The holiday season is in the air, and it’s the time when family, love, and giving are at the top of the tree in many countries! Whatever holiday you are planning to celebrate, there are many loved ones around you for whom you may buy annual gifts as part of your own cultural traditions. For lovers of language learning, what cool gifts are out there to bring a smile to their faces this holiday season?
Whether they are a dip in and dip out culture vultures or into serious studying, we all love that moment when we know our gift has really hit the spot! Check out our 10 favorite gifts for language-lovers:
1) Kindle:
Kindle is a great resource that gives access to a whole host of useful e-resources. With this handy device, your loved one(s) can access fantastic language learning resources available in the Kindle store. At their own convenience, they can browse, read eBooks online, access language magazines and other digital media all through a single touch. Plus, Kindle devices are available on many platforms and even the Android system. Check out the range of Kindle language phrasebooks from Eton Institute.
2) Online Language Courses:
They are a convenient and affordable option. Cudoo offers 160+languages and dialects so there is something for everyone! Now, it’s not likely that you will want to learn 160 languages at the same time, but it’s seriously fun to study one language, and then dip in and dip out of others depending on what, who, where and when you are. Cudoo’s courses are 100% online and self-paced so you can learn anytime, anywhere.
3) Online Private Tutor:
A private tutor is a nice idea, especially for people person learners who really want to work on the pronunciation. A private tutor can quickly help a learner correctly articulate words, practice their language skills in real settings, and even offer to motivate when the going gets tough. According to B.F Skinner’s operant conditioning theory of learning, responses are strengthened when reinforced by rewards such as even verbal approval and praise. A private tutor might achieve just that, as their role is to help at a very individual level. Check out the options with Eton Institute Live Online.
4) A trip to the destination:
What better way to learn a language than to go to its source! There’s a reason that so many schools organize overseas trips and exchange programs. There is no better way to work on language skills than being there, amongst the thick of it with native speakers. And now for the technical part: this is a method supported by persuasive models of social learning theories where theorists in this field call attention to the importance of observation, vicarious reinforcements and even imitation in the process of learning as a great way of motivating a learner. In other words, hearing the language all around you is a superb way to inspire you to want to have a go yourself. A weekend break or holiday overseas is a very special gift for that very special language lover in your life.
5) iPod Touch:
iPod touch is simply a handheld PC. It can be a very useful device for language learners as it allows them to download resources, watch videos online, meet and speak tutors online and listen to language podcasts. All they need is a connection to the internet through WiFi.
6) Sticky Notes:
These are colorful pieces of sticky brilliance that one can stick around their house, car or any surfaces. They can be a great way of helping learners memorize words, translations, and even their pronunciation through their phonetic transcriptions printed on the cards. Simply write the ‘word’ for the item and then stick it on for learning reinforcement and practice 24/7. Here’s an example: the Spanish word for ‘table’ is mesa; simply write it on the sticky note and label the ‘table’ in your home or office! A cheap and effective gift idea and great for stocking fillers or cute surprises.
7) Scanner Pen:
How can this help? This is a smart handheld scanning device that can scan just about any text, numbers or images automatically. The scanned information can be scanned from any books, notebooks, text editing applications or even from the web. Additionally, it is a multilingual scanning device that can scan documents in hundreds of languages. This can save a learner a lot of time, plus allows them to learn a language using their preferred reading device.
8) New Headphones:
This is a gift that can be integrated into language learning modes such as through audio or visual resources. Good headphones are worth their weight in gold, so learners can use hear language audio clearly and even talk to their tutors and language learning buddies online. The perfect combo gift!
According to a recent Wiley research article, the language learning rate is greatly influenced by aptitude, integrative motivation, and mode of presentation. Learners high on integrative motivation learn faster than those who are low, and the rate of learning is more rapid under visual and written conditions.
You can make a great difference this holiday season by motivating anyone you know who is a lover of languages with gifts that inspire, motivate and support them on their language learning journey.
Andrie Steliou
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