12 Unique Gifts For Language Learners & Guide How To Pick The Right One [2025]

I know it might be challenging to pick the right present for a language learner, especially if you are not the biggest fan of language learning and have no idea what would make a language learner happy.

So let me help you with it. Over the last 15 years, I’ve been learning many languages and using different materials. I’ve already learned 3 foreign languages and keep learning more.

So, in this article, I’ll give you 12 gifts for language learners that will make them happy (from my experience) and benefit them in their language-learning journey.

Let’s choose the right gift together!

12 Unique Gifts For Language Learners

Here is a list of my favorite language-learning gifts and how they’ll help others to learn languages. Scroll down to see a description of each and how they can use it on their language-learning journey:

1. Language Travel Notebook
2. Dice game
3. Storytelling cards
4. Retell a story cards
5. Flashcards
6. Word puzzles
7. Digital voice recorder
8. Subscription to a language app
9. Language tutor online to practice speaking
10. Blank recipe book
11. Foreign language books & magazines
12. Language exchange program/trip

1. Language Travel Notebook

Language Travel Notebook is a tool that will help everybody learn vocabulary and conversational dialogues more effectively.

It’s a notebook to keep track of vocabulary you want to learn within a specific topic (airport, communication in class, accommodation, booking tours, etc.). You can write down words you want to know. Then, carry it everywhere to look up the words whenever needed and remember vocabulary more easily.

It guides you through the exact method I’ve developed over the past 10 years of learning languages independently. It helps you choose vocabulary within 1 topic, write the words down, learn them, and create sentences and dialogues using the vocabulary.

It also contains motivational phrases to keep you motivated during the learning process.

For Whom To Buy?

• beginner, intermediate, and also advanced learners
• for everybody with any passion – they’ll write vocabulary in topics they’re passionate about and interested in
• those who want to learn and keep track of new words and vocabulary
• want to learn full dialogues and sentences
• for all purposes of language learning

➡ Get my Language Travel Notebook here.

2. Dice Game

The dice game is an excellent way to learn a language. You already have to know a decent amount of words in the language to play this game. Once you’re ready, throw the dice and construct sentences of the letters and images that appeared on the dice.

You’ll record your words, and whoever has the most words wins the game.

For Whom To Buy?

• advanced beginners, intermediate & advanced learners
• those who want to refresh their vocabulary, practice it, and want to start thinking in that language
• for those who like to play games and, have fun + learn languages along the way
• those who like to be creative
• better for those who have a friend they can play these dice with (friends or family members who are also learning the language)
• for all purposes of language learning

➡ Get the Dice Game here & start playing.

3. Storytelling Cards

Storytelling cards with images help you to be more flexible in using the language and keep up with a conversation.

Can you relate to the situation when you’re in a foreign country, trying to speak that language (you’ve been learning for ages at school)… but once you’re there, the words simply don’t come to your mind, or you’re afraid of speaking because you feel like you’ll mess the sentences up?

Yes, I know, I’ve been there too.

This game helps you a lot to train your mind. You’ll have images that you have to put in a certain order so that they make a sequence or a story together. After, you have to come up with a story and say it in a foreign language. Difficult?

Well, it doesn’t have to be. You have to practice speaking spontaneously and say whatever comes to your mind. And if you can’t think of that word, try to think of a synonym to describe the story.

It’s a game-changer. It’ll help you shift your language mindset, be more flexible in a conversation, and quickly find words in your head.

For Whom To Buy?

• advanced beginners, intermediate & advanced learners
• those who want to practice speaking, learn new words, and train their mind to speak flexibly, overcome the fear of speaking
• those who like to be creative
• they can play with somebody but also on their own, just creating stories
• for all purposes of language learning

➡ Order Storytelling Cards here.

4. Retell A Story Cards

Retelling a story is similar to storytelling images. But now, it might be even more challenging. The story is already written. You just have to say it in other words. It helps a lot with learning synonyms of words.

Consequently, it makes your speech much more flexible once you try speaking in real life. It’s the perfect way to prepare yourself and overcome the fear of speaking. Remember, practice makes perfect.

For Whom To Buy?

