DrillKit is an AI-powered tool that turns your online lesson chat from Zoom, Google Meet, Skype, or Microsoft Teams into professional, print-ready ESL lessons in under 30 seconds. It automatically extracts vocabulary, generates exercises (gap-fill, error correction, vocab match, word formation, and more), and produces beautiful PDFs tailored to the student's CEFR level and native language.

Does DrillKit support Zoom chats?

Yes! Simply copy the chat text from your Zoom, Google Meet, Skype, or Microsoft Teams lesson and paste it directly into the input area. You can also paste vocabulary lists or handwritten notes. DrillKit's AI strips out timestamps, sender names, and other noise automatically.

Can I export lessons to PDF?

Absolutely. Every lesson is generated as a high-quality, print-ready PDF. Pro users can also export to Google Docs and customize branding with their school logo and accent colors.

Which languages are supported?

DrillKit supports translations in 11 languages: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Arabic, Turkish, and Russian. The AI auto-detects the student's native language from the chat transcript.

What exercise types can DrillKit generate?

DrillKit generates 11 exercise types: Gap Fill, Vocab Match, Error Correction, Sentence Completion, Multiple Choice, Word Scramble, Sentence Reorder, Translation, Word Formation (Cambridge Part 3), Key Word Transformation (Cambridge Part 4), and Dialogue Builder.

How does the AI extract vocabulary from chat transcripts?

The AI scans your pasted chat transcript, strips out noise (timestamps, reactions, media placeholders), identifies teachable vocabulary, phrasal verbs, idioms, and student errors, then scores each item by relevance. You review and select the best items before generating exercises.

Is DrillKit free to use?

Yes! The free plan includes 20 generations per month with full access to all 13 exercise types, all lesson styles, and custom branding. The Pro plan ($4.99/month or $3.33/month billed yearly) unlocks unlimited generations and priority AI processing.

Can I customize the lesson with my school branding?

Pro users can add their school or institution name, choose custom accent colors, select from 5 lesson styles (Standard, Classic, Modern, Playful, Academic), and add footer text to every generated lesson.

ESL Homework Design: Meaningful Activities Students Actually Do

The Homework Problem

There are three kinds of ESL homework: homework students do reluctantly, homework students copy from classmates, and homework students don't do at all. In all three cases, the learning value is near zero. The problem isn't student laziness — it's homework design. Most ESL homework is decontextualized grammar exercises ('Fill in the correct form of the verb') that require no thought, provide no personal relevance, and generate no genuine language use. Students know instinctively that this kind of practice doesn't develop real competence, so they either rush through it or skip it entirely. Meaningful homework connects classroom learning to students' real lives and creates practice they can't get in class.

4 Homework Types That Work

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Real-World Tasks

'Read a menu from a local restaurant and write 3 questions about items you don't know.' 'Watch 5 minutes of an English YouTube video on a topic you like and write 3 things you learned.' Connects English to life.

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Personalized Practice

'Write 5 sentences about your weekend using past simple.' 'Record a 1-minute voice message describing your favorite room in your house.' Personal content is inherently more motivating than textbook content.

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Flipped Input

Students watch a video or read a text BEFORE class. Class time is used for practice and discussion, not input delivery. Homework becomes the input; class becomes the output.

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Retrieval Practice Quizzes

Quick self-testing on vocabulary and grammar from previous lessons. DrillKit quizzes work perfectly: students complete them on their phone, results are tracked, and you see who practiced.

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Teacher Tip

“Design homework that takes 10 minutes maximum. If you think students need more practice, give more frequent short tasks rather than fewer long ones. Daily 10-minute vocabulary review is more effective than weekly 60-minute grammar worksheets. Spaced repetition beats massed practice every time. DrillKit flashcards and quizzes are ideal for this: they're designed for quick daily microlearning sessions.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of ESL homework is most effective?

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Homework that connects to students' real lives (real-world tasks, personalized writing), provides retrieval practice (self-testing quizzes, flashcard review), or prepares students for the next class (flipped input). Avoid decontextualized grammar exercises that require no personal engagement.

How long should ESL homework take?

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10-15 minutes maximum for adult learners, 5-10 minutes for younger students. Short, frequent practice beats long, infrequent assignments. If homework consistently takes longer than you intended, students will stop doing it — so be realistic about time estimates.

What do I do when students don't do homework?

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First, examine whether the homework is worth doing. If it's busywork, redesign it. If it's meaningful, create accountability: start every class with a 2-minute homework check (not grading — just 'Who did it? What did you learn?'). Make homework visible in class discussion: students who didn't do it feel left out. Peer pressure beats punishment.

Designing Meaningful ESL Homework: Beyond 'Do Exercises 1-5'