With just a few days to go until the Christmas holiday, chances are you might be feeling busy right now. When you’ve got gifts to wrap and trees to light, how can you keep learning languages?
Don’t worry, it’s not impossible. In this podcast and article, I’ve got handy tips for you to keep you in touch with any language - no matter if it’s Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah or Pagan Yule season.
You can also find this podcast by searching “Fluent Show” on 🍎 apple podcasts 📣Spotify 🔶Overcast 📻TuneIn Radio 🏆and anywhere you get podcasts
1) Surround Yourself With Your Target Language
At this time of the year, you’ll probably spend a lot of time in the home. You may already be decorating your house, which is a great opportunity for subtle language immersion.
The psychological concept behind this tip is that of priming, which describes the way your brain reacts to even the tiniest cues and adjusts its assumptions and expectations accordingly. You can use it to your advantage by decorating with a little language flair.
How about
- a few decorations adorned with words in your target language
- multilingual cards and greetings this year (try Irregular Endings)
- making and serving different foods and drink, inspired by your target culture
Even if your items don’t have any words in your target language on them, they will remind you that you’re a learner of another language and bring your loved ones in on your project.
2) Seek Out Tutorials in Your Target Language
This time of year is perfect for homemade gifts, decorations, and food. If you have an IRL friend who practices your target language with you, get out of the “1-to-1 conversation” routine and make something together!
For added bonuses, use a tutorial in your target language. This is excellent practice for reading comprehension and boosts your motivation by giving you something instant to show.
For example I’ve made biscotti before from a recipe in my Welsh learners’ magazine and then I packaged them up and gave them to friends and family as Christmas presents.
Look out for
- Crafting tutorials and magazine articles in your target language
- Recipes for seasonal food
- Crafting materials and instructions
3) Host a Language Party
The holiday season is a time to get together, not to sit alone and stare at Duolingo or Memrise. Here are a few ideas for bringing a bit of language flair to your holiday party:
Play Games Together
There are so many great word games that broaden your horizons about English, and it’s not too difficult to adapt them to a multilingual group. For example, guess the answers to a round of Pictionary or charades in another language, or get your friends to act out your vocabulary lists for you!
For more ideas, read these ideas for language learning games in a group.
Discover Music in Your Language
Play music in your target language and explore and share how they celebrate the season. If possible, get out and visit a celebration in the community of your language. There’s lots going on and during the holiday season most people love to open their doors.
If you haven’t found any music in your target language yet, go straight to my Spotify for Language guide or this multilingual Christmas song made by Lindsay Williams.
Watch a Christmas Movie
Many people have a favourite film about Christmas, and if you don’t have one yet then Netflix is ready to help out with every new instalments of the Christmas Prince series.
Here are a few ideas:
- Un conte de Noël in French
- 3 Haselnüsse für Aschenbrödel,a German/Czech 70s classic
And of course, you can always put target language subtitles on Die Hard!
If you have not found a festive movie in your target language yet, now is the time to ask and enjoy some well-deserved downtime.
What If Your Target Language Has No Christmas Season?
No worries!
Use decorations that suit the season, and learn about celebrations at this time of year
Sneak a little snack or food from your target language environment into the boring old Christmas with Aunt Bridget
Use festive colours and glitter pens to write your vocabulary lists and language notes
Take pictures of your decorations and add them to your digital flashcard apps (for example, Smartcards + lets you easily add photos)
Find Time and Focus For Studying Your Language
The winter holiday season often means a drop in productivity. You are likely interrupted in your routine, and you may find yourself with lots of extra tasks on your plate.
If you find yourself wanting stay productive without the added stress, take my short language course Focus & Fluency.
It’s a proven way to get more motivated and kickstart your learning with smarter study techniques.
No matter what you do, merry Christmas if you do celebrate it - nadolig llawen - frohe Weihnachten, and comment below sharing your favourite songs and movies in your target language.