Native Phrase Lab
WillowbrookFor organisations · councils · colleges · charities · the NHS · schools
English for everyday life in the UK.
Two self-study tools that help adults and teenagers who are new to the UK practise the English they need at the GP, the bank, the shops and at work: between classes, while they wait for a place, and at home.
Over a decade of teaching EnglishTESOL Cert IV, AICOL Australia354,000 learners on YouTube
A free pilot for one term: up to 30 learners for up to 12 weeks, with full access. No cost and no obligation.
Who it is for
People building a life in the UK.
Learners from about CEFR A1 to B1 (ESOL Entry 1 to Entry 3).
ESOL learners
Extra practice between classes, and something useful to do while people wait for a place on a course.
Refugees and resettled families
The everyday English of the first months: registering with a GP, the pharmacy, the bank, the post office, the bus and the train.
International nurses and carers
For staff who are settling into UK life and work, alongside your own induction and pastoral support.
EAL students (12+)
Secondary-age learners who are new to English and to life in Britain.
What learners get
Two tools, one key.
Each learner gets their own key to Willowbrook, Native Phrase Lab and the 33 premium lessons on this website.
Willowbrook
A 3D visual dictionary. Learners walk round a British village, click anything and hear it in English, with an example sentence and a phrase.
- 3,600+ everyday words on real things in real places
- A GP surgery, pharmacy, bank, post office, station, supermarket, school and café
- 38 characters to talk to in guided conversations (A1 to B1)
- Help in 11 languages, 12 short stories and a 100-level quiz
Native Phrase Lab
1,000 everyday British phrases, each with a situation, a simple explanation and examples. Short lessons, quizzes and reviews bring phrases back before they are forgotten.
- 1,000 phrases in 52 everyday topics
- 4,004 example sentences, all recorded in my voice
- Record yourself and compare with me
- Translation help in 19 languages for most phrases
Pilot and prices
Start free. Pay per learner after that.
One payment per learner. No subscription: learners keep their access. The usual price for one learner is US$49.
Up to 30 learners for up to 12 weeks, with full access. I send you one code, and each learner uses it to get their own key in about two minutes. At the end we have a short check-in: what worked, what did not, and what your learners need.
For a class, a project or a small charity.
For a college department, a council service or a recruitment intake.
For larger services and trusts.
Invoices are in pounds and can be paid by bank transfer or card.
Simple and private
- No advertising, no chat with strangers and no social features. Nothing to install.
- Learners need an email address to receive their key. Keys are delivered by Gumroad, our checkout partner. A teacher can collect keys for a group.
- We do not sell or share learner data. Progress is saved on the learner’s device. Native Phrase Lab also keeps a backup filed under a coded key, never a name or email. Voice recordings are never uploaded.
- Speaking practice uses the browser’s own speech recognition, which may be processed by the browser maker (for example Google or Apple).
Honest limits
- Willowbrook is best on a computer, laptop or tablet. Native Phrase Lab works well on phones.
- An internet connection is needed.
- Willowbrook covers about A1 to B1. Native Phrase Lab suits about A2 to B2.
- It is self-study practice. It supports teachers and classes. It does not replace them.
Ask for a free pilot
Tell me about your learners.
I read every message myself and reply personally, usually within a day. You can also email me at james@easyenglishwithjames.com.