Making News Accessible For Language Learners
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Stevie - 22 March 2025
My project helps language learners improve their reading skills while staying informed. Mainstream news can be too complex, so it uses AI to simplify articles while maintaining their core meaning.
SimpleNews is designed for both Russian speakers learning foreign languages and for foreigners learning Russian. By offering simplified news in multiple languages, it helps learners build vocabulary and comprehension skills. Readers can adjust difficulty levels and access word explanations in multiple languages. It provides daily exposure to current events in an engaging and practical way.
The Problem It Solves
When I moved abroad, I wanted to immerse myself in the language by reading the news. However, most sources were too advanced. I needed something at my level to progress gradually. As a developer, I created a platform that delivers new content daily, keeping learners engaged.
For Russian speakers, this makes understanding global news easier without needing advanced proficiency. Likewise, for foreigners learning Russian, SimpleNews provides simplified Russian news to improve reading and comprehension. Development and Features
Building SimpleNews took five months, including two months of full-time work. The main challenge was balancing readability with accuracy. AI simplifies news while preserving meaning. Definitions and translations, including Russian, support diverse learners.
Key Features:
- AI simplifies real-world news while maintaining accuracy;
- Adjustable reading difficulty to match language proficiency;
- Word translations and definitions, including Russian;
- Free access to updated daily content;
- Continuously improved based on user feedback;
- A growing project with ongoing upgrades.
SimpleNews is a recent project, and I am constantly improving it based on user feedback. New features and enhancements will be added to make the platform even more effective for learners. Whether it’s refining AI simplification, expanding language support, or adding new learning tools, SimpleNews will evolve to better serve its users.
Community Feedback
SimpleNews has received positive feedback, especially from Discord users who have added it as a recommended resource. Russian speakers appreciate the ability to follow world news while improving their language skills. Foreigners learning Russian benefit from simplified articles that aid comprehension.
Acknowledgements
Thanks to the language-learning community for their support and feedback. Special appreciation goes to those who shared SimpleNews and contributed ideas. This independent project grows through user engagement.
Conclusion
SimpleNews makes language learning more accessible through real-world content. It’s nice to have fresh material daily, keeping learners immersed and engaged. Whether for Russian speakers learning foreign languages or foreigners learning Russian, SimpleNews supports steady progress. As the platform evolves, I aim to expand its features and reach. If you find it useful, share it and help grow a community of informed language learners.