The Use of Quizizz to Improve English Students’ Understanding of Grammar

Introduction

In the 21st century, the field of second language learning and teaching is getting more technology oriented. This adjustments in teaching strategies are in keeping with the modern era, and are being followed by learners and teachers as well (Figueroa et al., 2015). Technology has a positive impact on learning activities (Costley, 2014). The internet and smart phones or computers, which are mostly used to connect to the internet for learning, offer the opportunity to incorporate more authentic, varied and differentiated learning materials and innovative learning activities (Spanjers et al., 2015). The use of applications to support learning is also becoming more popular, such as Quizizz, Kahoot, Quizlet, Edmodo, etc. (Munuyandi et al., 2021). This allows learning to be more effective and motivates students. Moreover, current students are in the digitalization age, so they are already familiar with technology. And this research will focus on Quizizz as a platform to improve English students’ understanding of grammar.

Grammar is one of the important skills in learning English (Fadhilawati, 2021). Grammar, as the foundation of English learning, determines word types, sentence structures, tenses, and rules to form correct and meaningful sentences. However, English learners seem to face many problems with grammar knowledge. There are different grammar rules in each other's language. English students will also experience these differences. Lack of motivation and engagement in learning grammar is also a problem experienced by students (Adukaite et al., 2017). Hence, applying the most up to date methods such as using Quizizz to help students be more involved in learning activities and improve their understanding is always important to increase the quality of grammar teaching and learning as students take an active role in their learning process (Pham, 2023).

Quizizz provides a structured and interactive learning experience (Mei et al., 2018). Quizizz is a gamification platform, which provides multiplayer activities to the classroom and makes classroom learning interactive and exciting (Handoko et al., 2021). The concept of gamification has been gaining high interest in the research community ever since the beginning of 2010 (Lavoué et al., 2019). Through Quizizz, students can work on in-class exercises through their own electronic devices. Moreover, Quizizz features avatars, themes, as well as leaderboards that enable students to compete with each other and motivate them to learn (Zhao, 2019). In the context of grammar learning, students will be encouraged to study hard to get a high score. This will produce good results if students are motivated in this learning method with Quizizz (Göksün & Gürsoy, 2019).

Literature Review

Several studies have explored the use of Quizizz for students' grammar understanding. A study of fourteen eleventh-grade students from a high school in Bandung indicated a significant improvement in students' grammar understanding through self-assessment following ten weeks of using Quizizz. In addition, this study also explained how students used Quizizz by first doing quizzes, then receiving feedback, and finally reviewing the exercises to strengthen their learning (Sinta et al., 2019). This step-by-step process helped students reflect on their mistakes and improve their grammar skills over time.

Another study was conducted on 65 English Education students at Undiksha using a post-test only design. It was found that 33 students who used the mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) strategy through Quizizz scored significantly better on a grammar test compared to 32 students in the control group who learned with a more traditional method (Dewi et al., 2020). This result shows that using mobile technology like Quizizz can help students learn grammar more effectively. Similarly, a study involving 63 first-year ESL students showed positive results. In that study, 33 students were in the experimental group, while 30 students were in the control group. After ten weeks of using Quizizz, both groups showed improvements, but the experimental group had better results (Pham, 2023). This proves that learning grammar through interactive platforms can give better outcomes.

Furthermore, Ahlina and Forsia (2021) conducted a study at SMPN 108 Jakarta with 36 eighth-grade students. They used a one-group pretest-posttest design. The result showed that students performed better in the posttest, which means Quizizz helped them improve. This study also included an observation of the classroom situation during the use of Quizizz. It was reported that the students enjoyed the learning process, and the classroom became more active and fun. Research conducted by Munuyandi et al. (2021) also support the effectiveness of Quizizz in grammar learning. The research involved 130 students from 15 Tamil school in the Manjung district, Malaysia. The results showed that Quizizz was highly effective in helping students understand grammar topics. In addition, students gave positive feedback. They said that learning grammar through Quizizz was more enjoyable and less stressful compared to traditional learning methods. These findings suggest that using game-based learning tools like Quizizz not only helps students improve academically but also creates a more engaging and comfortable classroom environment.

