Language learning during the Christmas break: Stay tuned - relaxed and effective
The Christmas break is just around the corner - time for family, friends, good food and a bit of peace and quiet. But what to do if your language course is paused and you don't want to miss out? No need to worry! Even during the vacations, you can keep your language skills fresh with small, effective exercises - without any stress. Here are our 8 tips on how to stay on the ball and enjoy the Christmas season at the same time:

1.    Read in the foreign language
Whether it's a book, a magazine, a blog or simple articles, reading in your target language is a great way to expand your vocabulary and develop a feel for the language. You don't have to choose heavy novels; children's books, short stories, comics or even "simple literature" are perfect if you're a beginner. Advanced learners can try their hand at newspaper articles or literature. The important thing is that you enjoy it!

2.    Listen to podcasts or audio books
Podcasts are ideal for improving your listening comprehension - and they fit perfectly into any situation: during sports, cooking, tidying up or going for a walk. My recommendation is to listen to "normal" podcasts in your target language on topics that interest you. Of course, there are also podcasts aimed specifically at language learners, but I would only recommend these for very low language levels. Audiobooks are another relaxing way to immerse yourself in the language - maybe you can even find a Christmas tale?

3.    Watch movies or series in the foreign language
The holidays are the perfect opportunity to watch movies or series in your target language. Start with subtitles in your native language to familiarize yourself. As you become more confident, you can switch to subtitles in the foreign language - this will not only help you with listening comprehension, but also with recognizing sentence structures and vocabulary. And who knows - maybe you'll even discover a few new favorite films?
 

4.    Repeat vocabulary
A short vocabulary training session once or twice a week is enough to keep your knowledge fresh. Use flashcards, language learning apps or try to incorporate the new words into a short story. Bonus tip: Write your New Year's wishes in the foreign language - this provides variety and exercises at the same time.
 

5.    Sing Christmas carols in the foreign language
There are Christmas carols in almost every language, and you may already know many of them in your mother tongue. Pick out a few songs in your target language, listen to them and sing along. This is not only fun, but also helps you to improve your pronunciation and learn new words.
 

6.    Write short texts or messages
Use the holidays to surprise friends or family with a message in your foreign language - an email, a postcard or a short WhatsApp message are perfect practice opportunities. Or write a few sentences about your Christmas vacation in a notebook, all to yourself. This way you can practise grammar and creativity at the same time.
 

7.    Play with the language
Language games can be a fun way to expand your knowledge. Try apps with word games, crossword puzzles in the foreign language or language learning games such as "20 questions". If you are with others, you can play guessing games together, e.g. paraphrase or pantomime words.
 

8.    Plan your learning goals for the new year
Use the quieter days to think about your learning goals. What do you want to achieve next year? What learning methods have worked well for you so far and what would you like to change? Maybe you're even planning a language trip or an exchange - the anticipation is motivating!

As you can see, the Christmas break is a wonderful opportunity to practise your language skills in a creative and relaxed way. It's not about cramming for hours on end, but about integrating the language into your everyday life in a fun way. Not only will you start the new year well prepared, but you'll also enjoy learning - and that's the most important thing after all. Happy holidays and have fun trying it out!