HOW SENTENCE LAB WORKS

A little practice. Real progress.

Get to know your learning tools, build a daily habit, and make the most of every sentence.

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Our Learning Approach

Sentence Lab is built around active recall โ€” instead of passive multiple-choice exercises, you translate sentences by typing them out completely. This builds stronger neural pathways and prepares you for real-world Spanish use.

We use spaced repetition to optimize your review schedule. Sentences you struggle with appear more frequently, while mastered content spaces out over time. This scientifically-proven method maximizes retention with minimal time investment.

Content is organized into progressive levels that build on each other, starting with basic sentences and advancing through verb tenses, pronouns, and complex grammar structures.

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Your Daily Lesson

The easiest way to make steady progress: each day Sentence Lab builds you a personalized lesson plan tuned to your level and recent practice. Just open your dashboard and press start โ€” no deciding what to study.

A single lesson weaves together several short activities, so every session covers a balanced mix:

  • โ€ขTranslation: render English sentences into Spanish
  • โ€ขVocabulary flashcards: frequency words and themed decks at your level
  • โ€ขGrammar mini-drills: a rotating focus like ser vs estar or the subjunctive
  • โ€ขConjugation practice: quick verb drills
  • โ€ขReading: a short, level-appropriate story in longer sessions

Lessons are time-boxed โ€” choose a length from about 5 to 20 minutes and the plan scales to fit. As your accuracy climbs, the level adjusts automatically so the difficulty keeps pace with you.

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CEFR Levels

Content is organized using the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) standard:

A0
First words and basic phrases
A1
Present tense and simple conversations
A2
Past tenses, ser vs estar, pronouns
B1
Complex grammar and reflexives
B2
Advanced expressions and subjunctive
C1
Native-like fluency and nuance

Graduating to the next level: Complete at least 20 exercises in your current level with 90% accuracy or better. You can always go back and practice earlier levels.

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Practice Sessions

Each practice session presents you with English sentences to translate into Spanish. Type your answer and submit to check if it's correct.

Session Modes

  • โ€ขLearn New: Practice sentences you haven't seen before
  • โ€ขReview: Practice sentences due for spaced repetition review
  • โ€ขMixed: A combination of new and review sentences
  • โ€ขFocus on Weak Areas: Practice sentences you've gotten wrong before

Getting Help

During practice, you have access to helper tools:

  • โ€ข๐Ÿ“– Vocabulary: Look up word translations
  • โ€ข๐Ÿ“ Conjugator: Check verb conjugations for any tense
  • โ€ข๐Ÿ“š Grammar: Review grammar rules and explanations
  • โ€ข๐Ÿ’ก Hints: Each exercise has up to 3 progressive hints
  • โ€ขโœ๏ธ Your own hint: Tap Add a hint to leave yourself a personal note on any sentence โ€” like "the verb doesn't start with A" โ€” to steer clear of mistakes you know you make. Tap Show hint to reveal it later, along with any personalized reminder we've generated from your past attempts on that sentence.

Tip: If you pause while typing, the helper buttons will highlight to remind you they're available!

Tailoring Your Practice

  • โ€ข๐Ÿ™ˆ Hide: Come across a sentence you don't want to keep practicing right now โ€” say it uses a tense you haven't learned yet? Tap Hide and it's skipped and kept out of future practice and review. You can bring it back any time from the Hidden tab in your Review Queue.
  • โ€ขโญ๏ธ Skip: Not sure of an answer? Skip moves on without affecting your schedule โ€” the sentence simply comes back another time.
  • โ€ข๐Ÿ“ˆ Automatic spacing: Nail a sentence on the first try with no hints and it won't return for weeks โ€” get it wrong and it comes back soon. You don't have to manage any of this; it happens on its own.
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Lessons & Drills

Focus your practice on specific grammar topics with our structured lessons and drills:

  • โ€ขTargeted Practice: Choose a specific grammar point like ser vs estar, preterite vs imperfect, or subjunctive
  • โ€ขProgressive Difficulty: Each lesson starts simple and builds to more complex sentences
  • โ€ขImmediate Feedback: Get explanations for why answers are correct or incorrect

Lessons are a great way to reinforce grammar concepts before practicing them in mixed sessions.