Classroom Application

Quizizz is a game-based learning platform that makes grammar practice more fun and less stressful. Here are several ways teachers can use Quizizz in their classrooms step-by-step.

1. Warm-Up Activity

Before starting a new grammar lesson, teachers can use Quizizz as a warm-up. They can make a short 5–10 question quiz that reviews the last topic, such as the past tense or modal verbs. Students join the game using their phones or laptops by entering a game code, and they play it individually. This method helps students remember what they learned before, and teachers can quickly see which students still need help. Research shows that game-based warm-ups can make students more alert and ready to learn (Pham, 2023). In addition, this kind of review supports the concept of "retrieval practice," which helps store grammar knowledge in long-term memory.

2. Grammar Practice During the Lesson

While explaining new grammar topics, teachers can insert short Quizizz activities to check student understanding. For example, after explaining how to use "will" and "going to" for future tense, the teacher can run a quick 10-question quiz with multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank questions. Quizizz gives immediate feedback. If students answer wrong, they see the correct answer right away, along with a short explanation if added by the teacher. This helps them learn from mistakes in real time and correct their understanding quickly. Real-time feedback will be effective to help students improve grammar skills.

3. Team-Based Grammar Challenges

To increase collaboration and peer learning, teachers can use the Team Mode on Quizizz. Students are divided into small groups of 3–4, and they work together to answer grammar questions. This helps students discuss grammar rules out loud and correct each other’s misunderstandings.

Team quizzes are useful for building communication and confidence, especially for shy students. They don’t feel alone in answering and can learn from their friends. This method also supports collaborative learning, which is a key principle in modern education. Many classrooms reported that students became more active and engaged when learning grammar through team-based Quizizz sessions (Munuyandi et al., 2021).

4. Reviewing Mistakes

After students finish a quiz, teachers can open the report section in Quizizz to see which questions were often answered incorrectly. These items show where students are struggling. Teachers can use this data to review and re-teach the tricky grammar points with examples and explanations. For example, if many students got confused between "much" and "many," the teacher can prepare a short follow-up explanation and give more examples. This method helps students feel that mistakes are part of learning and motivates them to improve. Quizizz automatically saves all reports, so teachers can also track student progress over time and give more personalized support if needed.

5. Homework and Self-Practice

Teachers can assign Quizizz quizzes as homework or self-practice after class. This is useful for students who want to learn at their own pace or review before tests. Quizizz allows teachers to set deadlines and turn off the timer, so students can focus on understanding, not speed. This method also works well in online or hybrid learning environments. When students do the quizzes at home, they can repeat them if they want to get a better score or understand more. 

Challenges and Opportunities

Using Quizizz to teach grammar is fun and helpful, but just like any tool, it has some challenges. Still, it also brings a lot of good chances (opportunities) to improve teaching and learning. Here are some of the main problems teachers might face, as well as the positive sides of using Quizizz in the classroom.

Challenges

1. Internet Connection and Device Access

One of the most common problems in using digital tools like Quizizz is that not all students have the same access to technology. Some students, especially those in rural areas, may not have a strong or stable internet connection. Others might not have personal devices like smartphones or laptops, or they might have to share them with family members. If the connection drops or the device freezes during a quiz, it can disturb the activity. To deal with this, teachers can prepare backup materials such as printed worksheets or grouping students so they can share devices in class can also help reduce this issue.

2. Students Focus More on Winning Than Learning

Since Quizizz feels like a game, students often become excited to beat their friends or get a high score. While this can boost motivation, it also causes some students to rush through the questions just to win. They may guess the answers without really thinking or reading the questions carefully. As a result, their grammar understanding does not actually improve much. Teachers can remind students that the goal is to learn, not just to win. One idea is to focus on reviewing wrong answers after the game or discussing grammar explanations together afterward, so the quiz becomes both fun and educational.

