For language learners, reading authentic content is both essential and exhausting. Constant dictionary lookups fracture concentration, while website clutter derails focus. Developer Ahmet Ömer experienced this firsthand during his German studies, leading him to build Readpoly—a dedicated web app designed to transform reading into a seamless, effective language acquisition tool.

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The Readpoly interface offers a clean, focused environment for language immersion.

Core Mechanics: Beyond Simple Translation

Readpoly’s foundation is an interactive reader that eliminates traditional friction points:

  • Instant Click-to-Translate: Click any word for immediate translation and native-speaker pronunciation.
  • Automated Vocabulary Building: Every translated word is saved with its original sentence context, creating a personalized library linked directly to the source material.
  • Distraction-Free Focus Mode: Strips away headers and navigation elements, immersing users solely in the text.
  • Pagination & Bookmarking: Long texts split into manageable 400-word chunks, with progress saved automatically.

"The goal is to make reading flow," Ömer explains. "By removing the need to switch tabs for dictionaries or fight distractions, learners can achieve deeper immersion—which is where real acquisition happens."

Shadow Reading: Bridging Auditory and Visual Learning

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Shadow Reading mode highlights words in sync with native audio playback.

A standout feature is Shadow Reading Mode, combining text-to-speech with visual highlighting:

  • Words illuminate in real-time as they’re spoken by native voices.
  • Playback controls allow pausing and resuming at any point.
  • Supports synchronized reading across English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, and Turkish.

This multimodal approach reinforces word recognition, pronunciation, and comprehension simultaneously—addressing a critical gap in many learning tools.

Structured Vocabulary Management & Content Flexibility

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Vocabulary is saved with contextual sentences and linked to source content.

The app automatically generates a searchable vocabulary bank. Each entry includes:

  • The source sentence where the word appeared.
  • Links back to the original article or story.
  • Tools to add custom notes, synonyms, or example sentences.

Users aren’t limited to predefined content. They can:

  • Browse a public library of user-submitted texts.
  • Import their own articles or stories (public or private).
  • Filter content by language, word count, or estimated reading time.

Sustainable Model & Roadmap

Readpoly’s free tier offers unlimited reading and basic word translations—positioning it as an accessible entry point. A future paid tier will unlock advanced analytics and customization. Ömer emphasizes continuous iteration based on his own usage: "As I read German tech blogs or news on Readpoly, I immediately see what’s missing. The tool evolves with real learner needs, not assumptions."

For developers, Readpoly exemplifies how targeted web applications can solve niche but profound user frustrations. Its architecture—melding real-time translation APIs, text-to-speech, and intentional UX design—creates a scaffold where language acquisition feels less like study and more like exploration.

Source: Introducing Readpoly by Ahmet Ömer