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.

Reduce Teacher Talking Time in ESL: Practical Strategies

The 70% Problem

Studies on classroom interaction consistently reveal the same uncomfortable truth: in the average language class, the teacher talks for 60-70% of the lesson. This leaves 30-40% for the entire class combined — meaning each individual student might produce language for less than 2 minutes per hour. Language acquisition requires output. Students learn to speak by speaking, not by listening to their teacher speak. Yet reducing Teacher Talking Time (TTT) is harder than it sounds. Teachers talk to explain grammar, set up activities, manage behavior, give feedback, tell anecdotes, and fill silences. Many of these are legitimate — the art is distinguishing between productive teacher talk and language-stealing teacher talk.

Productive vs. Unproductive Teacher Talk

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Productive TTT

Clear, graded instructions. Targeted error correction. Comprehensible input slightly above student level. Questions that elicit extended responses. Model dialogues before pair work.

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Unproductive TTT

Repeating instructions 4 times. Lecturing grammar rules students could discover. Answering your own questions after 2 seconds of silence. Personal anecdotes during activity time. Paraphrasing student answers unnecessarily.

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The 3-Second Rule

After asking a question, wait at least 3 seconds before speaking again. Research shows teachers average 0.9 seconds of wait time. Extending to 3+ seconds dramatically increases the length and complexity of student responses.

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Teacher Tip

“Grade your language to one level above your students (Krashen's i+1). For A2 students, use short, clear B1 sentences. Avoid the two extremes: baby talk (over-simplified, condescending) and natural native-speed speech (incomprehensible at lower levels). Use concept-checking questions instead of 'Do you understand?' — which students always answer 'yes' to regardless.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What is teacher talking time in ESL?

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Teacher Talking Time (TTT) is the proportion of a lesson during which the teacher is speaking. Excessive TTT (above 30-40%) reduces student speaking opportunities. The goal is to maximize Student Talking Time (STT) through pair work, group tasks, and student-led activities.

How do I reduce my teacher talking time?

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Record yourself teaching and time your talk vs. student talk — the data is usually shocking. Use written instructions on the board instead of verbal explanations. Replace teacher-led feedback with pair-checking. Embrace silence: count to 5 after asking a question before intervening.

Is it ever okay for the teacher to talk a lot?

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Yes. During input-focused stages (listening practice, reading aloud, storytelling), extended teacher talk provides valuable comprehensible input. The issue is when teacher talk dominates production stages where students should be practicing. Aim for a TTT/STT balance that shifts across the lesson.

Reducing Teacher Talking Time: Why Silence Is Your Superpower