English for the Real World
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.
For the part of you with thirty open tabs that never became anything.
Free during early access · 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.
Where English for the Real World takes you
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.
- 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.
You pick the voice
English for the Real World is taught in the 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.
More Language on Tomo
Spanish for the Service Station
Master the art of high-speed customer service and retail management in Spanish. Move beyond basic greetings to handle complex transactions, technical pump issues, and inventory logistics with confidence.
Living the Italian Life
Stop memorizing grammar tables and start living like a local. Learn to order the perfect espresso, navigate a bustling market, and express yourself with the passion and flair of a true Italian.
Speaking American English
Master the rhythm and flow of natural American speech. Move beyond textbook grammar to sound more relaxed, confident, and culturally fluent in everyday conversations.
Speak and Live Japanese
Start speaking useful Japanese immediately while unlocking the secrets of the writing system. Go from ordering ramen to navigating Tokyo like a local pro.
Spanish for the Real World
Start speaking Spanish from day one by focusing on the conversations you actually want to have. Move from basic survival phrases to deep cultural connection and fluent storytelling.
German: Beyond the Basics
Move past simple sentences and start expressing yourself with nuance. Master the flow of natural conversation by conquering cases and reflexive actions.
Start English for the Real World today.
Download Tomo, search English for the Real World, and play your first lesson in under a minute.