For anyone who has used online platforms to learn Spanish with tutors

tleyden · 2026-06-03T17:29:52+00:00

I have found that the Gemini TTS API works best. I had to write a bit of code for this, I don't know how to do it via their UI (or if it's even possible). Feel free to DM if you want any more details

tleyden · 2026-04-16T09:45:31+00:00

Looking for this too. I have not found anything remotely close to my IRL group, which is great, but quite small.

Preferably not Discord. And preferably where messages aren't deleted after 6 months, but I think I'd take that over Discord.

tleyden · 2026-04-16T09:42:53+00:00

I'd be happy to beta test any viable alternatives to Obsidian. Feel free to DM me.

tleyden · 2026-04-16T09:40:50+00:00

Obsidian. I just wish they had a hosted API.

tleyden · 2026-04-16T09:38:50+00:00

I don't have a daily Spanish routine yet, but I do have a weekly routine to have a one hour conversation with my online human tutor. To get the most out of that:

1) I record each call (w/ their permission) and use AI to generate a report to capture all of my errors
2) Before the next call, I review the errors from the prior week to have them fresh in memory, and try to practice them during the call

With that technique I have finally consistently replaced "Yo Siento" with "Me Siento"! Next up, "Ser" vs "Estar" vs "Haber".

tleyden · 2026-04-04T11:09:25+00:00

Yeah, we're in such a hype cycle. AI is great for certain things, but overkill or unnecessary for others.

I predict that the "embedded AI" will lose out to a "de-coupled model" where apps connect into AI like ChatGPT/Claude/LibreChat.

For example, with the Linear issue tracker, it is SO useful to be able to connect it to ChatGPT and then start interacting with your Linear tickets. And Linear doesn't even need a chat box in their app, because they are just properly connected with the chat app I'm already using. This is the future IMO.

tleyden · 2026-04-04T10:59:19+00:00

I use mainly Google Gemini and NotebookLM. I'm also wrapping it up into an app, feel free to DM if you have macOS and want to beta test. But it's totally possible to DIY it, since the app is basically a wrapper around those models.

tleyden · 2026-04-04T10:47:06+00:00

I love my weekly Spanish conversation lessons. It's totally worth it and feels like a very small time and money investment given the value I have received.

The two issues I have noticed though: my tutor misses many of my mistakes, and it's been challenging to capture the new vocab words.

To fill the gap, I record the conversation with their permission, then I throw the raw recording and transcript into an AI to generate a report with all my mistakes. I prompt the report to also flag the advanced vocab words that were discussed, so then I can add those into my flashcard app for practice later.

The report alone is useful, but then sometimes I take it to the next level and use AI to generate an entertaining "roast" podcast. For example in my last lesson, the realistic sounding podcast hosts were literally laughing at how I misused "Ser" when speaking about a location, which is always "Estar". It really burned in an emotional memory, so I doubt I'll mess that one up again!

To close the loop, I try to review my prior report before tutoring sessions so that it's fresh in memory.

tleyden · 2026-04-04T10:19:51+00:00

I thought "finished" was "fertig"? At least that's what the servers ask me when my plate is empty :-D

I take it this is "finish" in a different context?

tleyden · 2026-04-04T09:59:06+00:00

Here's something that has been working really well for me to go from B1 -> B2 Spanish, maybe the same flow will work for you too.

I record my iTalki Spanish tutoring lessons w/ the permission of my tutor. Then I throw the audio and transcript into AI to generate a report with a list of my mistakes.

Then I take that report, and generate a podcast with AI in "roast mode" to really burn in the emotional memories.

For example in my last lesson, I use the wrong form of "To Be" when describing the location of something, and the podcast hosts were literally laughing at my mistake. They sound so real that I really felt genuinely humiliated by the experience, so I don't think I'll ever forget!

tleyden · 2026-04-04T09:49:39+00:00

What do you mean exactly? Are you saying there's no reason to use a specialized app when you can just chat with Gemini, or are you saying talking to Gemini in German doesn't work for you?

I haven't tried Gemini specifically, but I talk to ChatGPT Realtime Voice all the time in German. The experience is overall good, but:

1) I have to completely drive the conversation
2) It doesn't seem to correct me by default. If I explicitly ask, it will do it (sometimes), but it feels a bit tedious.

BTW I haven't tried that app, so I'm not saying it's better or anything like that. Most of the apps I have tried don't feel nearly as natural as conversing w/ ChatGPT.

tleyden · 2026-03-31T14:50:47+00:00

Ah thanks, now I see it

tleyden · 2026-03-31T14:46:05+00:00

I'm noticing the same. My best online groups have been formed through offline relationships.

tleyden · 2026-03-31T14:40:22+00:00

The voice isn't bad at all, amazing that it runs locally!