3. Hard to Track Individual Learning Progress

Quizizz gives scores and shows which questions students got right or wrong, but it does not always explain why an answer is incorrect or what the student misunderstood. If a teacher only looks at the final scores, they may miss the chance to see which grammar rules each student finds difficult. This can make it hard to plan future lessons that fit students' real needs. To overcome this, teachers can take extra time to look at the quiz results closely or use open-ended follow-up questions that let students explain their answers in their own words.

4. Too Much Screen Time

Using digital platforms too often, including Quizizz, can sometimes lead to screen fatigue. This means students may get tired or bored of constantly looking at their screens, especially during long online lessons. If all classroom activities are digital, it may reduce students' focus or energy over time. Teachers can balance screen-based tools with other offline activities, like writing on paper, speaking exercises, or hands-on games. Variety in teaching methods helps keep students fresh and interested.

Opportunities

1. Increases Student Motivation

Grammar is often seen as a difficult or boring subject, but with Quizizz, it turns into a fun challenge. Many students feel more excited to join the activity, and they become more confident when they see themselves doing well or improving each time. Even students who are usually quiet or shy may feel more open to participate, especially since they can answer questions without speaking out loud in front of the class.

2. Makes Learning More Fun

Grammar can be hard to teach and hard to enjoy, especially if it's only explained through long texts or worksheets. Quizizz adds color, music, and fun features like memes or leaderboards that keep students engaged. It turns grammar practice into a more lively and entertaining experience. When students enjoy the process, they are more likely to remember what they learn and look forward to the next lesson.

3. Easy to Use and Saves Time

Creating, checking, and scoring grammar exercises can take a lot of time for teachers. Quizizz helps by providing automatic grading and instant feedback. Teachers can either create their own quizzes or choose from many that are already made and shared by others. This means teachers can spend more time helping students directly rather than just correcting papers.

4. Good for Group Work or Homework

Another benefit of Quizizz is that it's flexible. Teachers can use it in class with all students playing together, or they can assign it as homework. It also works well for pair or group work, where students help each other answer questions. In hybrid or blended classrooms, it can be used to connect both online and offline students in the same lesson.

References

Adukaite, A., van Zyl, I., Er, Ş., & Cantoni, L. (2017). Teacher perceptions on the use of digital gamified learning in tourism education: The case of South African secondary schools. Computers and Education, 111, 172–190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2017.04.008

Ahlina, H., & Forsia, L. (2021). The Effect of Using Quizizz toward Students’ Grammatical Understanding. Foremost Journal, 2(2), 16–24. https://doi.org/10.33592/foremost.v2i2.1731

Costley, K. C. (2014). The Positive Effects of Technology on Teaching and Student Learning. Online Submission.

Dewi, K., Myartawan, I., Swari, N., & Sugihartini, N. (2020). QUIZIZZ EFFECT ON STUDENTS’ GRAMMAR MASTERY IN HIGHER EFL CLASSROOM BASED MOBILE ASSISTED LANGUAGE LEARNING (MALL). Language and Education Journal Undiksha, 3(1), 15–24. https://doi.org/10.23887/leju.v3i1.24589

Fadhilawati, D. (2021). Using Quizziz Application For Learning And Evaluating Grammar Material. Online) JOSAR: Journal of Students Academic Research, 6(1), 2503–1155. https://doi.org/10.35457/josar.v6i1.1448

Figueroa, J. (2015). Using Gamification to Enhance Second Language Learning. Digital Education Review, 21, 32-54. http://greav.ub.edu/der

Lavoué, É., Monterrat, B., Desmarais, M., & George, S. (2019). Adaptive Gamification for Learning Environments. IEEE Transactions on Learning Technologies, 12(1), 16–28. https://doi.org/10.1109/TLT.2018.2823710

Mei, S. Y., Ju, S. Y., & Adam, Z. (2018). Implementing Quizizz as Game Based Learning in the Arabic Classroom. European Journal of Social Sciences Education and Research, 12(1), 208. https://doi.org/10.26417/ejser.v12i1.p208-212