• intermediate & advanced learners
• those who want to practice speaking, enrich their vocabulary with synonyms and new words, and train their mind to speak flexibly
• those who like to be creative
• they can play with somebody but also on their own, just creating stories
• for all purposes of language learning

➡ Get Retell A Story Cards here.

5. Flashcards

Flashcards are a usual but amazing way to learn new vocabulary. The best thing is empty flashcards because you can write down your own words you want to learn and remember.

Choose one of these empty flashcards and make your vocabulary learning more efficient.

For Whom To Buy?

• beginner, intermediate & advanced learners
• those who want to learn new vocabulary and memorize it efficiently
• for all purposes of language learning

➡ Get Flashcards here & start learning.

👉 READ ALSO: How To Set Achievable Language Learning Goals: 9-Step Guide

6. Word Puzzles

Word puzzles also help you to learn and remember words in a foreign language. It’s a lot of fun to look for words in the soup of letters (as the Spanish people say with their ‘Sopa de letras’ expression).

It can also calm you emotionally down after a stressful day. So, if you don’t feel like learning a language on that day, but you know you should, this might be a perfect way to keep up with your learning process.

For Whom To Buy?

• advanced beginner, intermediate & advanced learners
• those who want to refresh their vocabulary and play a game
• for those who are busy but want to keep up with their learning process
• for all purposes of language learning

➡ Get Word Puzzles here (Spanish version).

7. Digital Voice Recorder

When I’m learning a new language, a digital voice recorder is my second best friend (after my language notebook). First, I record myself pronouncing new words I’m currently learning.

Then I take the recorder with me when going to work or just for a walk, listening to the words. It helps me not only to memorize words but also to learn the correct pronunciation.

Having a digital voice recorder in your hand and talking to it also prepares you for real conversations later on. And it’s quite fun.

For Whom To Buy?

• beginner, intermediate & advanced learners
• those who want to learn new vocabulary and memorize it efficiently
• for those who want to improve their pronunciation
• those who want to practice speaking and prepare for real conversations
• for all purposes of language learning

➡ Get a Digital Voice Recorder here & practice talking.

8. Subscription To A Language App

Another great gift for language learners is a subscription to a language app or platform.

I use Lingopie. It’s like Netflix for language learning. You can watch a movie or TV series in a foreign language. It enables you to save the vocabulary you want to learn and create flashcards from it. You can then also record yourself pronouncing the words. After, it’ll correct your pronunciation.

Lingopie is an incredible way to learn languages. It’s relaxing, and sometimes you don’t even realize you’re learning a language because you’re simply watching a movie or a TV show.

You can buy it for someone as a gift. Then give them a username and password so that the person can start learning a language.

For Whom To Buy?

• beginner & intermediate learners
• those who are busy and don’t want to play games or write their own flashcards – everything is planned and prepared for them in the app
• those who want to learn new vocabulary, how to use it in sentences, practice their understanding and listening skills, and pronunciation
• who like watching movies/TV shows & Netflix
• for all purposes of language learning

➡ Get Lingopie Subscription here & watch movies in different languages.

9. Language Tutor Online To Practice Speaking

I’m a firm believer that speaking is the most important language skill. Because if we can’t speak, it feels like we haven’t made any progress in language learning, right?

So, this is probably the one of the best gifts for language learners. I use iTalki to practice speaking online with tutors. I’ve been practicing Spanish with them, which has helped me significantly.

iTalki is a platform where you can find many tutors that suit your interest, book a lesson with them, and talk to them online while they help you correct your sentences and grammar and motivate you.

So, get a subscription for them on iTalki and help them practice speaking with native speakers worldwide.

➡ Get a Language Tutor Online on iTalki & practice speaking.

10. Blank Recipe Book

I always encourage my students to do their favorite activity in the language they’re learning. In this case, an empty recipe book might be a perfect present for your beloved language learner, especially is he/she loves cooking or baking.

Give them an empty recipe book to write down recipes in the foreign language they’re learning. Just imagine how cool it’ll be. So, if their passions are languages and cooking, this comes together perfectly. 

Then, they can cook according to the recipe while practicing new words and sentences.

💡 PRO TIP: Similarly, you can think of other passions the language learner has and get creative. Think of something where he gets to do his favorite activity and, at the same time, practice the language.

For Whom To Buy?

