How to help your child with dictation?
Dictation Guru is designed for primary and secondary students — component breakdown and games make dictation fun.
From text input to photo marking at a glance
Scan textbook words
Open the camera on the Add Words page and photograph a textbook page; AI auto-recognizes Traditional Chinese or English words. Free: 3 scans/week; members unlimited.
Passage Analysis: diagnose first
After adding words, tap "Passage Analysis". Each character/word's frequency and components are listed. Chinese characters are tagged by type (simple, compound, phono-semantic). English shows word-family breakdown. Tick the words you know — dictation only practices the unticked ones. Use "Re-decompose" to switch decomposition; "OK" locks it. For passages over 200 characters, paste in sections.
Tap component sounds to expand vocabulary
On the analysis page, components that are themselves real characters (e.g. 者 in 著) can be tapped to hear. Pure radicals (艹、氵、扌) aren't standalone characters and have no sound. Tap pronounceable components to expand vocabulary — learning 者 helps with 著、煮、暑、豬.
Brick game: read to pop bubbles
Under each pronounceable component, tap "🎮 Brick game" to open bubbles. Each component shows everyday words containing it (巴→巴士、尾巴、下巴), plus words using the whole character (爸→爸爸). Read the word aloud or tap the bubble to pop it. Pop them all for confetti and stars. Pick Cantonese/Putonghua for voice recognition; tap the mic to keep listening.
Cross-passage memory: focus on new words
When you tick a word as known, it's remembered. After the same word is ticked across 3 different passages, it's auto-hidden later so the list focuses on new words. Hiding is automatic (no manual delete) to avoid accidental removal. Hidden words are listed at the bottom.
Photo dictation: paper + AI grading
Choose "Photo dictation": the child writes on paper, you photograph it, and AI grades the handwriting like real school dictation. A typing mode is also available.
Voice dictation and read-all
Each word is read aloud for the child to write, simulating real dictation. Integrated mode also cues component composition. On Add Words, tap "🔊 Read all" to hear every word in order before practicing.
List management
Create multiple lists, e.g. "P2 Term 1", "English Unit 1". Each stores its own words and progress for sorted review.
Mistake book
Missed words are auto-saved with the student's answer and error count for targeted review. Practice them until mastered.
Star rewards
Each correct word earns a star; stars unlock badges. Gamified to keep kids practicing and building confidence.
Membership upgrade
The free tier covers basics. Members get unlimited scanning, unlimited storage, AI word-family analysis and integrated mode — one annual payment for the full year.
Free-tier data stays on your device. Member data is encrypted in transit and stored securely. We don't collect children's personal data or share anything without consent.
Suggested workflow
- Before each dictation, scan or type this lesson's words into a new list.
- Tap "Passage Analysis" and tick the words your child already knows.
- Tap "Start dictation" for unknown words; afterwards check the mistake book and re-practice.
- Encourage with stars and badges — 10 minutes a day is enough.