To transcribe a language lesson, send the recording to the Potok bot on Telegram and export plain text with timestamps. Files up to 2 GB work. The text follows the language of the audio, so a lesson that switches languages needs a closer read from you.
Transcribe a recording
Send your voice message, audio or video to @potok_now_bot on Telegram and the text comes back in the chat.
Open @potok_now_bot in Telegram
Files up to 2 GB · export to TXT, MD, DOCX, PDF, SRT and VTT · speaker labels and timestamps · about 30 languages
Key facts
- The text is written in the language of the audio. It is not a translation of the lesson.
- Plain text for study can be copied into flashcards, notes or a vocabulary list.
- Timestamps let you replay the pronunciation of a word you want to practise.
How to do it
- Record the whole lesson. Ask your tutor if you may record. Keep the phone near the tutor, who often speaks more softly than you.
- Check the language. The bot supports about 30 languages with good results and a few more with a warning. Look at the language list for yours.
- Open the bot. Open @potok_now_bot in Telegram and send the recording.
- Turn on timestamps. Times help you jump back to a phrase in the audio.
- Read along while listening. Play the lesson with the text open. Underline words that you misheard.
- Build a word list. Copy new words and example sentences into your notes with the time next to each.
- Fix the mixed-language parts. Where the tutor explains in one language and speaks in another, check the words by ear.
What the result looks like
[00:00] Speaker 1: Today we practise ordering food. Repeat after me: a table for two, please.
[00:07] Speaker 2: A table for two, please.
[00:11] Speaker 1: Good. Now ask for the menu.
[00:14] Speaker 2: Could I see the menu, please?
Sample text written by us to show the layout of a transcript. It is not the output of the recognition engine and not a real recording.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Where it works | Telegram bot @potok_now_bot; large files go through the bot's mini app |
| File size | Up to 2 GB |
| Export | TXT, MD, DOCX, PDF, SRT, VTT |
| Speakers and time | Speaker labels and timestamps can be switched on |
| Languages | About 30 languages with good published results; a few more with warnings |
| Translation | The transcript is not translated into another language |
| Dictation | A separate Potok desktop app lets you dictate text into any program; it recognises Russian speech |
Common mistakes
| Mistake | What happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Expecting the text to explain in your own language | It stays in the language spoken, so mixed lessons come out mixed. | Use the text as a record, and keep separate notes in your own language. |
| Learners' mistakes copied as correct | The transcript writes what you said, errors included. | Mark your own errors and compare with the tutor's correction. |
| Skipping the check of accents and tone marks | Accents or tone marks can be lost or wrong. | Review the marks against the sound for languages that use them. |
| Recording in a noisy cafe | Background voices enter the text. | Choose a quiet spot, or use headphones with a microphone. |
More
See the full list of languages, the tools and the glossary.
Frequently asked questions
Does the text come out in my own language?
No. It stays in the language spoken in the recording.
Which languages work well?
About 30 have good published results, and a few more come with a warning. The language list shows each verdict.
Can I find a word in the audio again?
Yes, with timestamps on. The time next to the sentence tells you where to replay.
What if the lesson mixes two languages?
Mixed speech is harder, so read the text closely and fix the switches by ear.
Which format is best for studying?
TXT or DOCX. Both can be copied into a notes app or flashcards.
Sources
Each source was opened by hand on the date shown. Pages change, so open the source if a detail matters to you.
- Transcription (linguistics) (Wikipedia), Wikipedia · checked
- Code-switching (Wikipedia), Wikipedia · checked
Try it on your own recording
Send your voice message, audio or video to @potok_now_bot on Telegram and the text comes back in the chat.
Open @potok_now_bot in Telegram