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.

Teaching ESL Pronunciation: Focus on Intelligibility, Not Perfection

The Accent Myth

Too many pronunciation lessons aim for a native-like accent — British RP or General American. This goal is unrealistic for 99% of adult learners and, more importantly, unnecessary. Research on intelligibility by Jennifer Jenkins and others has identified a 'Lingua Franca Core': the specific pronunciation features that actually affect whether listeners understand you. Some features (word stress, key consonant contrasts) are critical for intelligibility. Others (the 'th' sounds, vowel quality in unstressed syllables) rarely cause communication breakdown but consume enormous teaching time. Teaching the features that matter most produces faster, more impactful pronunciation improvement.

What Actually Affects Intelligibility

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Word Stress (Critical)

Misplaced word stress causes more miscommunication than any individual sound error. 'PHOtograph' vs 'phoTOGraphy' vs 'photoGRAPHic' — the stress shifts, and if you get it wrong, listeners genuinely can't identify the word.

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Key Consonant Contrasts

/l/ vs /r/, /b/ vs /v/, /p/ vs /f/ — these vary by L1 background. Japanese learners struggle with /l/-/r/. Arabic speakers struggle with /p/-/b/. Spanish speakers struggle with initial /s/ clusters. Teach the contrasts relevant to YOUR students.

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Sentence Stress & Rhythm

English is stress-timed: content words are stressed, function words are reduced. 'I WENT to the STORE and BOUGHT some BREAD' — the capitalized words carry the meaning. Students who give equal stress to every syllable sound robotic.

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Teacher Tip

“Identify which sound contrasts YOUR students struggle with (this varies by L1 — don't waste time on contrasts they can already produce). Then drill minimal pairs: 'ship/sheep', 'bat/bet', 'light/right'. Use listen-and-point activities: display two words, say one, students point to which they hear. Then reverse: students say one, you point to what you hear. This immediate feedback loop is incredibly effective. DrillKit can generate vocabulary exercises that group words by pronunciation features.”

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I teach English pronunciation effectively?

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Focus on the features that affect intelligibility most: word stress, key consonant contrasts (based on your students' L1), and sentence rhythm. Use minimal pair drilling for specific sounds. Integrate pronunciation into every lesson rather than teaching it as a separate skill. Always teach new vocabulary with correct stress marked.

Should I aim for a native accent in pronunciation teaching?

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No. Aim for intelligibility — being clearly understood by a wide range of English speakers. Native-like accent is unrealistic for most adult learners and unnecessary in a world where 80% of English conversations happen between non-native speakers.

How do I teach word stress?

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Mark stress on every new vocabulary item you teach. Clap or tap stressed syllables. Use visual marking (circles for stressed syllables, dots for unstressed: Oo = 'TEAcher', oO = 'rePORT'). Drill words with incorrect stress so students hear the difference. Word stress rules (2-syllable nouns vs. verbs) help but have exceptions.

Teaching English Pronunciation: Sounds, Stress, and Intonation That Actually Matter