Vocabulary Builder — Save Words from Videos & Review

The Video Controls Plus vocabulary builder turns words and phrases captured from videos into a spaced-repetition study deck, similar to flashcards but specialized for language learners. Each entry stores the word, the captured timestamp from the source video (so you can replay the audio context), a translation or definition, and an optional usage note. The dashboard schedules reviews on the SM-2 algorithm — the same algorithm Anki uses — so words you struggle with appear more often and words you know well drift to longer intervals. The /vocabulary page is public marketing surface; the personal deck appears after sign-in.

Use cases

Building target-language vocabulary from authentic content

Watching native-speaker YouTube interviews at 0.75x is one of the best ways to build advanced vocabulary. Capture each new word with the timestamp; the audio context becomes an audio flashcard, not just a text flashcard.

Drilling technical jargon from professional content

A new role often introduces 50+ new technical terms in the first month. Save each one with the moment it was used; review weekly to lock in the meaning along with the example.

Pairing with subtitle-watching workflows

Watching with target-language subtitles means new words land visually. Capture them as you encounter them; the entries link back to the moment, so you can replay the spoken pronunciation alongside the written form.

Accent and pronunciation drilling

For accent work, the audio context is the actual training material. Each entry replays the original speaker — useful for matching prosody and rhythm, not just vocabulary.

How it works

1. Capture during playback. Press the vocabulary shortcut. A small inline editor opens; type the word, optional translation/definition, and optional note.
2. Timestamp auto-attached. The entry remembers the exact second you captured it. Click the entry later to replay the source audio.
3. Open /vocabulary to review. Daily review queue shows due cards. Mark each Easy / Good / Hard / Again; the SM-2 algorithm adjusts the interval.
4. Replay context for any card. Each card has a "Replay this moment" button that opens the source video at the captured second.
5. Export for external use. TSV or APKG (Anki-compatible). Timestamp links survive in the export as URL fields.

Examples

• A 200-word Spanish deck built over 3 months. Daily review takes ~5 minutes; recognition in unrelated content noticeably improves after ~6 weeks.
• A 30-word jargon deck for a new job. Reviewed weekly; new hire reports recall in meetings within the first month, including unprompted uses of terms they captured from training videos.

Frequently asked questions

Is this Anki?

It uses the same SM-2 algorithm Anki popularized, but each card carries a timestamped audio link to the source video. Pure flashcard workflows without video sources are still better served by Anki itself.

Can I export to Anki?

Yes — APKG format. Audio files are not embedded; the timestamp links act as audio references that open the source on click.

Does it work without sign-in?

Yes. Local-only deck persists in browser storage. Sync across devices needs sign-in.

How long should I review per day?

Most users hit diminishing returns above 10–15 minutes. The SM-2 cadence assumes regular short sessions, not occasional cramming.

Can I share a deck?

Not yet — shared decks are a roadmap item. For now, export TSV and share manually.

What if the source video is removed?

The card text remains; the "Replay" link becomes broken. The deck still works for review, just without the audio context.

Tips

• Capture aggressively during the first watch; pruning before review is easier than going back to find missed words.
• For language learning, save the target word AND the surrounding sentence — the context locks in meaning faster than the word alone.
• Review daily, not weekly. The SM-2 algorithm assumes daily-ish cadence; weekly bursts reduce retention.
• Pair with audio-pronunciation drills via /pomodoro: 25 minutes of focused vocabulary work beats an hour of half-attention.

Limitations

• No automatic translation — you provide the translation/definition, the tool does not call a translation API.
• Cards bound to a removed source video lose their audio context but remain in the deck.
• Shared decks are a roadmap item; today, sharing is manual export-and-import.
• The /vocabulary page itself is public marketing surface; the personal deck appears after sign-in.

Last updated 2026-05-06 by Ahsan Mahmood, maintainer.