Munuyandi, T. A., Husain, S., Jabar, M. A. A., & Jusoh, Z. (2021). Effectiveness Of Quizizz in Interactive Teaching and Learning Malay Grammar. Asian Journal of University Education, 17(3), 109–118. https://doi.org/10.24191/ajue.v17i3.14516

Orhan Göksün, D., & Gürsoy, G. (2019). Comparing success and engagement in gamified learning experiences via Kahoot and Quizizz. Computers and Education, 135, 15–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2019.02.015

Pham, A. T. (2023). The impact of gamified learning using Quizizz on ESL learners’ grammar achievement. Contemporary Educational Technology, 15(2). https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/12923

Sinta, I., Rahayu, D., & Purnawarman, P. (2019). The Use of Quizizz in Improving Students’ Grammar Understanding through Self-Assessment. In Eleventh Conference on Applied Linguistics (CONAPLIN 2018) (pp. 102-106). Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/conaplin-18.2019.235

Spanjers, I. A. E., Könings, K. D., Leppink, J., Verstegen, D. M. L., de Jong, N., Czabanowska, K., & van Merriënboer, J. J. G. (2015). The promised land of blended learning: Quizzes as a moderator. In Educational Research Review (Vol. 15, pp. 59–74). Elsevier Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2015.05.001

Zhao, F. (2019). Using quizizz to integrate fun multiplayer activity in the accounting classroom. International Journal of Higher Education, 8(1), 37–43. https://doi.org/10.5430/ijhe.v8n1p37

Zuhriyah, S., & Pratolo, B. W. (2020). Exploring students’ views in the use of quizizz as an assessment tool in english as a foreign language (efl) class. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 8(11), 5312–5317. https://doi.org/10.13189/ujer.2020.081132

The Use of Quizizz to Improve English Students’ Understanding of Grammar: Challenges and Opportunities

Challenges and Opportunities in Using Quizizz

Using Quizizz to teach grammar is fun and helpful, but just like any tool, it has some challenges. Still, it also brings a lot of good chances (opportunities) to improve teaching and learning. Here are some of the main problems teachers might face, as well as the positive sides of using Quizizz in the classroom.

Challenges

1. Internet Connection and Device Access

One of the most common problems in using digital tools like Quizizz is that not all students have the same access to technology. Some students, especially those in rural areas, may not have a strong or stable internet connection. Others might not have personal devices like smartphones or laptops, or they might have to share them with family members. If the connection drops or the device freezes during a quiz, it can disturb the activity. To deal with this, teachers can prepare backup materials such as printed worksheets or grouping students so they can share devices in class can also help reduce this issue.

2. Students Focus More on Winning Than Learning

Since Quizizz feels like a game, students often become excited to beat their friends or get a high score. While this can boost motivation, it also causes some students to rush through the questions just to win. They may guess the answers without really thinking or reading the questions carefully. As a result, their grammar understanding does not actually improve much. Teachers can remind students that the goal is to learn, not just to win. One idea is to focus on reviewing wrong answers after the game or discussing grammar explanations together afterward, so the quiz becomes both fun and educational.

3. Hard to Track Individual Learning Progress

Quizizz gives scores and shows which questions students got right or wrong, but it does not always explain why an answer is incorrect or what the student misunderstood. If a teacher only looks at the final scores, they may miss the chance to see which grammar rules each student finds difficult. This can make it hard to plan future lessons that fit students' real needs. To overcome this, teachers can take extra time to look at the quiz results closely or use open-ended follow-up questions that let students explain their answers in their own words.

4. Too Much Screen Time

Using digital platforms too often, including Quizizz, can sometimes lead to screen fatigue. This means students may get tired or bored of constantly looking at their screens, especially during long online lessons. If all classroom activities are digital, it may reduce students' focus or energy over time. Teachers can balance screen-based tools with other offline activities, like writing on paper, speaking exercises, or hands-on games. Variety in teaching methods helps keep students fresh and interested. 

