Learn English with Spotify Podcasts on FlexiLingo

1What Is Spotify Support on FlexiLingo?

As of the date of this article, Spotify is the latest platform we support in FlexiLingo. When you listen to podcasts (and other content) on Spotify’s website (open.spotify.com), the FlexiLingo browser extension can turn that listening into an interactive language lesson.

The FlexiLingo button always appears on the player when you're on open.spotify.com. One click opens FlexiLingo Studio: when the episode has a transcript you get synchronized subtitles, CEFR levels on words, and the ability to save vocabulary to your deck. You can listen on Spotify and study in Studio without leaving the page.

2Why Learn English with Podcasts?

Podcasts are one of the best resources for real-world listening. They expose you to natural pace, accents, and topics you care about. Unlike scripted lessons, podcasts often use the kind of English you’ll hear in work, travel, or daily life.

The challenge is that it’s hard to “pause and look up” every unknown word. FlexiLingo solves this by syncing Spotify’s transcript with our Studio: you see the text as you listen, click any word for definitions and CEFR level, and save words to your deck for spaced repetition. You get the benefits of immersion without losing the support of a learning tool.

3Which Podcasts and Episodes Are Supported?

FlexiLingo works on Spotify's web player for episodes and tracks. The FlexiLingo button always appears on the player. When an episode has a transcript (many do—look for a "Transcript" tab on the episode page), Studio can show it as interactive subtitles; when there's no transcript, you can still open Studio to take notes.

Not every episode has a transcript. The FlexiLingo button always appears on the player on supported Spotify pages. When the episode has a transcript, Studio will show interactive subtitles; when it doesn't, you can still open Studio to take notes or use the content without subtitles.

Music tracks can have synced lyrics on Spotify; FlexiLingo’s Spotify support is focused on podcast episodes with transcripts, where the transcript is used for learning in Studio.

4How FlexiLingo Works with Spotify

FlexiLingo runs as a browser extension on Chrome and Firefox. When you visit open.spotify.com and play an episode or track, the extension detects the Spotify player. The FlexiLingo button appears on the player.

A FlexiLingo button appears on or near the player. Clicking it opens FlexiLingo Studio in a panel or fullscreen view. Studio loads the transcript text and keeps it in sync with playback when possible, so you can follow along and click any word to see its meaning and level and add it to your vocabulary deck.

You stay on Spotify in your browser; no need to switch to another app. Your progress and saved words sync with your FlexiLingo account, so you can review them later on the web dashboard or in the extension on other supported sites.

5Step-by-Step: How to Use FlexiLingo with Spotify

Follow these steps to learn English with Spotify podcasts in FlexiLingo:

1. Install the FlexiLingo extension for Chrome or Firefox from the links on our Supported Platforms page or product page.
2. Open Spotify in your browser: go to open.spotify.com and sign in if needed.
3. Choose a podcast episode or any track. If you want interactive subtitles in Studio, look for episodes that have a "Transcript" tab on the episode page.
4. Start playing the episode. The FlexiLingo button appears on or near the player.
5. Click the FlexiLingo button to open Studio. When the episode has a transcript, it loads as interactive subtitles; otherwise you can use Studio to take notes.
6. Listen and read along. Click any word to see definitions and CEFR level, and use “Save to deck” to add it to your vocabulary for later review.
7. When you’re done, close Studio or switch to another tab. Your saved words are stored in your account and can be reviewed in the dashboard or during review sessions.

For example, try this popular episode (it has a transcript): The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett — Is There A Safe Amount Of Alcohol?

6How Content Loads: Transcripts and Studio

When you click the FlexiLingo button on a Spotify episode, the extension reads the transcript that Spotify shows on the page (in the Transcript tab). That text is sent into FlexiLingo’s pipeline: it’s split into segments, aligned with timestamps when available, and displayed in Studio as clickable subtitle lines.

Playback stays in Spotify’s player. When the episode has a transcript, Studio uses it and, where possible, syncs the highlighted line with the current playback position so you can follow along. When there’s no transcript, Studio may have no text to show—but the FlexiLingo button still appears on the player.

Loading is usually quick because we use the transcript that’s already on the page rather than generating new captions. You need a stable connection to load the extension and your FlexiLingo account data; the audio itself is streamed by Spotify.

7What You Can Do in Studio

Inside FlexiLingo Studio on Spotify, you get the same core features we offer on YouTube, BBC, and CBC:

8Tips for Learning with Spotify Podcasts

Use podcasts that match your level and interests. If the transcript feels too hard, try an easier show or episode.

Listen first without Studio to get the gist, then open Studio and listen again while reading. Pause on words you don’t know, click them, and save the ones you want to learn.

Short, regular sessions work well: 15–20 minutes per day with one or two episodes can build vocabulary and listening confidence over time.

Combine Spotify with other FlexiLingo platforms. For example, use YouTube or BBC for video and Spotify for podcasts so you get both visual and audio-only practice.

9Spotify vs YouTube, BBC, and CBC on FlexiLingo

On YouTube, BBC, and CBC, FlexiLingo often works with video (and sometimes audio-only) content and can use built-in captions or, where we support it, AI-generated transcription. On Spotify, we only use content that already has a transcript provided by Spotify.

The experience in Studio is similar across platforms: interactive subtitles, CEFR levels, and vocabulary saving. The main difference is the source of the text: on Spotify it’s Spotify’s own transcript; on others it may be platform captions or our own pipeline.

If you already use FlexiLingo on YouTube, BBC, or CBC, your account and decks are the same on Spotify. You can mix content from all supported platforms in one learning routine.

10Get Started and Next Steps

To start learning English with Spotify on FlexiLingo, install the extension, go to open.spotify.com, pick a podcast episode, and click the FlexiLingo button on the player. Create a free FlexiLingo account if you haven't already, so your vocabulary syncs and you can review it on the web.

For a full list of where FlexiLingo works—Chrome, Firefox, YouTube, BBC, CBC, Spotify, and our web tools—see our Supported Platforms article. We’re adding more platforms over time; check the blog and product pages for updates.

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