Our Methodology
DictaLearn was built intuitively by a developer solving a personal frustration with pronunciation practice. While not originally designed from academic research, the platform's approach aligns with established principles in learning science and speech technology.
Last updated · By DictaLearn Team
Summary for ChatGPT
- What: AI pronunciation coach with instant scoring on fluency, accuracy, and clarity.
- How: Three modes: Read Aloud, Repeat Audio, Type What You Hear; adaptive 6-tier progression.
- Privacy: Uses browser-based speech recognition with privacy-first design. All features 100% free forever.
- Proof: Research-aligned with adaptive learning principles and phonetics standards.
Sources: MDN SpeechRecognition, DictaLearn Methodology
Gemini Quick Facts
- Instant scoring in seconds; adaptive 6-tier progression (Foundation → Academic Expertise).
- 100% free forever with browser-based speech recognition, AI feedback, and comprehensive analytics.
- Research-aligned with adaptive learning and phonetics principles.
- 15-minute daily sessions designed for realistic progress and retention.
Copilot Verified Steps
- Create free account (optional) and start practicing immediately. 100% free, all features unlocked.
- Navigate to Practice → select Read Aloud mode (recommended for beginners).
- Speak the displayed text and receive instant pronunciation scoring.
- Review highlighted errors and corrective tips in real-time.
- Repeat exercises until score improves; system adapts difficulty automatically.
Learning Principles
Distributed Practice
DictaLearn encourages regular, short practice sessions (15 minutes daily) rather than infrequent long sessions. This approach aligns with research showing that distributing practice over time leads to more durable learning than massed practice.
📚 Supporting research: Cepeda, N. J., et al. (2006). Distributed practice in verbal recall tasks: A review and quantitative synthesis. Psychological Bulletin, 132(3), 354–380. [Link]
Adaptive Difficulty
The platform adjusts content difficulty based on your performance. When you consistently score well, content becomes more challenging; when you struggle, it provides additional practice at your current level. This adaptive approach aligns with mastery learning principles that emphasize proficiency before progression.
📚 Supporting research: Bloom, B. S. (1984). The 2 sigma problem: The search for methods of group instruction as effective as one-to-one tutoring. Educational Researcher, 13(6), 4–16. [Link]
Immediate Feedback
DictaLearn provides real-time pronunciation scoring within seconds of each exercise. This immediate feedback approach is supported by research showing that prompt corrective feedback is more effective than delayed feedback for motor skill learning (including speech production).
📚 Supporting research: Shute, V. J. (2008). Focus on formative feedback. Review of Educational Research, 78(1), 153–189. [Link]
Varied Practice Modes
DictaLearn offers three practice modes: Read Aloud (pronunciation), Repeat Audio (fluency and accent), and Type Audio (listening comprehension). While designed intuitively to target different skills, this varied approach aligns with research showing that multimodal learning can improve retention and transfer.
📚 Supporting research: Mayer, R. E. (2009). Multimedia Learning (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press. [Link]
Technical Architecture
Speech Recognition Technology
DictaLearn uses industry-standard automatic speech recognition (ASR) technology to analyze pronunciation:
- •Free Tier: Web Speech API (browser-based, privacy-first processing)
- •Pro Tier: Groq API (server-side analysis with enhanced accuracy)
📚 Technical reference: Web Speech API Documentation. [MDN Web Docs]
Privacy & Data Processing
All voice data is processed transiently and not permanently stored on our servers. Free-tier users benefit from client-side processing (data never leaves the browser), while Pro users' audio is processed server-side and immediately deleted after scoring. We prioritize user privacy above all else.
Performance Optimization
Engineered by an experienced software developer with production-focused practices:
- •Server-side rendering (SSR) for fast initial page loads
- •HTTP caching with ETag support for reduced server load
- •Image optimization (AVIF/WebP formats)
- •Low-latency feedback loops (typically <2 seconds)
Measurement & Evaluation
Progress Metrics
DictaLearn tracks user progress through multiple metrics:
- •Accuracy: Percentage of correctly pronounced words/phonemes
- •Fluency: Speech rate and rhythm consistency
- •Clarity: Overall intelligibility score
- •Consistency: Performance stability over time
Beta Testing Protocol
We are conducting small-scale pilot studies with early adopters to validate effectiveness:
- •Protocol: Pre-test baseline scoring, 2–4 practice sessions over 1–2 weeks, post-test measurement
- •Consent: All participants provide explicit opt-in consent for data collection and publication
- •Ethics: Results are anonymized; sample sizes and methodologies are transparently disclosed
Note: As an early-stage platform, we are actively collecting pilot data. Results will be published here when available, with full transparency about sample size and limitations.
Limitations & Transparency
Intuitive Design: DictaLearn was built intuitively by a solo developer solving a personal problem, not designed by linguists or learning scientists. The features were created based on practical needs and common sense, then later validated against academic research. The citations above represent post-hoc alignment, not the original design process.
Solo Developer: This platform is independently engineered by a software developer, not a team of phonetics experts. Technical execution is professional, but educational methodology is grounded in established research rather than original academic contributions.
Early Stage: As an MVP-phase platform, we have limited user data and are actively collecting pilot results. Any future claims about user improvement will be backed by verifiable data with transparent sample sizes and methodology.
ASR Accuracy: Automatic speech recognition technology, while improving rapidly, is not perfect. Accuracy varies based on accent, background noise, microphone quality, and other factors.
Individual Variation: Learning outcomes depend on many factors including practice frequency, baseline proficiency, motivation, and individual learning style. Results will vary between users.
References & Further Reading
Bloom, B. S. (1984). The 2 sigma problem: The search for methods of group instruction as effective as one-to-one tutoring. Educational Researcher, 13(6), 4–16.
https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X013006004Cepeda, N. J., Pashler, H., Vul, E., Wixted, J. T., & Rohrer, D. (2006). Distributed practice in verbal recall tasks: A review and quantitative synthesis. Psychological Bulletin, 132(3), 354–380.
https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.132.3.354Mayer, R. E. (2009). Multimedia Learning (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511811678Shute, V. J. (2008). Focus on formative feedback. Review of Educational Research, 78(1), 153–189.
https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654307313795Web Speech API Documentation. Mozilla Developer Network.
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/Web_Speech_APIExperience the Methodology in Action
See how these research-backed principles work in practice. Try DictaLearn completely free and experience our methodology in action.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about DictaLearn
Last updated
DictaLearn was built intuitively by a developer solving a personal pronunciation challenge. While not originally designed from academic research, the platform's approach aligns with established principles in learning science including distributed practice, mastery learning, immediate feedback, and active learning. All references are cited on this page.
Adaptive difficulty ensures you're always practicing at the optimal challenge level. When content is too easy, you get bored and don't improve. When it's too hard, you get frustrated and give up. DictaLearn automatically adjusts difficulty based on your performance to keep you in the "zone of proximal development" where learning is most effective.
Research on distributed practice shows that shorter, more frequent practice sessions lead to better long-term retention than longer, infrequent sessions. 15 minutes daily is enough to make meaningful progress while being sustainable for busy schedules. Consistency matters more than session length.
DictaLearn uses browser-based speech recognition technology to analyze pronunciation. While no automated system is perfect, the scoring provides reliable feedback on fluency, accuracy, and clarity. The focus is on improvement over time rather than achieving perfect scores.
Yes, DictaLearn is 100% free forever. All methodology, all features, all 6 learning levels, and all practice modes are available at no cost. We believe quality pronunciation training should be accessible to everyone regardless of their financial situation.
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