Christmas YouTube videos to stay engaged with your language

At this busy time of year, I have to admit that the regular daily focussed language study sessions that are usually central to my language learning life have rather fallen by the wayside. You know the story: work, life, seasonal festivities ramping up. However busy I get, though, I do keep listening to my languages: German, Basque and Welsh radio daily (while showering and shaving, preparing food and eating); Russian on YouTube with my morning coffee, and intermediate Japanese and Hungarian podcasts (as I commute or jog). At this time of year, I like to bring some Christmas YouTube videos into the mix as well: festive listening to help me stay engaged with my languages.

Language learning and the rhythm of the year

If you’re a regular around here, you’ll know that I like to tie my language learning to the rhythm of the year.

Come mid-winter, Christmas and New Year celebrations are, of course, a big part of that annual cycle.

I’m a introvert’s introvert, but I also make sure to cultivate connections with others through my new language(s), over the long term.

These two impulses came together a couple of weeks ago, when I attended London Basque Society’s Christmas meal, held in a community hall. It’s something I look forward to each year.

The food and company were as good as ever and I got to deploy my Basque.

Here I am at the event, showing off the Christmas tree.

Seasonal listening practice: Christmas YouTube videos in six languages

Talking of Christmas trees, and inspired by the season, I thought today I’d share links to some of the best Christmas YouTube videos I found; in six “major” languages and all on the subject of decorating the aforementioned vegetation.

The list’s at the bottom of this post.

I don’t know any of these channels well, so I can’t vouch for their wider content.

What I can say, having watched the videos, is that each one will give you something seasonal (if you’re learning one of these languages, of course). Each is potentially a great resource to spice up your language learning at Christmas.

How to use native-level videos at any level

If You’re Upper-Intermediate (B2) or Above

If you’re an upper-intermediate (B2) learner or above, this sort of native-level content should be a solid part of your listening diet.

You can simply enjoy the YouTube videos. Lean back, and let the flow of natural language wash over you. You’ll pick up vocabulary, phrasing, and intonation from context.

If You’re a Beginner or Lower Intermediate

If you’re a beginner or lower intermediate student, there’s still a lot you can do with material that’s “too difficult”, such as these videos (or any others you can find):

watch once and try to catch individual words and phrases;
after you’ve seen what’s in the vid, hit your dictionary and dig out some vocabulary to describe what you’ve seen;
watch again and see if you pick out more words and phrases this time, including new ones you’ve looked up;
write a simple, one- or two-hundred-word description of the content (and use it as the basis of a conversation, if you work with a language exchange partner or teacher).

No time for language study? Here’s the minimum you can do

But what if – like me – you don’t have time for any of that as Christmas approaches? That’s when a bit of minimalist, passive festive listening practice can keep things ticking over.

Pour yourself a glass of mulled wine and kick back for a few minutes in your fave armchair.

Hit “play”, let the Christmas spirit of your chosen vid wash over you …

… and strengthen your self-image as a future fluent speaker!

Season’s Greetings!