Audio Dict
Progressive audio dictionary for passive language learning through structured listening.
Audio Dict—originally called Passive German—was actually the first idea I ever had, even before I knew how to code. In fact, it was one of the main reasons I started learning to program—I wanted to build this tool that could deliver structured, progressive audio content for language learners.
The idea was based on creating an audio dictionary of phrases that are both repetitive enough to build familiarity, but varied enough to slowly build understanding. The goal was to help learners absorb the language passively by listening, and to progressively introduce new sentence structures over time.
You'd start with very simple sentences that have a repeating structure, so your ear becomes used to those patterns. The early sentences were very short—maybe just two or three words—where one of the words might be a name or something familiar.
Beginner Level
Very simple sentences with repeating structures to get users familiar with basic patterns. Focus on 2-3 word sentences with familiar elements like names.
Advanced Level (Planned)
Less repetitive sentences focused around specific vocabulary. One new word would appear across several sentences to reinforce it through context and variation.
Playlist of Sentences
Think of it like a Spotify playlist, but instead of songs, it's made up of short, 5–10 second sentences. Each sentence is carefully crafted to build on previous learning.
Swipe Away Mastered Content
When a sentence becomes familiar—once you can understand it easily—you could swipe it away, making room for a new sentence with one new word.
Always Challenging Content
Learners are always listening to content that's just a bit challenging, focusing on one new word at a time, which helps expand vocabulary efficiently.
More Efficient Than Passive Watching
Unlike watching YouTube or Netflix—where a lot of content is repetitive and new vocabulary might be rare, especially for more advanced learners—this approach ensures every listening session introduces exactly one new element.
The structured progression guarantees that learners are always at the optimal difficulty level for acquisition, neither too easy nor too overwhelming.
Content Creation Intensity
Producing all those sentences and recordings is a huge amount of effort, requiring careful scripting, recording, and quality control for each language.
Motivation and Follow-Through
I didn't have the motivation to follow through with the intensive content creation required to fully realize the vision at the time.
Technical Complexity
Building the progressive algorithm, audio management, and user interface for seamless sentence progression required significant technical development.
The version that's still online today is incomplete—and sadly lacks the audio due to hosting issues. It's not the full experience I had in mind, as the audio component was central to the entire concept.
Without the audio, visitors can only see the interface and concept, but can't experience the core functionality that made this approach unique and potentially effective.
German Version
The original implementation focusing on German language learning with structured sentence progression.
View German VersionChinese Version
An adaptation of the concept for Chinese language learning, demonstrating the versatility of the approach.
View Chinese VersionA Vision for Passive Learning
While the full vision remains unrealized, you can still explore the concept and interface that could revolutionize how we approach passive language learning through structured audio content.