The holidays are approaching!

The holidays are just around the corner. This is the time of year when we all get a little distracted from studying English. As we think about buying gifts, let’s think about a gift for someone learning English. If you or you know someone is studying English and you want to help them stay on track, stay tuned. 

Some of the best gifts to give someone are those that are actually useful and help someone achieve their goals. I have made a list of my top 10 best gifts to gift someone who is English Learner. These are some of the suggestions that I have found very useful for beginner to intermediate-level English learners.

 My top 10 gifts for English Learners

1. Games:

   word games like Scrabble, Taboo, Apples to Apples, Cards Against Humanity, and Scatecogries. These games are great to expand your vocabulary and American idioms. They are perfect games to play with other native speakers to pick up on new words and idioms.

2. Cookbooks:

   if you or your friend to whom you’re gifting this loves food, cookbooks are a fun way to practice instructions and vocabulary about food. They are also great to learn about American cuisine if you choose a book specifically about American food. 

3. Easy books to read:

   for those who enjoy reading but whose English Learners isn’t super advanced, I suggest the following books to get started on getting comfortable reading English.

   • Harry Potter- J.K Rowling: it’s super easy to start with any of these books as they have been written in several languages and a lot of people from all over the world have seen the movies. It is written in a way that teenagers and kids can understand.
   • To Kill a Mockingbird- Harper Lee: It is a classic American novel read by most high schoolers in the US, including myself. It is about a young boy during the great depression from a small southern town. It touches on racial injustices, classism, and the loss of innocence of a young boy.  
   • The Great Gatsby- F. Scott Fitzgerald: This is also a book I read in school about a mysterious young millionaire obsessed with wanting to reunite with his ex-lover. It even touches on the theme of the American Dream. It was one of the first books I read all the way through and was able to understand more as my English improved. 

4. A journal:

   In a previous video, I mentioned a great way to stay motivated and not get overwhelmed with learning English, is to keep a journal. Each day or each week that you learn something new, jot it down. Give yourself credit for what you have learned. Seeing on paper how much you have learned is an excellent way to stay motivated. 

5. Vocabulary cards:

   They may be found through an app or as physical paper cards. I personally like physical cards to put all around my house but it’s also helpful to have them on the go on your phone. There are many resources where you can even print them yourself for a small price. 

6. Word or phrase a day calendar:

   what a better way to force yourself to learn something new each day. It is not in a textbook or anything that you might consider “boring” learning. It is a fun way to practice and learn new words. You can even write it and keep it in your journal!

7. A Kindle:

   Kindles are not only great to have access to tons of books on the go, they also serve as an English learning tool. It has a built-in dictionary when you press and hold on the word you don’t understand. Just a few minutes a day and your vocabulary will expand exponentially with this feature on the kindle. 

8. Grammarly:

   It is a software tool that has become pretty popular among writers and students, but it is also useful for English learners. Grammarly is a great tool to fine-tune those grammar mistakes when writing English for work or for school. They usually offer subscription-based prices. 

9. A trip:

   spending time in an English-speaking country is the best way to get exposed to native speakers. I highly recommend going alone.  You must depend on only yourself and your abilities to get around an English-speaking country. A lot of my family members have spent a few months with us just to learn English.

10. Our English course:

    the best gift for you or someone who is learning English is a reliable resource to take your English to the next level. The Go Natural English Course will take you from an intermediate level to a fluent English speaker. 

I wish you all the Happiest Holidays to English Learners

I have only been around for only a couple of weeks, but I have grown to love our audiences. I feel very compelled to share my experiences learning English with you all, as I have been in your shoes before. I wish you all the happiest of holidays and hope you achieve all of your dreams and goals. If being a fluent English speaker is one of those things, stay motivated, and look for the resources that will get you to the next level.

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