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 ($5.99/month or $4.00/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 English Telephone Skills: ESL Practical Guide | DrillKit Blog

Why Phone Calls Are Harder Than They Look

In person, communication has backup channels: facial expression, gesture, visual context, the ability to show rather than just tell. On the phone, all of these disappear. This leaves the voice alone to carry full communicative responsibility, at real-time pace, with no pause to think.

For ESL learners, this is genuinely difficult — and the anxiety is real. Many B2-level students who communicate effectively in face-to-face situations freeze on the phone because the stripped-down channel removes their safety nets.

The Phone English Toolkit

Opening a call
'Good morning, this is [name] calling from [company]. Could I speak to...?' 'Hi [name], it's [your name] here — is now a good time?'

Asking for clarification
'Could you repeat that, please?' 'I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that.' 'Could you speak a little more slowly?' 'Would you mind spelling that for me?'

Checking understanding
'So just to confirm — you're saying that...?' 'Let me make sure I've understood: you need...?'

Taking a message
'I'm afraid [name] isn't available at the moment. Can I take a message?' 'Shall I ask them to call you back?'

Handling problems
'I apologize for the inconvenience.' 'Let me look into that for you.' 'I'll need to transfer you to our [department].'

Closing
'Thank you for calling — I'll make sure that's sorted.' 'Great — I'll follow up with an email today.' 'Thanks again — have a good day.'

Phone Communication Challenges

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Real-Time Processing

No pause button — learners must process and respond at native speaker pace

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No Visual Cues

Facial expression, gesture and visual context all missing — extra load on listening

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Clarification Comfort

Teaching students to ask for repetition confidently is the highest-impact skill

Teacher Tip

“Role-play phone calls with the teacher and student back-to-back (not facing each other) or in separate rooms on video with cameras off. The physical setup creates the actual constraint of voice-only communication. Students immediately notice the difference and adapt accordingly.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Is formal phone language becoming obsolete with messaging apps?

Not in professional contexts. While WhatsApp has replaced phone calls in many social situations, professional calls — client conversations, technical support, urgent matters — remain commonplace and require specific language skill.

How do I help students overcome phone anxiety?

Build from scripted to improvised. Start with highly scripted exchanges where the student knows exactly what to say. Gradually introduce variables: unexpected questions, change of plan, transferred call. Each successful scripted call builds confidence for the next improvised one.

What's the most important phone skill to teach first?

Clarification language. The ability to say 'I'm sorry, could you repeat that?' comfortably removes the single biggest source of phone anxiety — the fear of not understanding and not knowing what to do about it.

Teaching English on the Phone: The Skills No Textbook Quite Gets Right