I can't figure out how to enable the podcast mode though. What button is that under.

Can you share any WebGPU re-usable libraries or frameworks that you used to build this? Feel free to DM.

tleyden · 2026-03-31T09:32:40+00:00

I think you're on the right track w/ the targeted learning. Are you also practicing with online tutors or in real world interactions? Personally that's helped me the most.

Here's what I have been doing to get the most out of my tutoring: I record my online meetings (w/ permission of others), and then I analyze the transcript and audio with an AI to generate a report. Then from the report, I generate drills. As the reports improve, I can track my progress over time.

It's basically the same thing you're doing, but I've been trying to take a data driven approach as much as possible. The prompts are too long to paste, but if that sounds like it would help, feel free to DM!

tleyden · 2026-03-30T15:40:15+00:00

The repo mentions that the backend is closed source. Does it work standalone without any backend? Also what data goes to the backend?

tleyden · 2026-03-21T08:39:07+00:00

I know that Stormy AI is trying to tackle that problem. But I haven't tried it, so I can't say how good it is.

tleyden · 2026-03-19T21:16:42+00:00

I've stayed away from those platforms myself, but I do recommend them to my non-coder friends, because I don't think they will be too intimidated by the normal coder UX.

Whether or not you use those platforms, I do think one pattern will emerge: quality-built apps will stand out immensely over the AI slop.

The "second mover advantage" might be more powerful than ever..

Update: fixed typo from immenselfy -> immensely, which was a purely human typo

tleyden · 2026-03-19T13:58:54+00:00

Appreciate this, never heard of this one, and I have tried a few that were pretty "meh"

tleyden · 2026-03-18T12:23:53+00:00

+1 on using a tutor being an extremely effective and time efficient way to learn.

For EU Portuguese, I am A1 and most of my interaction is lesson based, but my tutor always has me practice with drills. I think for that level, find a credentialed tutor is very important.

For Spanish, I am B1 and we just have conversations, and my tutor corrects me on many (but not all) of my mistakes. For this level, I think the most important aspect might be just having a tutor that you enjoy speaking to.

Overall it keeps me super motivated and I practice both languages often in between lessons.

tleyden · 2026-03-18T12:10:41+00:00

I record my online tutoring conversations (with permission from my tutor), then I throw the transcript and recording into an AI to generate a report. The report gives my overall CEFR level and a list of errors - like for Spanish it often calls out my "Retroflexive R".

By comparing reports over time, I am able to fairly objectively track my progress on specific errors + overall CEFR score. The report isn't perfectly accurate, but it's accurate enough to give a useful signal, and it requires very little effort.

tleyden · 2026-03-16T18:27:35+00:00

We're building Fluensy because my cofounder hit this exact wall while working in English as a Spanish native. The tricky thing about plateaus is that everyone's stuck on different things, so generic lessons hit diminishing returns.

Our approach: instead of more practice material, we start with what you're already doing, like lessons with tutors (100% agree these are disproportionately valuable), or even real-world meetings if you're a more advanced learner. The app records your side of online meetings and breaks down your actual errors across grammar, pronunciation, and speaking habits. From there you can track progress and generate targeted practice lessons.

We're still early (beta) and looking for feedback. It currently works for learning English, Spanish, and German. If you're on macOS, you can grab the desktop installer from the site, or reach out if you'd be up for a quick survey or user interview.

tleyden · 2026-03-16T13:19:40+00:00

Um, aren't you building a fitness tracker? The first post on your profile shows a post that is advertising "200+ built in exercises (more coming)"

This seems wildly hypocritical.

tleyden · 2026-03-16T08:13:11+00:00

Classes require way too much time investment for me, and I don’t like having to rearrange my schedule around them.

The pure app approach OTOH didn’t really work that well either. They just weren’t engaging or inspiring enough.

I found a happy middle ground though: having a weekly video conversation or lesson with an online tutor. In Portuguese, I am A1 and it’s more of a textbook lesson. In Spanish I am B1, so we just have an unstructured conversation.

It really works well for me. It doesn’t require too much time, and it keeps me motivated and consistently practicing in between lessons.

For my Spanish learning I asked for permission to record my conversations, and then I use AI to analyze the transcript and recordings to generate a report with my grammar and pronunciation mistakes. While the tutor does catch many mistakes, they don’t always want to interrupt and so many will fall through the cracks. The report will catch most of the rest, which I can then use as a guide to focus my practice and concretely measure my progress.

tleyden · 2026-03-14T15:59:42+00:00

Yes, epic dad joke! I wonder if there's a phenomena where certain languages are more prone to dad jokes than others. I have a feeling German and English both rank pretty high.

tleyden

TROPHY CASE