Six christmas gift ideas for people learning french

CHRISTMAS OFFERS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE HELPFUL RESOURCES THAT LANGUAGE LEARNERS MAY NOT BUY FOR THEMSELVES There are thousands of resources out there for people learning French, but

which ones really work? From books to games, there are lots of great gift ideas which can be both useful and fun for people trying to master the French language. Often when it comes to

language learning people avoid buying themselves the little extras that can really help move their level forward, which makes Christmas the perfect opportunity to gift a helpful 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. As well as free resources such

as podcasts, you can also pay to subscribe to their courses at different levels. One particular resource which makes a perfect stocking filler is their 50 French Coffee Breaks book. Costing

around €15 online, it consists of 5, 10 and 15 minute French exercises designed to help you get into the habit of practising a little every day. Activities are designed to be fun and

interesting, from anagrams and idioms to recipes and quotations, and are aimed at a high beginner to intermediate level. If you know people learning other languages, the books are also

available for Spanish, Italian and German, and you can pre-order the Swedish and English versions. FRENCH GRAMMAR AND USAGE BY ROGER HAWKINS AND RICHARD TOWELL For those hoping to master

French grammar, French Grammar and Usage by Roger Hawkins and Richard Towell is the ideal gift. The book, which you can find for around €15 secondhand (although new copies can cost upwards

of €35) is divided into sections, each giving a comprehensive explanation and breakdown of complex grammar points. Its twin book, Practising French Grammar offers 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 grammar side of

language. A SUBSCRIPTION TO A FRENCH MAGAZINE This is a particularly good gift for someone living outside of France who is trying to improve their French skills. Magazines on almost every

subject exist in France, due to the nation’s enduring love of reading and literature. This means it should be fairly simple to find a magazine that meets the interests of the person, while

also helping them to work on their language skills with fresh material to read each month. READ MORE: SIX THINGS THAT SHOW THE FRENCH LOVE FOR BOOKS AND READING COURSES AT THE _ALLIANCE

FRANÇAISE_ While a French course for a learner would be a very generous gift, you can often find one-off cultural courses and lessons at the _Alliance Française_ or _l’Institut Français_ in

your local area for a more manageable price. These can range from cooking lessons on how to make a classic French dish, to talks about different cultural points of interest or books. There

are _Alliances_ all over the world, so you can search for your nearest one and simply take a look at their upcoming events. TRANSLATIONS OF THEIR FAVOURITE BOOKS A great way to improve your

language level is to read books that you are already familiar with in French, as it provides you with a base understanding on which to identify new words and phrases. Many popular Anglophone

books have been translated into French so if you know that the person has a particular favourite, buying them the translation will allow them to enjoy the text all over again whilst they

improve their French. READ MORE: HOW TO LEARN FRENCH THROUGH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION FRENCH GAMES These make a great Christmas present because you can instantly put them to use with family

members on Christmas Day. Whether you opt for a simple pack of cards - the symbols have different names in French – a classic like _Le Chat Noir_ or the French version of Cards Against

Humanity, it offers a fun way to keep learning relevant and active. For a bit of French culture you could gift a _pétanque_ set, which you can find online or in sports shops like Decathlon -

a great game for when the warmer months arrive. RELATED ARTICLES GAMES TO IMPROVE YOUR FRENCH LANGUAGE SKILLS 5 FRENCH FILMS TO WATCH IN DECEMBER TO IMPROVE YOUR FRENCH