English for the Real World
Move beyond basic grammar and start speaking like a local. Master the art of natural conversation, subtle social cues, and the common phrases that textbooks usually miss.
Like Duolingo, but for English for the Real World. Tomo turns the whole topic into a game you play five minutes a day, until it actually sticks.
A short one: 26 levels across 3 sections, about 52 minutes end to end, roughly 10 days at five minutes a day. It moves through Sound More Natural Today, Navigate Social Situations, and Master the Hidden Rules. It assumes you already know the basics.
Free forever · No credit card · iPhone & Android
Key ideas in English for the Real World
- Contractions sound more approachable
- Simple verbs in daily conversation
- Full words sound stiff
- Latinate verbs create textbook tone
- Contractions vs full words
- Simple verbs vs Latinate verbs
- Natural speech flows better with shortened words
- Formal phrasing can create an accidental emotional barrier
- Simple verbs are preferred in daily conversation
- Multi-syllable Latinate verbs create a 'textbook' tone
- Simple one-word answers end the conversation flow
- Sharing a specific detail acts as a hook for the other person
- A hook is a piece of extra info that suggests a topic
- The best follow-up questions relate directly to the hook provided
- Short factual answers often lead to awkward silences
- Adding 'extra' info makes it easier for the other person to speak
You've tried the other tabs
Thirty open tabs. Four facts you actually kept.
You watched. You nodded. By Sunday it was gone.
One answer, then back to scrolling.
Eight weeks. You meant to finish. You didn't.
Tomo gives English for the Real World the Duolingo treatment: levels, streaks, and quick quizzes that test what you just learned. That game loop is what the tabs above never had, so it's the one you actually finish.
Here's what playing it feels like
A real question from this course. Take your best guess.
You're at a shop with a friend. Which verb would sound most natural to use?
Get it right to open this lesson and 25 more in the app.
How to learn English for the Real World, step by step
Go in order. 26 short levels across 3 sections, about 52 minutes in all, five minutes a day.
- 1
Sound More Natural Today
- Stop Sounding Like a Textbook
- The Art of Small Talk
- Using Fillers to Buy Thinking Time
- Connecting Words for Smoother Speech
- 2
Navigate Social Situations
- Polite Ways to Say No
- How to Interrupt Gracefully
- Understanding Sarcasm and Irony
- Expressing Opinions Without Being Rude
- Softening Your Requests
- Handling Misunderstandings Calmly
- 3
Master the Hidden Rules
- Phrasal Verbs You Actually Need
- The Rhythm and Stress of Sentences
- Idioms for Work and Play
3 sections · 13 units · 26 levels. Built to play, not to enroll.
Questions about English for the Real World
How do I learn English for the Real World?
Go in order: start with Sound More Natural Today, then Navigate Social Situations, then Master the Hidden Rules. On Tomo that's 26 short levels, about 52 minutes in all, played five minutes a day. Start free and play the first level in under a minute.
Is there a Duolingo-style app for English for the Real World?
Yes. Tomo works like Duolingo: short daily lessons, streaks and quick quizzes. English for the Real World is one of its free courses, and you can type any other topic to get a course of your own.
Is the English for the Real World course free?
Yes. English for the Real World is playable on Tomo's free plan, which doesn't expire. No credit card, no waitlist. Download the app and start your first lesson.
How long does it take to learn English for the Real World?
26 levels across 3 sections, about 52 minutes of play in total. It's built for five minutes a day, so you finish it a little at a time instead of all at once.
Do I need any background to start English for the Real World?
No. It's pitched at an intermediate level, so it starts where you are and builds up. If you can tap a phone, you can start.
Tomo is in ChatGPT
Tomo is also a ChatGPT plugin: the same playable courses, built and played inside your chat.
Add Tomo to ChatGPT- What to ask
- “Make me a Tomo course on black holes.” “Turn this chat into a Tomo course.”
- What you get
- Quick questions with instant feedback, hearts and stars, ready to play in about a minute.
- Where it goes
- No sign-up to start. Connect your Tomo account and your streak carries on in the app.
You pick the voice
English for the Real World is taught in the Bestie style: your friend who just gets it. Want a different feel? In the app you can spin up the same topic in any of Tomo's teaching styles. Same facts, totally different vibe.
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Start English for the Real World today.
Download Tomo, search English for the Real World, and play your first lesson in under a minute.