For over 20 years, I’ve been teaching English as a foreign language in South Korea, working to make language learning more engaging and accessible for my students.
One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced is designing homework and practice activities that provide meaningful support outside the classroom, where delayed feedback often stalls progress.
This is where Google’s NotebookLM comes in. With its AI-powered capabilities, students can now receive instant feedback on their assignments, transforming their study sessions into interactive learning experiences.
NotebookLM isn’t just a homework tool—it’s a way to make language learning more personal, adaptive, and effective.
Beyond my classroom, NotebookLM has also made a significant impact at home. My daughter, who studies French through an online high school, uses it to get real-time support during her lessons.
By uploading her materials, she interacts directly with her sources, receives immediate feedback, and stays on track—making her learning experience less isolating and more dynamic.
In this blog, I’ll guide you through how to use Google’s NotebookLM effectively for learning a language, drawing from my experience as both an educator and a parent.
Setting Up NotebookLM for Language Learning
NotebookLM is an incredibly powerful tool that transforms the way we interact with information, offering the ability to read, take notes, ask questions, and organize ideas—all powered by Google’s advanced Gemini AI model.
Setting up NotebookLM for language learning can be a game changer, especially when studying something like French, as my daughter has been doing while using Rosetta Stone as her core learning resource.
NotebookLM has served as an excellent companion in her journey, helping to bridge the gap where traditional tools fall short.
Below, I’ll walk you through how to get started using NotebookLM for language learning based on my experience setting it up for my students and my daughter’s studies.
1. Uploading Your First Sources
The first step in getting NotebookLM ready is uploading your materials. Whether you’re using Google Docs, PDFs, or even a webpage, getting all the essential content in one place is the foundation for effective learning.
Uploading a Google Doc or Slide
- Create a New Notebook: Start by selecting an existing notebook or click on New Notebook and name it—for example, “French Language Learning.”
- Add Your Sources: In the Sources section on the left, click Add Source or the + icon.
- Select Drive: Choose files from your Google Drive. For my daughter, I uploaded her French lessons in Google Slides, including vocabulary lists and lesson summaries she uses in her online high school.
- Insert Files: Select the files you want to upload—you can add multiple files at once—and click Insert.
Uploading PDFs or Text Files
If you have PDFs, such as downloadable grammar guides or text files from other resources, you can upload them easily.
- In the Sources section, click Add Source or the + icon.
- Choose PDF or Text File.
- Select the files you’d like to upload—for instance, I’ve uploaded various practice sheets, such as common French phrases and cultural readings.
- Click Open.
Creating a Source from Copied Text
Sometimes you need to add smaller snippets, like dialogues or excerpts from an article. Here’s how:
- Go to the Sources section, click Add Source or the + icon.
- Select Copied Text.
- Add a Title: You need to provide a title for each source—this is helpful for organization. For example, I titled one source “French Conjugation Practice.”
- Paste the Text: Add your copied text and click Insert.
Creating a Source from a Web URL
- In the Sources section, click Add Source or the + icon.
- Choose Web URL.
- Paste the URL of the web page you want to add. I often use this to add French news articles for cultural context.
- Click Insert.
Note: Each source must be fewer than 500,000 words, and each notebook can contain up to 50 sources.
This gives you ample space to load a diverse set of learning materials—whether they’re dialogues, articles, or grammar guides—ensuring a comprehensive learning environment.
2. Using the Notebook Guide to Explore Your Materials
Once you’ve uploaded your materials, a great way to start exploring is with the Notebook Guide feature.
Located on the right side of the chatbox, this feature helps provide a summary of your sources and suggests high-level questions to further investigate the material.
For example, when my daughter uploaded a French grammar PDF, the Notebook Guide automatically generated a Briefing Doc and FAQ that allowed her to better understand conjugation rules.
The Notebook Guide is particularly useful for identifying which topics need more focus—it can generate a Study Guide, Timeline, or even a Table of Contents, depending on the type of information uploaded.
This ensures that every piece of learning material is accessible in the most helpful format.
3. Customizing Homework and Practice
For my university students, NotebookLM has allowed me to design more engaging homework that addresses individual needs.
Instead of waiting until the next class to receive feedback, students can upload their assignments and ask NotebookLM questions to clarify confusing concepts in real time. My daughter also uses this feature with her Rosetta Stone lessons.
For instance, after practicing vocabulary with Rosetta Stone, she uploads her notes and tells NotebookLM to “create a quiz from today’s lesson vocabulary.”
This instant interaction helps reinforce learning and improves retention.
Final Thoughts on Setup
Setting up NotebookLM may seem like just a process of uploading materials, but it truly lays the groundwork for an interactive and supportive learning environment.
From adding grammar guides to uploading lessons from Rosetta Stone, NotebookLM offers flexibility that bridges gaps in traditional language learning tools—whether for university students or my daughter’s French journey in online high school.”
Creating Vocabulary Lists and Grammar Summaries
NotebookLM makes creating vocabulary and grammar activities highly adaptable, allowing us to go beyond what a traditional textbook can offer.
For my university students, I often add our reading texts to NotebookLM, which then helps me generate customized activities that align with their interests.
Instead of relying on outdated textbook content, I can design simple but engaging dialogues or grammar exercises that feel relevant to their daily lives, which keeps them more motivated and engaged.
Personalized Learning for My Daughter
My daughter does something quite similar with her French studies. She adds her French lessons to NotebookLM and uses the tool to generate activities around the things that interest her—like her favorite books or the Netflix shows she’s currently watching.
For example, she might ask NotebookLM to summarize a dialogue in the show, then use the new vocabulary in practice sentences.
This approach not only keeps her engaged but also makes learning French feel less intimidating because it’s applied to subjects she enjoys.
Overcoming Challenges in Learning New Vocabulary
One major challenge for her has been learning completely new vocabulary. Unlike her bilingual English and Korean background, French is entirely unfamiliar, and unlike many of her classmates, she had no prior exposure to the language.
NotebookLM has been invaluable in helping her tackle this hurdle by offering personalized exercises that help relate new vocabulary to her everyday experiences.
Instead of just memorizing word lists, she uses NotebookLM to generate custom sentences and quizzes that incorporate these new words, helping her retain them more effectively.
Using NotebookLM for Pronunciation Practice with Audio and Transcripts
Pronunciation practice is one of the key components of language learning, but it can be particularly challenging to manage in a traditional classroom setting.
In my university classes, I often ask students to record their voices on their phones, using a note-taking app that transcribes their speech.
This allows them to check their pronunciation by reviewing the accuracy of the transcription.
Additionally, I spend time working one-on-one with students during class activities, providing immediate feedback on their pronunciation.
Enhancing Pronunciation Practice at Home
My daughter, on the other hand, uses NotebookLM alongside ChatGPT’s advanced voice features to enhance her French pronunciation practice.
She begins by creating dialogues using NotebookLM based on her school lessons, which she then transfers to ChatGPT. This integration allows her to practice conversing with an AI voice, simulating natural French interactions.
It’s almost like having a practice partner at home who’s available any time—a huge advantage, especially in the context of online high school where opportunities for spontaneous conversation are limited.
Unfortunately, due to access limitations, this approach is not something I can fully implement for my university students, as it would require each of them to have a subscription to ChatGPT Plus.
Combining AI Tools for Improved Learning
In addition to using NotebookLM and ChatGPT, my daughter also uses content like French shows on Netflix to further enhance her speaking skills.
She inputs summaries of episodes into NotebookLM and has it create conversations that use vocabulary she’s been learning.
By doing this, she gets an opportunity to practice speaking in scenarios drawn directly from shows she enjoys.
This not only helps her improve her pronunciation but also makes language learning much more fun and culturally enriching.
Using NotebookLM to supplement traditional pronunciation exercises gives learners a more well-rounded experience.
For my daughter, being able to create dialogues and practice speaking them out loud—whether alone or through ChatGPT’s voice—is making a big difference.
It has helped her gain more confidence in her ability to communicate effectively in French, which is what all language learners ultimately strive for.
