.
Foreign language books
Your language learner may be focused on speaking or learning vocabulary, but many language learners overlook one of the most effective ways to quickly learn vocabulary: reading!
However, you donât want to just buy them any book in the language theyâre learning.
Even for advanced speakers, the greatest novels to read are those that you have already read in your native language!
Itâs even better if theyâre aimed at a younger audience, as the vocabulary will be easier to grasp.
This present will bring a smile to the face of your language learner, whether they are 15 or 55 years old!
Itâs not only a lovely present, but it also shows that you have some knowledge of how to learn a language through reading.
Gadgets for online learning
Thanks to the coronavirus pandemic forcing so many of our social and professional interactions online, we are now in the era of video calls.
Is your loved one learning online?
If you want to spoil a traveler and language enthusiast with a bigger-ticket gift, this is the way to go.
Webcams, headsets, laptops, and microphones you choose.
Find out the best webcamâand the best headset for online language classes.
Read also our dedicated articles about laptops and microphones to maximize their experience of language learning.
Digital voice recorder
A digital voice recorder is my second best friend when learning a new language (after my language notebook, where I write and keep track of my vocabulary).
First, I make a recording of myself saying new terms Iâm learning. Then, when I go to work or just for a walk, I take the recorder with me and listen to the words.
It not only helps me in memorizing the words but also in learning how to pronounce them correctly.
It is much more efficient to record yourself rather than listen to a record if you make an effort.
Because youâve already said those things, when you listen to them again, youâll understand what theyâre saying.
Having a digital voice recorder in your hand and chatting to it makes you feel like youâre making progress with your language skills. Itâs also a simple activity.
Flashsticks: vocabulary post-its
For anyone studying a language, this is the ideal stocking stuffer or Secret Santa present.
Flashsticks are post-its with a vocabulary word and an image that you can stick all over your house, school, business, etc., and are available in Spanish, French, Italian, German, and English.
Theyâre incredibly cute, super practical, and super affordable, plus theyâre available on Amazon!
Choose the best gifts for language learners
This is a list of my language-learning ideas and gifts.
If youâre a language learner, Iâm sure youâll recognize some of the gifts on this list. It will be easy for you to pick the ideal gift for a friend or family member who is studying a foreign language.
If you just have one crazy friend who is a language enthusiast and you arenâtâĤ and youâre not sure which one to choose, simply select one that interests you.
Use my questions at the beginning of this article to find the perfect present for a language learner. They will benefit equally from each of these gifts.
If your language learner is trying to learn Italian, check out our dedicated article: Gift ideas for Italian learners.
Still translating in your head? Wanna speak Italian for real? Check out Stefano's courses to think directly in Italian and become fluent fast!
One Response
These gift ideas are fantastic! As a language learner myself, I can’t wait to try them out. Thank you for sharing this helpful list!