How to Teach Languages with TikTok in Your Classroom
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By Alecia A. Davis Hellmers, French teacher in Louisiana with a background in French literature, politics, and linguistics
As language teachers, we are always searching for ways to make our classes feel relevant and engaging. Textbooks can quickly feel outdated, and students recognize it. They live in a world of short form, fast paced, and culturally current content. That is why I started bringing TikTok into my French classes, and it has become one of my most effective language teaching tools.
In this post, I will share why short-form videos (TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube shorts) are so effective for language learning, strategies for preparing lessons, classroom activities that work, and how Roxxem makes using short-form videos in the classroom easier.
Why Short Form Videos Work for Language Learning
Familiar Format
TikTok is a platform students already know, which reduces anxiety when listening in the target language. Short 30 to 60 second clips feel manageable compared to a dense five minute YouTube video.
Less Intimidating
Because TikTok is short form, it is less overwhelming. Students can stay in the moment and focus on key vocabulary without feeling pressured to understand everything.
Up to Date and Culturally Relevant
Textbooks can feel outdated quickly. TikTok provides current language, culture, and authentic communication in Spanish, French, German, and other languages.
Classroom Impact
I use TikTok once a week in my French classroom. Students pay closer attention, feel less pressure to “get it all,” and are more motivated to practice language outside of class.
Best Types of TikToks for Language Learning
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Certain categories lend themselves especially well for language classrooms:
Get Ready With Me (GRWM) / Outfit
City walk throughs and restaurant visit
Cultural videos connected to AP themes
This or That comparisons
There are so many types of short-form videos. These TikTok video types give students authentic listening input and expose them to vocabulary that is practical, modern, and culturally relevant.
Pre Listening Activities for TikTok in the Classroom
Before showing a short-form video in class, it helps to guide students with pre-listening activities. These activities lower anxiety, build background knowledge, and prepare them to focus on key vocabulary.
Some strategies that work well include:
Preview the Video
Share a screenshot or thumbnail and ask students to predict what the video will be about.
Discuss the Title
Use the video title as a starting point for a short conversation to activate prior knowledge.
Introduce Vocabulary
Highlight a handful of important terms with images or a short list before playing the clip.
Set a Listening Task
Give students something specific to track, such as counting how many times they hear a target word.
These steps make short form videos less intimidating and more meaningful. A tool like Roxxem helps streamline this process by automatically slowing down videos, pulling in thumbnails or titles for discussion, and reviewing vocabulary that will appear in the content. This makes it easier to focus on teaching while keeping students engaged.
Post-Listening Activities for TikTok in the Classroom
Once students are ready, TikTok opens the door to interactive classroom activities:
- Write a comment on the TikTok or Instagram post in the target language.
- Recreate the TikTok with your student’s own personal flair: a fit check, a recipe, or a reaction video.
- Discuss the post together and highlight cultural references.
- Compare TikToks with Instagram posts such as fashion accounts to show different vocabulary use.
- Students love creating short content, and these activities push them to practice speaking, listening, reading, and writing authentically.
Final Thoughts
TikTok is more than entertainment. It bridges the gap between students’ digital lives and the language skills we are building in class. Used thoughtfully, it lowers anxiety, keeps learning relevant, and helps students interact with authentic language and culture.
If you are hesitant to start, try using one TikTok video a week with clear prep work. And if you want a tool that streamlines the process, Roxxem is designed for this purpose. It brings the world’s most popular content into your classroom in a way that is fun, engaging, and effective for language learning.
About the Author
Alecia A. Davis Hellmers is a French teacher in Louisiana. She holds a background in French literature, politics, and linguistics, and she integrates authentic media like TikTok into her classroom to help students connect language learning with real culture.