Quizlet - Learn the Lingo







Before I start blogging on about Quizlet, I wanted to say a little bit about what will be coming up over the next few months. 
From the title of the blog, you will probably have figured out that this is aimed at those in TESOL interested in ICT - so that's English language teachers, trainers, mentors or educators and pretty much ANYONE interested in using digital tools for learning purposes. Once a week, I'll post a blog about a tool, build some example materials using it and then embed it in the post. I will be designing the materials I make for teacher trainees - as I am particularly interested in teacher education but I'll also offer some suggestions about how the tools can be used in other disciplines or with other learners ✌

 Oh and at the end of each post, I will comment on the best / worst thing about the tool I've been discussing. 

So, Quizlet

For those that have never come across it - Quizlet in its own words aims to help "students and their teachers practice and master whatever they're learning". Essentially, users build or find vocabulary sets and then study them. Now, I hear you asking where is the fun in that?!? Well, the beauty in Quizlet lies in HOW you study a vocabulary set... There are 8 different tools for studying any given set - from the simple flashcard tool, which is pretty much rote learning to the match (shown below↓) and live tools, which see users race against the clock and play interactively, respectively. 
In a nutshell, Quizlet makes learning vocabulary less like reading a dictionary and much more fun!

The Quizlet I made as an example (click me to see it on Quizlet) this week is aimed at preparing trainee-teachers with lesson plan lingo. I remember when I did my CELTA (around six years ago now - I really feel like that should be impossible) that I found it difficult to get my head around all the new terminology. The idea behind the 'Lesson Preparation Terminology' set I have created it pretty self-explanatory - before trainee takes the course they can be sent a link to the set and learn the vocabulary before they even enter the class 🙌

 By learning the lingo before embarking on the course, trainees would be much better prepared to write their lesson plans and it would even help with their input sessions. IMAGINE THAT! 
You can test out the Quizlet I made above...          ↑ you can change the study mode but using the drop-down menu. I am pretty sure you'll have a million and one ideas about sets YOU could create. - 

 Buuuut here a link to a few other sets (from other disciplines) that are free to use :
Hopefully, the list above has given you the gist - you really can turn anything into a vocabulary set! 

Now for the much-awaited Best and Worst. 

The worst thing about Quizlet, in my opinion, is the images that Quizlet offers you to upload to visualise your terms and the fact that If you want to upload your own images you have to sign up for a teacher's account @ £3 per month. 

 The best thing (It is always good to leave on a positive) about Quizlet, in my opinion, is that you can create sets and send them to your students for FREE. Oh, and if you did decide to fork out for a teacher's account you can track your students' activity and monitor their progress ↓


This can enable you to spend more time in class on the words they are finding tricky to learn/understand. 

 Thanks for reading
K


Images from pixabay and quizlet

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