Learn the English that helps you take part in real conversations, in this 10-day Coffee Break English mini-course.
Start the mini-course$19£15€16 · 10 daily email lessons · lifetime access · A2 to B1
You know more English than you think
But when a real conversation starts, finding the right words at the right moment can still be difficult.
How do you introduce yourself naturally?
How do you keep a conversation going?
How do you give yourself time to think?
How do you explain what you mean?
How do you deal with a problem politely?
The Practical English for Real Life mini-course is a 10-day course designed to help you do exactly that.
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.
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:
introduce yourself and talk about your life
ask natural questions and show interest in other people
keep a conversation moving
talk about your experiences, interests and plans
give yourself time to think when you do not know what to say
check that you have understood someone correctly
sound more natural without needing perfect English
You will not be memorising a list of phrases. You will learn language you can reach for when you actually need it.
Meet Sofia
Sofia knows English. But, like many learners, she sometimes finds that knowing 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.
Everyone starts together
We all start on 1 October
The course starts on Thursday 1 October 2026.
This is not a course you begin alone on a random Tuesday. Everyone starts on the same day and moves through the ten days at the same time.
Day 1 is Thursday 1 October. Day 10 is Saturday 10 October. You get one lesson each morning, and you and everyone else are on the same page on the same day.
You can still take it at your own pace if life gets busy. The course stays in your account, so nothing is lost if you fall a day behind.
Throughout the course, you will discover 99 practical English phrases, chosen because they help you communicate in everyday situations.
But we will not simply give you a list to learn. You will hear the phrases in context, understand why speakers use them, and practise choosing the right language for different situations.
So instead of only learning a phrase such as:
Sounding more natural
To be honest…
One of the 99 phrases in the course.
You will explore when you might use each phrase, what it communicates, and how it can help a conversation feel more natural.
That is the difference between learning vocabulary and learning how to communicate.
How the mini-course works
The course is designed to fit easily into your day. Each stage of Sofia's story gives you the opportunity to:
Step one
Read the email
Our expert language teacher introduces the chapter and talks you through the previous one.
Step two
Follow the story
Listen to natural English and see how Sofia handles a real-life situation.
Step three
Learn
Explore practical phrases, vocabulary and communication strategies from the story.
Step four
Put it into practice
Exercises and activities help you practise when and how to use the language yourself.
Over 10 days, these small steps add up. By the end, you will have a bank of practical language to help you navigate everyday conversations more effectively.
Is this course for me?
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:
‘I understand English, but I don’t always know what to say.’
‘I know some grammar, but conversations happen too quickly for me to follow.’
‘I want to sound more natural.’
‘I need English for travel, work or meeting people.’
‘I want to stop translating everything in my head before I speak.’
If that sounds familiar, this course is for you.
What’s included
Your mini-course includes:
10 email lessons guiding you through the course
9 chapters of Sofia’s story – providing you with plenty of listening and reading practice
99 practical phrases for real-life communication
A downloadable language table for each chapter
Opportunities to practise using the language yourself
Quizzes and activities to check your understanding
A final test so you can see your progress
A downloadable certificate to prove you have passed this Coffee Break English course.
You don’t need perfect English to have a good conversation
Real conversations are messy. People hesitate. They change direction. They misunderstand each other. They ask questions. They explain things again.
Successful communication is not about producing a perfect sentence every time. It is about having the language and strategies to keep going.
That is what Sofia learns during this mini-course. And that is what you will learn too.
Ready to make your English more practical?
Join Sofia for the next 10 days and discover English you can use in conversations long after the course is finished.
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.
How long does the course take?
The mini-course is designed to be completed over 10 days, with manageable learning sessions that fit into a coffee break.
Do I need to study every day?
The course is designed to be followed over 10 days, but you can learn at your own pace. Each day you will receive an email lesson looking back at the previous chapter, plus the new chapter to read and listen to, a downloadable language table and a practice quiz.
What will I learn?
You will learn 99 practical English phrases, but not just that. You will learn how to use those phrases to take part in conversations, respond naturally and handle common communication challenges. You will also discover communication and learning strategies that help you make better use of the English you already know.
Is this a grammar course?
Grammar appears when it helps you communicate, but this is not a traditional grammar course. The focus is on building on the English you know in real situations.
How long will I have access?
Once you purchase the course, you will have lifetime access.
What happens after the mini-course?
Sofia’s story does not end here. This mini-course is just the beginning. 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 Sofia faces new challenges at home, at work and in her community, you will continue learning alongside her, developing the English and communication skills you need to navigate real life too.
Ten days. Ninety-nine phrases. Real progress.
Start today and find out what you can already do with the English you have.
