5 Last minute gifts for language enthusiasts

Posted by Megan Lillick on Dec 21, 2016 10:22:15 AM

With Christmas less than a week away, we thought it’d be nice to give those last minute holiday shoppers a few gift ideas for their language loving friends and fam. Maybe, though, your presents are all purchased, wrapped, and already under the tree. In that case, good for you! But what about those stocking stuffers? Or just one more thoughtful, thought-provoking gift? It is the season of giving after all.

The following are our top five favorite gift ideas for language learners ranging from tangible products and mobile apps to once in a lifetime gifts that don’t necessarily fit in gift wrapped packages because, heck, they’re packages themselves. The order below is based on price from most affordable to more expensive.

Memrise

Memrise is a mobile application boiled down to a science. It is gamified scientific language learning by means of mems and word associations. Its language tips and courses have been created by the Memrise community itself, giving it a more authentic learning experience for the user. The app tests you continuously, making sure the brain workout is on track and your newly learned vocabulary and phrases grow stronger and stronger. It even reminds you of your learning accomplishments so you can gage your progress and be proud of yourself. 

This is a free application, but if you want to be an extra nice gift giver, we recommend purchasing the Premium subscription for your language lover. Premium gives the user more language learning features like Difficult Words, an audio mode, and in-depth reporting for as little as 10 euros a month.

FlashSticks® Post-it® Notes

FlashSticks® Post-it® Notes make great stocking stuffers because of their slender, sleek size. They can easily slip alongside the candy and other random stuffers already saturating the sock. FlashSticks® Post-it® Notes are a fun and practical way to learn a new language. The vocabulary printed on the post-its are undoubtedly legible as the word to learn is enlarged. Below it, the word is spelled out phonetically. There’s a small illustration depicting the word, and even the word written in your native tongue. Best of all, their adhesiveness allows them to stick to anything, pretty much anywhere.

Well, almost anything. And when the object is not necessarily easy to stick to, like for instance Grandma, the illustration really comes in hand. Now you can post-up Grandma in your living room with the rest of the family. Now she lives on and so does your new ‘family’ vocab.

FlashSticks® Post-it® Notes really do allow the language learner to incorporate new vocab into everyday life. Simply stick and learn all around the classroom or house. They’re also very affordable, priced at only six euros for 100 unique words. Buy today to get their speedy delivery in one or two working days. You're little (or not so little anymore) language learner will love you, Santa!

Scrabble

Scrabble is the classic board game for the whole family. In fact, since it was produced, over 100 million sets of the game have been sold in 29 different languages making it easily the world's best selling word game.

And because we know you’ll be spending lots of quality time with the fam this holiday season, why not make Scrabble a gift for all? Retailed at about 17 euros, this would be a thoughtful gift from Santa for the entire family. Get everyone onboard (literally) learning a new language or just have them improve their native one. No matter what, it’s a gift we recommend for all ages and stages in the language learning process. 

Lingoda

Lingoda is the perfect gift for the language learner who cannot commit to a regular language course at a local language school due to his or her hectic schedule. It’s also a thoughtful gift for the language learner that prefers learning from the comfort of home. Maybe he or she soaks up more vocabulary in sweatpants from the couch. Or maybe they’re most freed up during their lunch hour for a class at their desk. To each his or her own, and that’s why Lingoda has been quite the success.

Lingoda is an online language school offering English, German, French and Spanish lessons through Skype classes. So yeah, there really isn’t a need to get out of those sweats and off the couch. Lingoda fits right into the language learners’ schedule at home or the office.

Subscription prices vary based on the learners’ needs and availability. The Basic monthly subscription is only 99 euros. The most popular, Pro subscription, can be purchased for 149 euros a month. The top tier, Premium, rolls in at 249 euros montly.

Language Immersion

This is the ultimate gift you could give to your language learning loved one. Sure it has a bit bigger price tag, but it definitely has a longer shelf life. This is the gift that truly keeps on giving.

Send your loved one abroad to a place where they’ve always wanted to go perfect their language skills. You may wonder, though, how to “package” such a gift, and even how one would go about purchasing something so genuine.

Well, here are a couple ways to wrap it up. Perhaps a simple note will do, saying you would like to pay their way abroad. Or, you can mock up a gift certificate with the price you’re willing to spend to make their study abroad dreams come true.

As great of a gift this is, we recommend after a price is decided on the gift, to let the language learner take the ropes in the planning. They know their availability and needs best.

These days language learners have several options when it comes to planning a language immersion abroad. Some choose to go through an agency that plans every single detail. Mind you, agencies often charge a hefty service fee for all the leg work, and they don't know your exact needs. Many times students are placed with host families that have mismatched lifestyles to their own, ultimately making their stay uncomfortable an unfulfiling. Agencies don't know you as much as you know you, which is why several people decide to DIY (tailor-make) their own study abroad adventure themselves. Today with platforms like Abroadwith, one can easily do this. They can create their entire language immersion on their own; from finding their ideal host family and language school nearby.

Well that's it, folks. Will any of these last minute gifts make it under your tree this year? Have any other great gift ideas for language learners? If so, we'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

All the best and happy holidays!