• beginner & intermediate learners
• those who are passionate about other things – cooking, sports, art, science, travel, etc.
• those who want to learn new vocabulary and construct sentences
• it’ll help them to improve their writing skills
• for all purposes of language learning

➡ Get a Blank Recipe Book here.

11. Foreign Language Books & Magazines

Foreign language books are always a great idea if you still haven’t found your favorite gift from this list. They help language enthusiasts improve their understanding and reading skills and give them a general feeling about the language.

Another great idea is to give them a foreign language magazine. These often talk about the countries where the language is spoken and introduce the reader to the countries’ culture, traditions, sports, and daily life.

They can also cut images from magazines and create their own learning material, which I love to do.

For Whom To Buy?

• beginner, intermediate & advanced learners
• those who want to enhance their reading and understanding skills and learn more vocabulary
• for all purposes of language learning

➡ Pick a foreign language book or magazine here.

12. Language Exachange Program/Trip

Well, a language course isn’t always an easy and cheap option. But it’s the one that will help them improve their language enormously.

If you go to that country to learn the language, there is no better way to learn a language. Stay with locals and be encircled by people who speak that foreign language, try to communicate with them, and you’ll learn faster than ever.

So what I’m trying to say here is not to buy them an exchange program that costs 5000 USD/EUR or more. No, but you can support them in some way. You can give them a little bit of cash for that purpose. Tell them to save the cash and pay a part of the exchange program. 

Or buy a flight ticket to the country where the language is spoken and go on a trip together, so he/she can practice the language with locals.

For Whom To Buy?

• beginner & intermediate learners
• those who have time and want to travel in the country where the language is spoken, experience local life, practice speaking with locals
• for all purposes of the language learning

➡ Check out one of the language programs at EF here.

👉 READ ALSO: 7 Benefits Of Learning A Language For Travel

How To Choose The Right Gift For Language Learners?

If you aren’t a fan of language learning, but you have a friend who is crazy about languages, it might be difficult to find the perfect language present.

Ask yourself these questions to be confident in choosing the right gift:

💡 Is the gift for a beginner or intermediate/advanced language learner?

💡 What other passions does the language learner have?

💡 At which stage of a language process is he/she? (learning vocabulary, wants to improve speaking, understanding, or pronunciation, wants to learn more words as an advanced learner)

💡 What’s his purpose of learning the language? (just for fun, will live, study, or work abroad, needs to learn for an exam, is passionate about languages)

Then, head back to the list of language gifts and choose the right one based on your answers.

PRO TIP: If you are unsure at which stage of the learning process they are, be a little sneaky. Come and ask them about their learning journey. They are beginners or intermediate, what they are currently learning, which language skills they’re working on, and why they are learning the language. Be interested in their language journey and choose a present based on their answers :).

BONUS: Most Important Skills Of Language Learning

I always recommend working on all language skills to achieve success in your language learning journey.

I’ve written an in-depth article that covers these four skills (and more), with tips on how to develop each one, especially focusing on mastering the most crucial skill: speaking.

Click the image below to explore more resources and see the complete picture:

FAQs

I’ve also answered some frequently asked questions about gifts and language learning in general. So check my answers below:

What To Get Someone Who Is Learning A Language?

Books, a subscription to a language app or platform, or a language notebook are some of the best gifts for language learners. They’ll serve them well on their language-learning journey.

What To Get For Someone Learning Spanish?

Conversational lessons with a Spanish tutor. You can go online and get a gift card from iTalki, for instance, which is a language platform with various tutors. The language person can then use the gift card to practice Spanish with a native speaker, which will improve his Spanish skills the most.

How Do You Help Someone Learn A New Language?

You can find a native speaker for them to talk to or buy a plane ticket to the country where the language is spoken, so they can speak with locals in real life. It’s also great to buy a language notebook for them to keep track of their language learning and mark new vocabulary to learn.

WRAP-UP: Best Gifts For Language Learners

These are some unique gifts for language learners I recommend buying for your friend or a family member, whose passion is learning languages. I hope my little guides will help you navigate through them and choose the best present they’ll like. And as I mentioned, just ask them about their language learning journey, what they are currently learning, and it’ll help you to figure out what’s currently the best present for them.

If you have any questions or need help learning languages, contact me at info(at)voicesoftravel.com.

Happy Learning!