Innovative English language resources that use song and stories to inspire learners and reinvigorate the classroom

Our books and CDs are now distributed through Bookery.  

Sound tracks & PDF units can still be purchased on via our Music and Books tab.

Visit our Urban Lyrebirds YouTube channel & Facebook page for videos and articles. 

Latest publication: May Street Stories

A vibrant series of six post beginner readers for EAL, Elicos and Literacy students. The May Street apartments are home to teenagers and refugees, international students and retirees.

The varied characters live in a block of flats in May Street and their lives intersect in six engaging stories.

• Real life situations of residents, neighbours and families.
• Each story has language comprehension exercises and an audio version easily accessible on this website.
• Listen to May Street Stories!
• Books available from Bookery
• PDFs (eBooks) available via our Music and Books tab.

Sing with me! Book 3 and CD

Sing with me! 3 is another exciting addition to the Sing with me! series that is designed for intermediate to advanced English language learners.

It provides 15 original songs and a workbook filled with fun, easy exercises to engage students in lively discussion and practice vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, reading and writing.

 Sing with me! 1 and 2 received a High Commendation at the Australian Educational Publishing Awards in 2014.  Also Open our hearts, a new song for Sing with me! 3, was shortlisted in the 2015 Australian Songwriting Contest.

  "...a fantastic resource for learning English..."  Review in Fineprint 2016 vol39 #1www.valbec.org.au

  "I would recommend this resource to any teacher and learner who wants to improve English language using an enjoyable, engaging, and interesting approach..."

Review in TESOLANZ Newsletter New Zealand Spring 2017 Volume 26 Issue 3

See our article Song Matters in Fine Print and a review of Sing with me! 1 and 2 by Chris Falk

Passages to English 3

Passages to English 3 is a lower intermediate ESL workbook for class or individual study.  Each of the 15 units begins with an entertaining story which also explores different elements of the English language. Each unit culminates in a written passage generated by the students.  Written practice assists in writing recounts for the CSWE I and II.

Suitable for all learners of English, EAL and literacy students.

"I can happily recommend Passages to English 3 for its usability." 

Review in TESOLANZ Newsletter New Zealand Spring 2017 Volume 26 Issue 3

Created by practising EAL teachers with extensive experience in teaching new migrants, delivering workshops and writing communicative, inventive and culturally inclusive materials.

Our resources include the Passages to English and Sing with me! series. Watch students learning ESL/EFL grammar by singing A job interview