liberlanco / mpv-lang-learner

Script to improve MPV with features for language learners.

mpv-lang-learner

Scripts to tune MPV into the video player for language learners.

Features

• Key to switch subtitles between language you learn and language you know. Very useful when there are 30 languages in .mkv.
  Default: b
• Cycle prefered languages you know if there are any.
  Default: B
• Key to AB loop current sutitle, and reset.
  Default: F5
• Auto AB loop mode that will loop each subtitle. Use key above or l (default) to move forward.
  Default: g
• Quick seek to begining of current subtitle (addition to standard Ctrl+left and Ctrl+right).
  Default: c
• Open subtitle in browser. 3 possible URLs.
  Default URLs: Jisho and google translate
  Default: F1, F2, F3.
• Store current subtitle in to_learn folder. It stores text (.txt), meta info (.json) and audio (.mp3). For later adding into flash cards and so on. (ffmpeg is needed for audio).
  Default: F6
• Call external script with current subtitle, file, start, stop timestamps.
  Default: F7

How to use

Train READING

• Use b to cycle between language you know and language you learn.
• If there are several languages you know, use B to cycle between them. After that b will use selected language.
• Ctrl+left / Ctrl+right (native bindings) to find needed subtitle. (notice it work well only for subtitles that were already shown)
• Use F1 or F2 to quickly lookup current text in dictionaries or transators. It will also pause the video. May be default bindings f (full screen) and T (on top) will be useful when working with multiple windows.
• Use F6 to save current subtitle in to_learn folder. It's for good phrases or frequent words you want to learn separately.
• You can prepare a script and setup it for F7 to (for example) automatically create flash cards in Anki.

(tip: it also dumps current subtitile into console, for the case if you want to copy-paste something!)

Train LISTENING

• Important button - v (native binding). It will show/hide subtitle, but it's still there! All saving/repeating and so on for that subitile should work. So right from the begining, switch to lang you want to learn (once b) and press v to hide it.
• Use c to seek to the begining of current subtitle, or (for listeners) to repeat the phrase.
• Use g to AB loop current subtitle (phrase). Press g again to move forward.
• If everything gets complex, use F5 to AB loop each phrase automatically. Each time you understand it, press g to move forward. If you give up, press v to show answer, and b or F1/F2/F3 to show translation.
• Again use F6 or F7 to remember good phrases for later learning.
• Use [, ] (native) to change the speed. Use Backspace to reset speed to normal. (tip: Shift+[ will half the speed)

Configuration

Look at lang-learner.conf for example and description of options.

How to prepare movie

Find movie/anime with switchable subtitles. Look for .mkv files and sources that embedds a lot of subtitles in one file. If you are lucky, you can find media with needed subtitles right inside.

If you miss some subtitle, look at sites like https://kitsunekko.net/ (for anime). Download and rename them to match movie/episode name.

(tip: to make external subtitle to have lang id, use following template for naming: <mkv file name>.<lang>.ass. For instance: Some anime - 02.jpn.ass)

Usually you have to sync external subtitles. Use GUI tools to edit subs like Aegisub, subtitlecomposer or magic syncers like ffsubsync. Don't forget to share your work for others!

Installation

Follow MPV instructions to install. (usually .lua should go into ~/.config/mpv/scripts/ and .conf into ~/.config/mpv/scrip-opts/).

Possible problems

• doesn't load Check script path. Try to call mpv from shell, some frontends known to disable script loading. Uncomment line print("LOADED") at the begining of the script as a sign that it's loaded for easier debugging.
• suddenly stops working. Run in terminal, try to reproduce, look in terminal for possible stack traces. If script crashes, then MPV disables it and disables all bindings.
• configuration option doesn't work. Run in console and watch for warnings about unknown options. Add wrong option (abc=123) in config file, and start mpv. If there is no warning, then MPV doesn't load config file at all. Check paths and naming.