Spotify’s little-known feature that’s perfect for language learners
At the end of 2023 Spotify launched auto-generated time-synced transcripts for podcasts. That means you can see the words of a podcast on screen, with each word clearly highlighted, as it’s said.
For a language learner who’s reached a higher level and wants to expand their vocabulary and get used to understanding native speakers, listening to podcasts is extremely useful .
This Spotify feature has just made it even more useful, especially when combined with the ‘skip back 15 seconds’ button. You can turn on the transcript, listen without looking and when there’s something you don’t understand, just skip back and see what was said.
I’ve only just discovered this feature, a year after it became available, so I’m sharing it in this article for any other language learners who are late to the party.
The main reason it took me a while to discover it, despite listening to podcasts on Spotify every day, is that it’s available for very few podcasts.
Podcast creators can choose whether to provide transcripts for their episodes and Spotify says the feature isn’t even available to all creators at the moment.
Even when it is available to listeners, it’s quite hidden and hard to find.
How do you see the transcript for a podcast on Spotify?
Tap the bar at the bottom of the screen that shows the podcast that’s currently playing. If it has a transcript, it will start showing it, full screen.
Easy when you know how but, the real challenge right now, is finding a podcast with a transcript. Fortunately, I’ve done that work for you. Here’s what I found for English and Spanish. (I’ll add more as I find them.)
What are some English podcasts that have transcripts on Spotify?
- The Louis Theroux Podcast — Interviews with famous people
- 404 Media — Tech and cyber crime
- Science Vs — Popular science
What are some Spanish podcasts that have transcripts on Spotify?
- Las Damitas Histeria — Dating
- Esta no te la sabes — Popular science, interesting facts
- Teorías de Conspiración — Conspiracy theories
