How to Use NotebookLM to Create Level-Appropriate Audio Content for Language Learners
Finding good language learning audio content for language students is incredibly difficult. Most authentic materials are either too advanced or cover topics/vocabulary your students don't need. Educational recordings often sound artificial and scripted. You're constantly searching for that sweet spot: content that sounds natural, covers your curriculum, and matches your students' proficiency level.
When I first heard NotebookLM's Audio Overview feature, I was SO EXCITED. The conversations sounded so natural and engaging, like real people discussing topics in a high quality podcast. Finally, I thought, a tool that could create authentic-sounding audio from my own materials.
But after testing it with one of my classes, I quickly realized a problem. The output was consistently too challenging. The pace was fast, the vocabulary complex, and the sentence structures advanced. It worked well for my C1 students, and sometimes even they struggled with it. My B1+ students were completely lost.
I was determined to make this tool work for lower-level learners, so I started experimenting with different approaches. While NotebookLM doesn't have a direct way to control difficulty levels, I discovered several workarounds that can help you create more appropriate content for your students. This guide shares strategies that help you make the most of NotebookLM's tools to achieve this goal.
The Challenge with Language Levels for ESL/EFL Students
NotebookLM doesn't have a built-in option to select CEFR levels (A2, B1, C1) when generating audio. The AI creates content based on your source materials without considering your students' language proficiency. This means a complex academic article will produce equally complex audio content.
Creating Authentic Listening Materials with AI
Strategy 1: Choose Your Source Materials
The most effective approach I have found is to prepare your source materials before generating audio.
The most effective way to control text complexity is at the preparation stage:
Select Appropriate Sources
Choose materials that already match your students' level:
News articles, stories or informational texts written for language learners
Simplified stories rather than original literary texts
Educational content designed for your target proficiency level
Simplify Complex Texts
If the source material is too complex, you can simplify it before uploading it by using the NotebookLM chat function or any other AI you like.
Ask NotebookLM to:
"Summarize this text for a CEFR A2 learner"
"Rewrite this paragraph using only common vocabulary suitable for a B1 student"
"Explain this concept in simple terms for someone just starting to learn English"
Upload these simplified versions as your source materials.
Break Down Long Content
Divide long or difficult texts into shorter sections. Upload each section separately and generate shorter audio overviews. This allows students to work through complex material gradually.
Strategy 2: Use Custom Prompts
As I have already mentioned, NotebookLM doesn’t include preset levels like “B2” or “C1,” but you can guide the generated audio by adding clear instructions. When generating your Audio Overview, click the "Customize" option and add instructions like:
"Explain this topic in a clear and straightforward manner, avoiding complex vocabulary"
"Discuss the key points as if speaking to a learner”
"Keep sentences relatively short and direct"
"Focus on essential information and avoid intricate details"
“Include the following vocabulary in the text: ___________”
“Explain this grammatical point to Business English students that don’t like grammar. Emphasize how it is used in the “real world”
Experiment with different prompts to see how they influence the output.
I have included my name, and info about my class to be included in the output. The “hosts” then say, “Your teacher Mariana asked us to explain this… to you” or “Your teacher Mariana told us that you really don’t like grammar, but we want to explain why this topic might be useful for your career…” Listen to that example below.
Strategy 3: Create Support Materials
Generate Transcripts
Upload your completed Audio Overview back into NotebookLM to get a transcript. This gives students text to follow along while listening.
Build Vocabulary Lists
Use the transcript to create vocabulary support:
“List all nouns/verbs/phrasal verbs from this transcript with definitions.”
“Pick five difficult words and explain them simply.”
“List typical false friends with ______ language”
Create Comprehension Questions
Generate questions based on the transcript to guide student listening and understanding.
Use Playback Speed
NotebookLM allows speed adjustment, encourage students to slow down audio for better comprehension (only works if you share the overview directly from the NotebookLM website / No downloads).
Try Interactive Mode
For English content, students can ask questions during the podcast to clarify complex points in real-time.
Provide Multiple Formats
Give students the audio, transcript, and simplified source text. Different students benefit from different formats.
A very meta example
I fed this guide to NotebookLM to see what type of audio it would generate without customization and with the following:
Please generate an audio overview for English students at the B1+ level. Start the overview with the phrase “¡Hola!”. Say that I (Mariana) gave you this material. The goal is to ensure maximum comprehension for learners. To achieve this, use short, clear, and direct sentences. Avoid any idiomatic expressions or slang. Utilize vocabulary generally understood at the B1+ level. Maintain a steady, comprehensible pace throughout the audio, suitable for language learners.
Listen below and see if you can hear the difference customization can make.
This is the output without any customization.
This is the output with customization. <— the audio is a bit confusing because the customization talks about B1+ English students, but the source material is about teaching. It will still give you a good idea of what it can do.
A few parting thoughts
I know that this approach requires more preparation than a simple difficulty slider, but it gives you better control over the final product. You can ensure the content matches your curriculum while creating engaging audio that holds students' attention.
Start with one lesson and experiment with different approaches. Once you find what works for your students, you can apply the same process to other topics and materials. And as always, let me know how it worked out for you.
Do you have any other tips or tricks? Leave them below.