Coffee Break English
99 phrases for real conversations. Follow Sofia through two weeks in Bath, with one short lesson a day for 10 days that you can do whenever you have time.
Join the courseNotify me $15£12€13 · starts 9th November · A2 to B1 · lifetime accessA2 to B1 · lifetime accessBut when a real conversation starts, finding the right words at the right moment can still be difficult.
The Practical English for Real Life mini-course is a 10-day course designed to help you do exactly that, in your own time.
Through the story of Sofia, an English learner spending two weeks in Bath, you will discover useful phrases, natural spoken English and simple communication strategies you can start using in your own conversations.
This is the self-access version of the course. A new lesson arrives by email every day for 10 days, and you work through it on your own, whenever and wherever it suits you.
Do your lesson over breakfast, on your lunch break or late in the evening, wherever you are in the world.
Catch up when you can. Everything stays in your account, so nothing is lost if you fall behind.
There are no live classes and no homework to hand in. You can practise the language on your own until you feel ready to use it in a real conversation.
You are guided all the way. One chapter at a time, in order, with an email that tells you what to do next.
We will write to you along the way with reminders and tips, so it is easier to keep going all the way to day 10.
Go back to Sofia’s story, the language tables and the phrases whenever you need them, long after the 10 days.
Learning English is not just about knowing more words or understanding more grammar. It is about being able to do things with the English you already know.
Over 10 days, you will follow Sofia as she meets new people, explores a new place and handles the little challenges that come with using English in real life. Along the way, you will learn how to:
You will not be memorising a list of phrases. You will learn language you can use when you actually need it.
Sofia has studied English. But, like many learners, she sometimes finds that learning English and using it in a real conversation are two different things.
During her two weeks in Bath, she has plenty of opportunities to put her English into practice. Some conversations go smoothly. Others do not.
She hesitates. She misunderstands things. Sometimes she knows what she wants to say but cannot quite find the words.
And little by little, she discovers ways to handle these moments. You will follow Sofia’s story and learn from each situation, before turning the language she discovers into English you can use yourself.
Throughout the course, you will discover 99 practical English phrases, chosen because they help you communicate in everyday situations. You will hear each one in context, understand why speakers use it, and practise choosing the right language for different situations.
Five of the 99 phrases in the course.
Each email lesson introduces the new chapter and looks back at the one before.
Listen to natural English as Sofia handles a real-life situation, then explore the phrases, vocabulary and strategies from the story.
A downloadable language table and a quiz help you practise when and how to use the language yourself.
The Practical English for Real Life mini-course is designed for early-intermediate learners, around A2 to B1 level, who can already communicate in English but want to make that English more useful in real life.
It is particularly useful if you sometimes think:
If that sounds familiar, you are in the right place. And if you like to learn calmly, at your own pace, this self-access course is perfect for you.
Your mini-course includes:
I learned a lot. The phrases are very helpful and I hope I can use them in my next conversation. Thank you so much for this interesting course!
Astrid
Well-crafted and fun course. Thank you!
Tiziana B
Thank you. With these phrases, I will feel more confident and secure when speaking English.
Barbara S
Hi! It was very enriching. The minicourse was short, simple and effective. Now, all that's left is to put it into practice! Thank you so much 🙏
Marie K
Join by Sunday 8th November and your first lesson will arrive on Monday 9th November.Joining for this group has now closed. Leave your email and we will let you know when the next group opens.Join now and start from day 1.
Practical English for Real Life: self-access mini-course
One payment. No subscription, nothing to cancel.
Thank you. You are on the list, and we will email you when the next group opens.
You can unsubscribe at any time.
Registration closes at 23:59 UK time on Sunday 8th November. Join before then, and your first lesson will be in your inbox on day 1.
Leave your email and we will let you know when the next group opens.
The course starts in
The course runs from Monday 9th to Wednesday 18th November 2026.
Join the courseNotify meYou work through the course on your own. A new lesson arrives by email every day for 10 days, and you study it whenever it suits you. There are no live classes, and a teacher does not check or mark your work. The quizzes and the final test show you how you are doing, and we will email you along the way with reminders and tips.
The course is designed for learners at approximately A2 to B1 level who already know some English but want to make that English more useful in real life.
No. The lessons arrive one a day over 10 days, but you can learn at your own pace. If you miss a day, catch up when you can. Each lesson is designed to fit into a coffee break.
At 23:59 UK time on Sunday 8th November, the night before day 1. After that, joining closes for this run of the course.
Once you join, you have lifetime access.
Sofia’s story does not end here. In the full Practical English for Real Life course, you will follow Sofia as she takes a much bigger step: building a new life in an English-speaking country. As she faces new challenges at home, at work and in her community, you will keep learning alongside her.
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Photography: Mike Peel (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons
