Understand real French
at native speed -
through podcast dictation.
Free forever. 1,000+ learners improving their French every day.
French sounds beautiful.
Understanding it is another story.
You studied grammar, memorized vocabulary, aced written exams. Then a native speaker opens their mouth and you catch maybe every fifth word. The problem is not your knowledge - it is how your brain processes spoken French.
I spent three years with textbooks and apps. After two months of daily dictation on WELE, I finally understood a full France Inter segment without subtitles. That was the moment everything clicked.
One simple method, backed by
100 years of research.(it works!)
Dictation (dictee) has been the gold standard in French education for over a century. It works because it forces your brain to process every syllable - bridging the gap between reading French and hearing French.
Listen - the full clip
Pick a French podcast at your level: Journal en francais facile, Coffee Break French, InnerFrench. Listen to the full 3-10 minute segment to grasp the overall meaning.
Transcribe sentence by sentence
Replay short segments. Type exactly what you hear. No blanks to fill - you write every word. WELE compares your transcription to the original in real time.
Review - and understand
See which words you missed and why. WELE analyzes your errors, saves new vocabulary, and schedules spaced-repetition reviews using the FSRS algorithm.
Learners using dictation for 20 minutes daily over 8 weeks improved listening comprehension by an average of 42% compared to the passive-listening control group.
A tool refined over
3 years and 50,000 dictations.
Every button, every shortcut, every feedback loop has been tuned based on real learner behavior. Built for people who want to actually understand French - not just study it.
Les nouvelles mesures economiques
Everything you need to
truly improve.
Not just a place to listen - WELE is a complete ecosystem that supports you from your first dictation to understanding France Inter without subtitles.
Custom speed, smart hints, precise segmentation
0.5x for beginners · 1.25x when ready · keyboard shortcuts for every action · word-level hints when stuck · instant comparison with the original.
450+ podcasts from RFI, InnerFrench, Coffee Break & more
New episodes added weekly. Every level, every interest.
Vocabulary review, the scientific way
The FSRS algorithm (same engine as Anki) calculates exactly when to review each word before you forget it.
Listen on the metro. Transcribe at the cafe.
Fully responsive web app - works great on your phone, tablet, or laptop. No download needed.
Community of 1,000+ learners
Facebook group and Reddit community always active.
Smart analytics
Personal dashboard tracking your progress over time.
Weekly challenges
Community leaderboard. 7-day, 30-day, and 100-day streaks.
1,000 learners can not be wrong -
here are some of their stories.you will want to start right away
“I tried everything - Duolingo, Pimsleur, classes. Nothing fixed my listening. After 6 weeks of daily dictation on WELE, I watched an entire French film without subtitles and understood 80%. I was in tears.
The dictation method forced me to actually hear the liaisons and silent letters. My French teacher noticed the difference before I did.
I listen to France Inter during my commute now. Six months ago that was unthinkable. WELE trained my ear in ways no textbook ever could.
The FSRS vocabulary review is brilliant. I retain words I used to forget within days. It feels like the app knows my brain.
Started at A2, now comfortably B2 after 8 months. The progress tracking keeps me motivated and the community challenges make it fun.
As someone who learned French in school but lost it, WELE brought it all back. The real podcast content makes practice feel meaningful, not like homework.
Free forever.
Premium only when you are ready.no tricks, no traps
No misleading "freemium" limits. The free plan has everything you need to build a daily dictation habit and improve. Premium adds AI tools and the full content library.
Everything you need to build a daily listening habit and make real progress.
- ✓Unlimited dictation on web
- ✓New podcasts added weekly (RFI, InnerFrench, Coffee Break & more)
- ✓Personal dashboard & achievement tracking
- ✓Community challenges & leaderboard
- ✓Access to free courses
- ✓Community of 1,000+ French learners
Everything in Free, plus AI-powered tools and the full Premium library.
- ✓All Free features included
- ✓Mobile-friendly web app - practice on any devicePREMIUM
- ✓Smart Review FSRS - automatic vocabulary reviewAI
- ✓Language Logic - sentence structure analysisAI
- ✓AI Speaking 30 min/monthAI
- ✓Full Premium library (courses, playlists)
- ✓Create 5 custom podcasts / month
- ✓Private support group for members
- ✓Free access to all future features
Questions?
Here are the answers.
Do I need to know the French alphabet to start?
+How does dictation help with French specifically?
+How long until I can understand French podcasts?
+Is WELE really free?
+How is WELE different from Duolingo or Rosetta Stone?
+Can I use WELE alongside other French courses?
+Can I cancel Premium anytime?
+Ready to start today?
3 minutes to sign up. One dictation to begin.
Every day you postpone is a day your brain does not get used to French sounds. You have waited long enough.
Start free today