Most people spend a lot of time watching movies and series. What if you could turn that time into an opportunity to learn new languages? That's exactly what Caterpillar offers: a way to learn languages while watching movies.
Caterpillar is an app for Windows and Mac that turns any movie or series file, along with the corresponding subtitles, into a complete language learning course. Developed by True Thing LLC, it uses spaced repetition and targeted exercises to keep you focused on each word. The app focuses on three essential skills: listening, speaking, and writing.
The Three Core Exercises
The first exercise repeats segments of a movie so you can listen attentively to the pronunciation and repeat it as many times as you want. You can also choose to hear the audio at half speed.
If you want to sound like a native, you need a way to hear your own pronunciation. That's why the second exercise has you record yourself repeating the line, then play it back. It's the ideal way to practice your pronunciation until it sounds right. Watching movies is inherently passive, but with Caterpillar it doesn't have to be.
In the last exercise, you listen carefully and write exactly what you hear, and the app checks whether what you wrote is correct. The beauty of Caterpillar is that it works for any language and any video, as long as you have a subtitle file. You can also choose from a wide library of TED talks included with the app.
Pricing and Availability
Caterpillar is available in two versions: a free one that allows you to add only one movie at a time and is limited to one section per movie (about three minutes), and a full version that requires a one-time payment of $99, which includes all future updates for free. Unfortunately, Caterpillar is not compatible with other media services like Netflix. Developed by True Thing LLC, you can download Caterpillar by clicking here. Also check out the official site: Caterpillar.