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Reading & Current News

Expand your Spanish with reading content at your level:

  • โ€ขReading Stories: Short stories organized by CEFR level, with tap-to-reveal translations and audio narration
  • โ€ขCurrent News: Real news adapted to your level and narrated in your chosen voice, refreshed regularly (Premium)
  • โ€ขVocabulary Highlights: Key words and phrases are highlighted with translations

Reading authentic content helps you see grammar and vocabulary in real-world context.

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Conversation Scenarios

Practice real-life conversations from start to finish โ€” meeting someone new, ordering at a restaurant, shopping for clothes, and more.

  • โ€ขThe other speaker's lines are spoken aloud in your chosen voice
  • โ€ขYou build each reply by tapping words into order from a word bank โ€” no blank-page pressure
  • โ€ขScenarios span A1 to B2, so they grow with you

Conversation Scenarios are part of Sentence Lab Premium.

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Audio & Voices

Hear natural Spanish throughout the app โ€” on practice sentences, reading stories, scenarios, and news.

  • โ€ขAccent: choose Latin American or Castilian (Spain)
  • โ€ขVoice: female or male โ€” four high-quality voices in all
  • โ€ขSpeed: slow the audio down while you're learning a new phrase

Pick your accent and voice in Settings. Where studio audio isn't available, your device's built-in speech fills in so there's always something to listen to.

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Games

Sharpen specific skills with quick, replayable games:

  • โ€ขVerb Blitz: a timed conjugation sprint โ€” pick your tenses and conjugate as many verbs as you can before the clock runs out, then beat your best score
  • โ€ขVocabulary Challenge: work your way up through the 2,000 most common Spanish words, from the everyday to the advanced
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Vocabulary & Flashcards

Build your word bank with flashcard decks you can drill anytime:

  • โ€ขFrequency decks: the Top 1000 and Next 1000 most common words, ordered so you learn the highest-impact vocabulary first
  • โ€ขThemed decks: focused sets like Basics, Travel, and Action Verbs
  • โ€ขYour own decks: add custom vocabulary or import a list via CSV

Study any deck in Flip mode (reveal the answer and self-grade) or Type mode (type the translation and get checked automatically), in either direction โ€” Spanishโ†’English or Englishโ†’Spanish.

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Answer Validation

We understand that Spanish has flexible grammar. Our answer checker accounts for:

  • โœ“Pronoun flexibility: "Como" and "Yo como" are both accepted
  • โœ“Gender variants: "El profesor" and "La profesora" are both correct when context allows
  • โœ“Alternative phrasings: Multiple correct translations are accepted
  • โœ“Accent handling: Configurable in settings โ€” strict, forgiving, or very forgiving

You can adjust how strictly accents are checked in Settings.

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Points & Ranks

Earn points for every exercise you complete! Your score is calculated based on:

  • โ€ขSentence length: Longer sentences earn more points
  • โ€ขLevel difficulty: Higher levels have a score multiplier
  • โ€ขPerfection bonus: 50% bonus for answers with no mistakes (including accents!)

Rank Progression

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Beginner
0
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Novice
100
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Student
500
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Apprentice
1K
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Intermediate
2.5K
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Advanced
5K
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Expert
10K
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Master
25K
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Grandmaster
50K
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Legend
100K
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Streaks & Daily Goals

Consistency is key to language learning. Set a daily goal and maintain your streak!

  • โ€ขDaily Goal: Set your target (5-25 exercises) in Settings
  • โ€ขStreak: Practice every day to build your streak
  • โ€ขReminders: Enable email reminders to help you stay on track
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Custom Content

Add your own sentences and vocabulary to practice! This is perfect for:

  • โ€ขSentences from your Spanish class or textbook
  • โ€ขPhrases you encounter in real life
  • โ€ขVocabulary lists you want to memorize

Visit My Content to add sentences one by one or import them via CSV.

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Settings & Help

Customize your learning experience in Settings:

  • โ€ขDaily Goal: How many exercises you want to complete each day
  • โ€ขSession Length: Default number of exercises per practice session
  • โ€ขTyping Strictness: How strictly accents are checked
  • โ€ขEmail Reminders: Daily practice reminders and streak alerts

Quick Links

Questions or feedback? support@sentencelab.app