News in Levels, a daily news platform in three different difficulty levels
Description: News in Levels is a tool that provides daily news articles for students of English. The articles are rewritten at three different levels of difficulty, each corresponding to a different vocabulary range (1000, 2000, and 3000 most common English words, respectively). Each article includes an audio recording for each level, allowing users to practice both reading and listening skills. The articles are short and focused on current world events. The tool is free to use and does not require an account to use.
Evaluation: News in Levels is a practical and easy-to-use tool for practicing reading comprehension. By presenting current news in a graded format, it allows users to practice and improve their reading, listening, and vocabulary skills in a natural way while being able to switch levels. One disadvantage is that the audio recordings use a text-to-speech voice, lacking natural intonation. However, it still serves its purpose for basic pronunciation practice. Another con is that News in Level’s interface is cluttered with advertising.
Cost: Free.
Respect for privacy 
Privacy evaluations indicate how a tool handles personal data collection, storage, and sharing, including GDPR compliance and security measures, among others. The ICT-REV team provides them for informational purposes, reflecting our best understanding at the time of review, but assumes no legal responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of these evaluations and encourages users to conduct their own assessments: Medium. News in Levels does not directly collect user data since it does not require login. Its privacy policy does not mention cookies either, although these are probably collected. It mentions processing data for operational purposes; however, more information on this would be helpful. News in Levels also shares data with these parties for operational purposes, with data being transferred outside of the EU. It also guarantees confidentiality in data processing. News in Levels acknowledges users' rights to access, rectify, erase, and restrict the process of data. It states compliance with the GDPR. See more here.
Type Of Interaction:
Individual work,
Skills:
Listening,
Reading,
Vocabulary,
Content:
Website/other users supply,
Usability and tech notes ▼
Time efficiency Time needed to learn how to use a tool and its time-saving potential: High.
Interface language(s) The number of languages in which the tool is currently available/adaptable to: English.
Saving work for future use Can work be saved for future use?: No.
Any other relevant information:
- Installation required?: No; it is a browser-based tool.
- Compatibility/ Operating System: Any browser.