This document discusses using the online flashcard tool Quizlet to help students learn vocabulary. It provides an overview of Quizlet's main features, including creating flashcards, study modes, tracking student progress, mobile access, and classroom integration. The author describes a study comparing vocabulary test performance between students who used Quizlet, those who made paper flashcards, and a control group. The results showed significantly higher scores for the Quizlet group, suggesting mobile access helped reinforce their learning. The document concludes that Quizlet can be an effective way to help students deliberately learn vocabulary when combined with other study methods.

1. Using Quizlet flashcards to study
vocabulary
Overview for teachers new to Quizlet
Andrew Imrie, Rikkyo University,
Tokyo, Japan
andrewci@hotmail.com

2. A free online vocabulary learning tool
• 1. Quizlet flashcards
• 2. Quizlet study modes
• 3. Tracking students
• 4. Quizlet on the go
• 5. In the classroom
• 6. In the curriculum
• 7. Research – how effective is Quizlet?

3. Flashcards

4. Flashcards
• Full screen
• Shuffle
• Audio

5. 2. Study modes
• Speller – provides spelling feedback
• Learn – test with prompt

6. Study modes
• Test – generate customizable tests

7. Game modes
• Scatter – match words and definitions that are
scattered on the screen
• Space Race – type corresponding term for
definitions that scroll across the page

8. 3. Tracking students
• Student study tool
• Does not have teacher assessment tools
• Save test as a pdf file
• Progress can be measured in vocabulary test

9. Exporting Sets to a CMS
• Export Quizlet terms and import into Moodle
• Teacher can get a student score/award them a
grade
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iffyla7tqE
• Export terms out of Quizlet
• Copy & paste into pin13.net/quizlet
• Save as a GIFT file
• Set up Moodle for a Quiz
• Upload GIFT file into Moodle

10. Export for Moodle

11. Moodle Quiz

12. 4. Quizlet mobile

13. Quizlet app

14. QR code
• Embed QR codes on handouts, blog or
PowerPoint
• Students scan with a smartphone or tablet
using a free qr scan app
• Quizlet – copy URL of flashcard set
• QR code generator – paste

15. QR code

16. 5. Quizlet class
• Create a Quizlet class
• Get students to join Quizlet
• Invite students to join the class
•

17. Quizlet class
• Get students to create flashcards

18. Quizlet class
• Example: TOEIC class, 20 students, 200 words
• Cooperation
• Independent learning skill – class sets can be
copied and adapted
• Millions of other sets to be copied

19. Quizlet in the classroom

20. Personalise flashcards

21. Print
• Use to generate paper handouts
• Glossary, tables, index cards
• Matching pairs activity, weekly vocabulary
review, classroom dynamics

22. Print
• You can export Quizlet into many other
applications
• iBook, Evernote, Dropbox
• Note taking app – Notability
• Print, email, Dropbox, another app

23. Exporting Quizlet

24. 6. Quizlet in the curriculum: a course
• Weekly flashcards can be created for a class
• ESP: English for Tourism (15 week class)

25. Quizlet in the Curriculum: required course
• Tokai University, unified English curriculum,
integrated skills, R&W, L&S, 7000 students

26. Most useful vocabulary
• Paul Nation (2001) found that 2000 most
frequent words of English cover 81-85% of
words in general English texts
• 5000 covers 95%
• University students tend to know the ‘wrong’
words (Charlie Browne, 2008)
• General Service List (2000, 2285)
• Academic Word List (570)

27. Importing EXCEL Files
• Vocabulary word lists are available on the web
• http://elearnguy.com/free-downloads/

28. GLS & AWL

29. Import vocabulary into Quizlet

30. Word lists
• Cambridge University Press - English Unlimited

31. 7. Using vocabulary flashcards
• Vocabulary needs to be met repeatedly to be
learned
• Deliberate vocabulary learning
• Cards encourage retrieval
• Strengthens the link between the word and the
meaning
• Large numbers of words can be learned in a short
time
• What has been learned can be remembered
• (Nation, 2001)

32. Why I use Quizlet in Japan

33. Vocabulary study in Japan
• Paper flashcards
• Transparent rectangle of red plastic (check
sheet) covers the answer

34. Research
• Hypothesis that students using Quizlet would
perform better on a vocabulary quiz than
students not using Quizlet
• Do students using Quizlet perform better on a
vocabulary test than students not using
Quizlet?

35. Research
• Fall Semester: Sept, 2012 – Jan, 2013,
• Three English classes at Rikkyo University
• Textbook: Ideas & Issues (upper-intermediate)
• 100 vocabulary items from 9 units
• Pre-test and post-test
• Vocabulary size test (Nation & Beglar, 2007)
• End of semester vocabulary quiz (10%)

36. Research method
• Class 1: computer room twice, phone
• Class 2: make flashcards, practice
• Class 3: practice time in class
Class Subject Students Level Method Payment
Class 1 Presentation 19 3/4 Quizlet Yes
Class 2 Presentation 17 3/4 Paper flashcards Yes
Class 3 Presentation 19 2/4 N/A No

37. Vocabulary size test results
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
Quizlet class Paper flashcards
class
Control class
Score
Quizlet class
Paper flashcards class
Control class

38. End of semester vocabulary test result
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Quizlet Class Paper flashcard
class
Control class
Vocabulary test
Quizlet Class
Paper flashcard class
Control class

39. Quizlet class
• Ten students scored 100%
• Eight students scored 91%-99%
• One student scored 74%
• Quizlet study sessions: 30 - 110
• iPhone & Quizlet app: 15 students
• Android OS & Quizard app: 3 students

40. Results
• Interviews and questionnaires with students
in the three classes
Class How often did you
use the Quizlet
website?
How often did you
use a phone or
flashcards?
Where did you
study?
Quizlet Several times a
month
Once or twice a
week
On the train
Paper
flashcards
N/A Several times a
month
On the train
Control N/A * Various study
methods once or
twice a month
At home

41. Research question
• Do students using Quizlet perform better on a
vocabulary test than students not using
Quizlet?
• Significantly higher vocabulary test result for
students using Quizlet compared to two
classes not using Quizlet
• It seems likely that the students’ mobile
devices played an important role in this result

42. Conclusion
• ‘Knowing’ a word involves many things
(Nation, 2001) e.g. definition, collocations,
frequency, register, associations, spelling,
pronunciation, etc.
• Incidental learning of vocabulary can
strengthen words learned deliberately
• English Central (vocabulary in context)

43. Any questions?
• Andrew Imrie
• andrewci@hotmail.com