How Teachers Can Use TikTok for Language or Grammar Lessons

Let’s get real: between catching slang in the hallways and fielding eye-rolls when you bring up comma splices, it’s not always easy to make grammar stick. But guess where your students are already spending more than an hour a day? TikTok. And no, it’s not just for dancing or viral stunts.

In fact, short-form video content is quickly becoming one of the smartest tools in a teacher’s back pocket—especially for teaching language and grammar in ways that actually land.

It doesn’t matter if you’re new to social media or already lurking on #TeacherTok, TikTok’s built-in engagement, microlearning-friendly format, and global reach make it a surprisingly effective classroom companion. Let’s break down how to actually use it, without going full influencer mode.

1. Short Grammar Explainers That Stick

@iamthatenglishteacher

#beverbs #am #are #is #Was #were #TikTokTeachers #Teachingontiktok #motivatingstudents #grammarreview #iloveteaching #iloveteachinggrammar #iloveteachingELA #ELAteacher #englishasasasecondlanguage #ESOL #socialmediagrammarmistakes

♬ original sound – MsJames

Think 30 seconds on “its” vs. “it’s.” Or a snappy lesson on run-on sentences. That’s the magic of TikTok grammar videos.

Example to Follow

Claudine James, better known as @iamthatenglishteacher, has built a massive following by turning daily classroom lessons into short, memorable TikToks.

Her clips reinforce what students are learning in class, so when they’re at home, they can replay a tricky concept rather than flipping through notes. She’s living proof that short videos can have a long-term impact.

Pro Tip: Use TikTok’s built-in text overlays and visuals to reinforce key terms. Bonus if you throw in a trending audio to make it more shareable.

To ensure your quick grammar tips actually reach an audience, consider combining great content with SocialWick’s growth services, which can speed up visibility for new or small accounts.

2. Tap Into Established Language Accounts

You don’t have to create everything from scratch. TikTok is filled with language-learning accounts already doing great work, and yes, many are classroom-appropriate.

Example

@how_to_british, run by Darcy Littler and Anita Chen, breaks down British slang and the differences between British and American English.

They do it with wit and cultural context that clicks with students. Their 625,000+ followers are no accident.

How to Use

  • Build a playlist of videos for a unit on idioms or regional dialects
  • Assign students to analyze the language in a video—why is it used that way? What grammar is at play?
  • Ask students to find similar accounts in French, Spanish, or German and bring examples to class

3. Practice Conversations with the Duet Tool

TikTok’s Duet feature lets students record side-by-side responses to an original video. It’s brilliant for back-and-forth conversation practice, without the anxiety of public speaking in real life.

Example

A teacher posts: “Excuse me, how do I get to the train station?”
Students Duet back with directions in English, French, or Spanish, using sentence structures from class.

This is especially helpful for:

  • Practicing question and answer formats
  • Simulating real-life scenarios (e.g., ordering food, greeting someone formally)
  • Getting shy students to participate asynchronously

4. Listening Comprehension, But Cooler

Forget the stale audio clips from your old textbook CD. TikTok offers native speakers, real-world accents, and unscripted context, all wrapped up in relatable content.

Try This

  • Assign a video in the target language (maybe a food review from Paris, or a day-in-the-life from Mexico City)
  • Ask students to jot down key vocabulary, tone, and what they understood
  • Use it as a springboard for discussion or vocabulary quizzes

5. Use the FYP to Spark Opinions

A young woman's TikTok video, displaying an exaggerated facial expression
Source: YouTube/Screenshot, Use “For You Page” as it is a very helpful option

One of TikTok’s superpowers is that it shows students content they actually care about. So why not use it to flex those opinion-writing muscles?

Activity Idea

Ask students to pick a video from their For You Page and write a paragraph (or record a short oral response) expressing their thoughts, using structures like:

  • “I believe that…”
  • “In my opinion…”
  • “One reason is…”
It’s grammar meets critical thinking, grounded in media they already engage with.

6. Turn #BookTok into Book Reports

If your students say they “don’t know what to read,” #BookTok is your new best friend.

The tag is packed with peer-to-peer book reviews, summaries, and hot takes on everything from classics to fantasy epics.

Try This

  • Have students scroll through #BookTok for recommendations
  • Assign them to make their own TikTok-style review of a book they’ve read
  • Require them to use specific grammar points (e.g., past tense, modal verbs, descriptive adjectives)

You’re covering comprehension, grammar, and creative expression all in one go.

7. Use TikTok for Bite-Sized Grammar Rules

@luciebfink

Who vs. whom ✨ Quick grammar lesson!!! Remember: he/who, him/whom #englishgrammar #grammarlesson #whovswhom #whom #who #learnenglish #fyp #englishlesson

♬ original sound – Lucie Fink

Sometimes, less really is more, especially with tricky grammar.

Ideas for Short Grammar Clips

  • When to use “who” vs. “whom”
  • What the subjunctive looks like in Spanish
  • Pronunciation hacks for silent letters in English

Keep it tight. Use examples. Bonus points for humor.

Teachers Who Are Making It Work

Teacher TikTok Handle Subject Follower Count Focus
Claudine James @iamthatenglishteacher English 900,000+ Grammar tied to classroom writing
Darcy Littler & Anita Chen @how_to_british English 625,000+ British vs. American English with humor
Winnie Sloan @mrssloanbiology Science 118,600 Microlearning in biology (shows broader potential)

They’ve proven that TikTok isn’t a trend—it’s a viable tool. Whether it’s grammar, slang, or mitosis, students are paying attention.

A Few Ground Rules for TikTok in the Classroom

Young girl engrossed in a mobile device
Source: YouTube/Screenshot, Set the boundaries of using TikTok is a classroom

Let’s be clear, it’s not just plug-and-play. Using TikTok in education requires a bit of structure.

Privacy First

TikTok is public by default. If students are creating or engaging, walk them through privacy settings. Use classroom accounts or tools like BookWidgets to recreate TikTok-like activities without requiring sign-ins.

Vet the Content

Not every “teacher” on TikTok is qualified. Teach students how to evaluate content:

  • Is the creator credentialed?
  • Are facts cross-referenced elsewhere?
  • Are comments moderated?

Credibility often gets judged by likes and views—so it’s worth having that conversation about digital literacy.

Use Hashtags to Find Content

Search tags like:

  • #EduTok
  • #GrammarTok
  • #LanguageLearning
  • #BookTok

You’ll find a surprising amount of gold, especially if you’re specific in your search.

It’s a Supplement, Not a Replacement

TikTok works best when it’s used to reinforce lessons or add energy to your content—not replace structured instruction.

What the Stats Say

Here’s a quick rundown of what’s fueling TikTok’s classroom rise:

Metric Details
U.S. Users 65.9 million
Daily Time (Ages 4–14) 82 minutes
Top Subject English (esp. vocabulary & pronunciation)
Approval of Teacher Use 86% say it’s appropriate
Credibility Filters Likes (55%), views (53%), followers (51%)
Why Students Use It Accessibility (60%), better comprehension (57%)

Final Words

TikTok probably wasn’t designed to help someone grasp the present perfect or master gendered nouns in French, but here we are. When used thoughtfully, it can inject new life into language lessons, build student confidence, and bring grammar from the textbook into their real-world scrolling.

So no, you don’t need to choreograph a grammar dance. You just need to meet students where they already are—and maybe post a comma tip or two while you’re at it.

Whether you’re a TikTok newbie or a teacher with a tripod, there’s space for your voice. The key? Keep it short, keep it smart, and keep it relevant.