Quizlet is one of my favorite classroom technology tools, and guess what – it is one of my students’ favorites, too! From being user-friendly to interactive, it is made for everyone. Here are my top reasons why I’m using Quizlet in the world language classroom and you should be too.
1. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel.
Quizlet is filled with public study sets, all you have to do is search for your topic. So, let’s say I search “la comida.” Over 20 pages of other teachers’ study sets appear, complete with images, Spanish words, English words, and even definitions. From there, you choose which one you like best, copy it, and edit it to your liking. My motto is “Work smarter, not harder.” Thanks to Quizlet, teachers can share and borrow materials.
2. You don’t have to make tests!
A dream come true! Quizlet has a “test” feature. With one click, your test is made for you! Quizlet even allows you to change the format of the test: written, matching, multiple choice, and true or false. Then, print it out, and you have a test already made with your vocabulary and definitions. Again, working smarter, not harder!
3. Quizlet Live
I’ve never seen students so enthusiastic and excited about Spanish class. With Quizlet Live, all students join the game using their electronic device and the code the teacher provides. Quizlet randomly puts the students in small groups (if your set is in Spanish, the groups are animals in Spanish!!). Students work together to answer the questions in a competitive race. The best part – they each have different answers on their screens, so it requires collaboration! One wrong question, and they’re back to the beginning! Every time we play, they ask to play another round, and another, and another!
4. Independent Work
We all have those students that just need extra practice. Instead of making worksheets, which can be boring for both the student and the teacher, have the student(s) use Quizlet. There are plenty of games online to practice spelling and vocabulary. Or, have them make their own flashcards, writing their own definitions. This can really be tailored to meet the needs of every student.
5. Already made printables!
You don’t have to make flashcards or manipulatives if you use Quizlet. I often have my students play games like Pictionary, Charades, or Taboo. They pick a word out of a bag and act it out, draw it, or describe it. Your students can even do matching activities with vocabulary and definitions/pictures. Quizlet has different print options so you can have: a list, a glossary, small, medium, or large flashcards. I use the small flashcards a lot. I print them, cut them up, and give each group a pack of words. It works perfectly!
If you don’t already use Quizlet, I hope that this has convinced you to, and if you do, maybe this will inspire you to use it in another way!