Planning Study Schedules and Tracking Progress
Creating a consistent study schedule and tracking progress is crucial for language learning, particularly for long-term retention and motivation.
NotebookLM offers some great features for planning and tracking that make this process much easier.
For my students, I use NotebookLM to help them create individualized study schedules. With the ability to upload course materials and set study goals, students can easily stay organized and on track.
I often ask my students to set weekly goals, such as learning a specific number of new vocabulary words or practicing a particular grammar point, and NotebookLM helps them track their progress and adjust their plans accordingly.
Personalized Progress Tracking for My Daughter
My daughter uses a similar method with her French studies.
She uploads her lesson notes and sets goals for each week—for example, learning all of the vocabulary from a particular lesson or practicing conjugations for 10 minutes every day.
NotebookLM makes it easy for her to track her progress, and it provides gentle reminders about which areas need more review. This has been especially helpful in keeping her motivated and accountable while studying independently.
In addition to helping plan study schedules, NotebookLM also tracks which sources have been used and how often.
This feature allows both my students and my daughter to understand which areas they have focused on and where they may need to spend more time.
Having this level of insight helps make learning more efficient and targeted, allowing them to see tangible progress over time.
Overall, using NotebookLM to create and manage study schedules has been incredibly beneficial.
It not only helps my daughter and students stay organized, but it also allows them to engage with their learning in a more strategic way, ultimately making their study time more effective.
Finding Additional Learning Resources
Supplementing core learning materials with additional resources is a great way to deepen understanding and keep lessons fresh and engaging.
Using TED-Ed and BBC Podcasts to Enrich Learning
For my university students, I often use a combination of TED-Ed videos, BBC 6 Minute English podcasts, and KidsNews articles to provide a well-rounded learning experience.
I can easily tailor the content from TED-Ed videos by adding their transcripts to NotebookLM.
With NotebookLM, I’m able to integrate specific vocabulary from our lessons into discussion questions and activities based on these videos, articles, and podcasts.
Creating Podcasts for Listening Practice
Another feature that has been incredibly useful is NotebookLM’s ability to generate podcasts based on lesson content.
By simply clicking the generate button in the Notebook Guide, I can create podcasts that my students use for listening practice.
While these podcasts aren’t always perfect and may contain some minor hallucinations, they still serve as a valuable listening tool, helping students get more exposure to spoken English.
Adapting Learning for My Daughter’s French Lessons
My daughter uses a similar approach to supplement her French learning. Just like my university students, she uses NotebookLM to create fun French podcasts based on her school lessons.
These podcasts are often centered around shows she’s watching on Netflix or YouTube, which makes learning more relatable and enjoyable.
She also makes use of BBC French resources, such as those provided by Radio France Internationale.
By extracting the audio transcripts, she creates simplified podcasts that focus on the latest news.
This not only keeps her engaged with current events but also makes her language learning experience more dynamic and interactive.
Making Learning Dynamic with Real-World Content
These additional resources, whether they are videos, news articles, or podcasts, help to reinforce the vocabulary and grammar learned in traditional lessons.
By incorporating materials that are interesting and up-to-date, both my students and my daughter can stay motivated and make meaningful connections between language and real-world content.
NotebookLM’s capabilities in adapting these resources to match learning needs have been incredibly powerful in making language learning more vibrant and accessible.
Conclusion: Bringing AI to Language Learning
Using NotebookLM in combination with traditional language tools like Rosetta Stone can provide a highly customized and interactive learning experience.
For both my university students and my daughter, NotebookLM has helped transform the learning process from a static, textbook-driven experience to a dynamic one that’s directly tied to their interests and needs.
From generating personalized quizzes and exercises to creating podcasts and pronunciation activities, NotebookLM adds a layer of personalization that makes learning much more engaging.
My daughter’s French learning journey, supported by her favorite Netflix shows, interactive dialogues with ChatGPT, and current events via podcasts, illustrates the diverse opportunities this tool offers.
The future of education lies in these personalized, AI-driven solutions that meet learners where they are. NotebookLM is a promising start, offering tools to not only supplement but also redefine how we learn languages in an increasingly connected world.
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