All I want for Christmas is…. (Gifts for linguists!)
It’s December, so I feel fairly well justified in mentioning Christmas. If you are one of those people who has already bought and wrapped all the gifts by early September, then this blog may give you ideas ready for next year! Otherwise, for those who, like me, are not quite done yet (or haven’t even started), here are some ideas of gifts to help the linguist in your life. (PS – They are suitable for birthdays too!)
Story dice
Essentially, these are a set of cubes with a different picture on each side. They are great for encouraging young learners to tell stories and use their imagination. They can also be a super helpful prompt for adult learners who just need a few ideas to help them practise tenses, adjectives, story flow, question formation… or so many other aspects of language learning. I own two sets so that I have a wider range of pictures. One of them is featured in this video:
Story telling dice from Tiger – YouTube
Bingo!
When we think of Bingo, do we think of large groups of seniors gathered in the village hall for a fundraiser, or maybe one of those larger halls owned by a company who offer nothing but bingo? It may not be your personal idea of fun, but a bingo set can be a great resource when it comes to practising numbers. You can play in the classic way, or alternatively try one of these:
- Everyone picks three numbers which they keep secret. Take it in turns to say your number in your target language, then the others write it down. Who gets the most right?
- Use the bingo tiles or balls to make longer numbers by placing them next to each other. Phone numbers and prices can both be done in this way. Then practise saying the number.
Books
If you are learning a language, then this probably makes you think of grammar workbooks, or textbooks. Why not give the gift of a real story book, with vocabulary and comprehension exercises included? Olly Richards and Richard Simcott are the authors of a set of French books including both beginner and intermediate levels. These come highly recommended by my students!
Language magazines
If the person you are buying for is a fluent speaker, then they may be delighted by a magazine on a topic of interest to them. Cookery, gardening, celebrity gossip – it’s all out there in their target language just the same as in English. Alternatively, if the recipient is a teenager, or a newer learner, then Mary Glasgow magazines are a great option. French, German, Spanish or English, there are a range of levels available with engaging content and some extra vocabulary help.
Welcome to Mary Glasgow Magazines – Mary Glasgow Magazines (maryglasgowplus.com)