Quizlet

Quizlet is an online learning tool that helps to learn vocabulary through flashcards, games and quizzes. There are several study modes in Quizlet. These are flashcards, learn, spell, test, gravity and match.

Relevance to Language Learning:

Flashcards allow learners to learn vocabulary from flashcards created by others, whereas in the learn option students need to answer the correct word by reading the meaning of the word and looking at a relevant image. They can use predicting, inferencing skills in this case. The spell option gives an audio input of the word and students need to write or type the word they listen. Until they can write the correct word, they can not try another word. Test option gives students and teachers the chance to assess the progress of learning by using quiz on the vocabulary learned by flashcards or by learn and spell options. Match and Gravity, however, are games which students can try to assess their learning through fun.

Theoretical Underpinning:

Quizlet is a great tool because it allows students to perceive their own progress autonomously. Students can use the flashcards on their own and realize what they know and do not know. They can also find out the answers on their own. Therefore, they can learn even without any instruction from their teachers.

Getting Started:

The following video has been created by me to show how to open an account in Quizlet and how to create flashcards and test for students.

Advantages: There are several advantages why I recommend teachers to use Quizlet.

1. Quizlet has a good graphical user interface and easy to use features.

2. It is very easy to create quizzes. The teacher does not need to write or copy all the words and meaning to create a test for students. Moreover, the test score can be electronically stored.

3. Match and Gravity options will create motivation among students to learn the words. Matching words with the relevant images give an impression of game. Therefore, young learners will like this activity a lot.

4. The website can be accessed from both mobile phone and computer. Therefore, the teacher can also use Quizlet in the classroom for a quick group work given that students have mobile phones. It can also be used in low-resources classrooms if only there is access to mobile phones.

5. Creating an account and subscribing to Quizlet Plus by spending subscription fees are not mandatory. Therefore, teachers can use it without spending much time for training themselves or spending money.  

6. Teachers can easily teach the foreign or second language by translating the meaning of the word in students' L1. Therefore, learners at the beginning stage will be much benefitted by this translating facility.

Limitations:

1. Teachers should not always rely on the saved flashcards or tests created by others as the information may not be true always.

Finally, if the teachers and students can use Quizlet in a strategic way in the classroom or outside their classroom lectures, it can help the second or foreign language learners a lot as it not only shows meaning or assesses progress, but also serves audio, visual and even kinaesthetic learners.

Disclaimer:

The logo of Quizlet is a registered trademark of www.quizlet.com.