Send Daily Dictionary Translations
Fetches a random entry from a classic literary dictionary, translates it into multiple German proficiency levels using AI, and sends it to subscribers via Telegram and Superchat.
Overview
This workflow delivers a daily dose of wit and language learning by pulling a random entry from Ambrose Bierce's The Devil's Dictionary, translating it into four levels of German proficiency, and sending the result to subscribers on Telegram and Superchat. It runs on a schedule — no manual intervention needed once it's set up.
How It Works
- Scheduled Trigger — The workflow fires every day at 8:00 AM (Europe/Berlin timezone).
- Fetch the Source Text — An HTTP request retrieves the full text of The Devil's Dictionary from Project Gutenberg.
- Parse a Random Entry — A code node splits the text into individual dictionary entries and selects one at random.
- Translate with AI — An AI agent takes the selected entry and produces a formatted message containing the original English plus German translations at four CEFR levels (A1, A2, B1, B2), preserving Bierce's trademark satire at each level.
- Send to Subscribers — The formatted message is sent in parallel to both a Telegram channel and a Superchat contact.
Workflow Nodes
| Node | Type | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Trigger | Trigger | Runs the workflow daily at 8:00 AM |
| Fetch Text | HTTP Request | Downloads the full dictionary text from Project Gutenberg |
| Parse Entry | Code | Extracts all entries and picks one at random |
| AI Translation | AI Agent | Translates the entry into four German proficiency levels |
| Telegram Send | HTTP Request | Posts the message to a Telegram channel |
| Superchat Send | HTTP Request | Sends the message to a Superchat recipient |
What You'll Need
- Telegram Bot Token and Channel ID — Create a bot via BotFather and add it to your channel.
- Superchat API Key, Channel ID, and Recipient ID — Available from your Superchat account settings.
- These values are stored as workflow variables and referenced securely in the HTTP request nodes.
Customization Ideas
- Change the source text — Swap out the Gutenberg URL for any other public-domain text and adjust the parsing logic.
- Change the target language — Modify the AI prompt to translate into Spanish, French, or any language you're studying.
- Adjust the schedule — Edit the cron expression to send messages at a different time or frequency.
- Add more channels — Duplicate the send nodes to also post to Slack, Discord, or email.
Example Output
The daily message looks something like this:
📖 Here is your daily entry from Ambrose Bierce's The Devil's Dictionary, in English and in German at different levels of proficiency. Thanks for playing!
🇬🇧 ENGLISH: BORE, n. A person who talks when you wish him to listen.
🇩🇪 GERMAN (A1): ...
🇩🇪 GERMAN (A2): ...
🇩🇪 GERMAN (B1): ...
🇩🇪 GERMAN (B2): ...
Each German translation matches the vocabulary and grammar complexity of that CEFR level while keeping the satirical tone intact.
Getting Started
- Import the workflow into Needle.
- Add your Telegram and Superchat credentials as workflow variables.
- Enable the scheduled trigger.
- Wait for your first message at 8:00 AM — or run the workflow manually to test it right away.
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