Opportunities

1. Increases Student Motivation

Grammar is often seen as a difficult or boring subject, but with Quizizz, it turns into a fun challenge. Many students feel more excited to join the activity, and they become more confident when they see themselves doing well or improving each time. Even students who are usually quiet or shy may feel more open to participate, especially since they can answer questions without speaking out loud in front of the class.

2. Makes Learning More Fun

Grammar can be hard to teach and hard to enjoy, especially if it's only explained through long texts or worksheets. Quizizz adds color, music, and fun features like memes or leaderboards that keep students engaged. It turns grammar practice into a more lively and entertaining experience. When students enjoy the process, they are more likely to remember what they learn and look forward to the next lesson.

3. Easy to Use and Saves Time

Creating, checking, and scoring grammar exercises can take a lot of time for teachers. Quizizz helps by providing automatic grading and instant feedback. Teachers can either create their own quizzes or choose from many that are already made and shared by others. This means teachers can spend more time helping students directly rather than just correcting papers.

4. Good for Group Work or Homework

Another benefit of Quizizz is that it's flexible. Teachers can use it in class with all students playing together, or they can assign it as homework. It also works well for pair or group work, where students help each other answer questions. In hybrid or blended classrooms, it can be used to connect both online and offline students in the same lesson.

The Use of Quizizz to Improve English Students’ Understanding of Grammar: Classroom Application

Classroom Application of Quizizz in Teaching Grammar

Quizizz is a game-based learning platform that makes grammar practice more fun and less stressful. Here are several ways teachers can use Quizizz in their classrooms step-by-step.

1. Warm-Up Activity

Before starting a new grammar lesson, teachers can use Quizizz as a warm-up. They can make a short 5–10 question quiz that reviews the last topic, such as the past tense or modal verbs. Students join the game using their phones or laptops by entering a game code, and they play it individually. This method helps students remember what they learned before, and teachers can quickly see which students still need help. Research shows that game-based warm-ups can make students more alert and ready to learn (Pham, 2023). In addition, this kind of review supports the concept of "retrieval practice," which helps store grammar knowledge in long-term memory.

2. Grammar Practice During the Lesson

While explaining new grammar topics, teachers can insert short Quizizz activities to check student understanding. For example, after explaining how to use "will" and "going to" for future tense, the teacher can run a quick 10-question quiz with multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank questions. Quizizz gives immediate feedback. If students answer wrong, they see the correct answer right away, along with a short explanation if added by the teacher. This helps them learn from mistakes in real time and correct their understanding quickly. Real-time feedback will be effective to help students improve grammar skills.

3. Team-Based Grammar Challenges

To increase collaboration and peer learning, teachers can use the Team Mode on Quizizz. Students are divided into small groups of 3–4, and they work together to answer grammar questions. This helps students discuss grammar rules out loud and correct each other’s misunderstandings.

Team quizzes are useful for building communication and confidence, especially for shy students. They don’t feel alone in answering and can learn from their friends. This method also supports collaborative learning, which is a key principle in modern education. Many classrooms reported that students became more active and engaged when learning grammar through team-based Quizizz sessions (Rasalingam & Adams, 2021).

4. Reviewing Mistakes

After students finish a quiz, teachers can open the report section in Quizizz to see which questions were often answered incorrectly. These items show where students are struggling. Teachers can use this data to review and re-teach the tricky grammar points with examples and explanations. For example, if many students got confused between "much" and "many," the teacher can prepare a short follow-up explanation and give more examples. This method helps students feel that mistakes are part of learning and motivates them to improve. Quizizz automatically saves all reports, so teachers can also track student progress over time and give more personalized support if needed.

5. Homework and Self-Practice

Teachers can assign Quizizz quizzes as homework or self-practice after class. This is useful for students who want to learn at their own pace or review before tests. Quizizz allows teachers to set deadlines and turn off the timer, so students can focus on understanding, not speed. This method also works well in online or hybrid learning environments. When students do the quizzes at home, they can repeat them if they want to get a better score or understand more.