There are thousands of resources available for people learning French, but which ones really work?
From books to games, there are plenty of great gift ideas that can be useful and fun for people trying to master French.
Often times when it comes to learning a language, people avoid buying the little extras that could really help take their game forward, which makes Christmas the perfect opportunity to give the gift of a useful language tool.
50 French coffee breaks
Coffee Break Languages is a Scottish-based language company that offers great resources for learners in a variety of languages.
In addition to free resources like podcasts, you can also pay to subscribe to their courses at different levels.
One specific resource that makes a perfect stocking filler is their book 50 French Coffee Breaks.
They cost around €15 online, and consist of 5-, 10- and 15-minute French exercises designed to help you get into the habit of doing a little each day.
From alliteration and idioms to recipes and quotations, the activities are designed to be fun and interesting, and are aimed at high beginner to intermediate levels.
If you know people learning other languages, the books are also available in Spanish, Italian and German, and you can pre-order the Swedish and English versions.
French Grammar and Usage by Roger Hawkins and Richard Towle
For those hoping to master French grammar, French Grammar and Usage by Roger Hawkins and Richard Towle is the perfect gift.
The book, which you can find for around €15 (although new copies can cost upwards of €35) is divided into sections, each of which provides a comprehensive and detailed explanation of complex grammatical points.
His double book, Practicing French Grammar, provides exercises for each chapter so you can put your new learning into practice.
This text is often used in French university courses in the UK and is very useful for anyone serious about mastering the grammatical aspect of the language.
Subscription to a French magazine
This is a particularly good gift for someone living outside France and trying to improve their French language skills.
There are magazines on almost every subject in France, due to the nation’s lifelong love of reading and literature.
This means that it should be fairly easy to find a magazine that meets a person’s interests, while also helping them work on their language skills with new material to read each month.
Read more: Six things that show the French love of books and reading
Courses in French alliance
While a French course for a learner would be a very generous gift, you can often find one-off cultural courses and lessons in… French alliance or French Institute In your local area at a more manageable price.
These can range from cooking lessons on how to prepare a classic French dish to talks about different cultural points of interest or books.
there Alliances All over the world, so you can search for the one closest to you and take a look at upcoming events.
Translations of their favorite books
A great way to improve your language level is to read books you already know in French, because they provide you with a basic understanding with which you can learn new words and phrases.
Many popular English-speaking books have been translated into French, so if you know someone has a particular favorite book, purchasing a translation for them will allow them to enjoy the text again while improving their French.
French phrase calendar
The best way to learn a language is to integrate it into your daily life, and one way to do this is to use a calendar in the target language.
These feature new words, phrase, grammatical point or cultural idea for every day of the year, and allow for a low-effort approach to picking up new vocabulary.
There are many options available with a quick Google search bringing up plenty to choose from.
Read more: How to learn French through language acquisition
French games
It is a great Christmas gift because you can use it right away with family members on Christmas Day.
Whether you choose a simple pack of cards – the symbols have different names in French – such as classic Black Cat Or the French version of Cards Against Humanity, it provides a fun way to keep learning relevant and active.
For a little French culture, you can give the gift of a iron ball set, which you can find online or in sports stores like Decathlon – a great toy for when the warmer months arrive.
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Are you looking for the perfect Christmas gift for someone in your life who is learning French? Look no further! We have gathered seven unique and thoughtful gift ideas that are sure to delight any French language learner. From books and language learning tools to cultural experiences and subscription services, there is something for everyone on this list. Whether they are just starting out or well on their way to fluency, these gifts will make their language learning journey even more enjoyable.