Lotus Pond Reader is an interactive tool designed to help Mandarin learners master Traditional Chinese characters, with a specific focus on Taiwanese language patterns and cultural context.
Key Features
• Adaptive Difficulty: Choose from 8 levels aligned with the TOCFL bands.
• Interlinear Assistance: Toggle between Pinyin and Zhuyin (Bopomofo) to assist with pronunciation.
• English Translations: Show or hide natural English translations for each sentence.
• Read Aloud (TTS): Use the built-in text-to-speech feature to hear correct pronunciations.
• Vocabulary Practice: Input specific terms you want to practice, and the AI will naturally integrate them into the story.
How to Use
1. Get a Gemini API key and enter it in the Settings menu (your key is stored locally and securely in your browser).
2. Enter a brief plot or theme.
3. Select your current proficiency level.
4. (Optional) Enter specific Mandarin words you want to study.
5. Click "Generate story" and wait for your custom content.
6. You can toggle the pronunciation, highlighted words, and English translations on the story view screen.
7. Practice by reading aloud as best you can for your level. Increase the difficulty as you become more comfortable.