Los 8 tips definitivos para aprender inglés rápido
January 01, 2022¿Cómo puedo aprender a hablar inglés rápido? Cada vez tenemos menos tiempo, pero la necesidad de hablar inglés bien y de forma fluida se impone allá a donde vayamos. Queremos saber cómo lograr el speaking de un profesional, pero parece que la única forma de lograrlo es dedicándole horas a la semana o directamente viajando...
Become fluent in Spanish without going abroad
December 31, 2021Today, we will discuss some tips to help you on how to become fluent in Spanish without immersion. Studying abroad is not that easy. Not only do you need to invest a large amount of money to get it, but you also need to have enough time to leave it all behind to learn a...
How to improve English pronunciation?
August 06, 2021It is estimated that more than 1.130 million people speak English worldwide, although of these, only 379 million are native speakers. This is why this language is the most predominant in international business, tourism, technology, etc. Hence the importance of knowing how to master it to perfection, and improve English pronunciation so that we can...
Pronunciación relajada: ¡Habla inglés natural!
July 22, 2021Es muy probable que hayas oído a los hablantes nativos de inglés utilizar «wanna» (querer +to ), «gonna» (ir + a) y «hafta» (tener + a) en el habla cotidiana. Sin embargo, ¿sabías que hay muchos más ejemplos de pronunciación relajada en inglés? La pronunciación informal no es una jerga ni un inglés «incorrecto» y...
Insultos en inglés: ¡Úsalos con moderación!
July 15, 2021Nos guste o no, los insultos en inglés forman parte del lenguaje y de la vida personal y profesional de la gente. De hecho, los datos de las conversaciones grabadas nos muestran que entre 80 y 90 palabras que una persona dice al día (entre el 0,5% y el 0,7% de todas las palabras utilizadas)...
The most difficult words to pronounce in English
July 15, 2021As we all know, English can be a pretty complicated language to learn! This is not only due to all of the grammar, vocabulary and expressions we have to take in, but also because of difficult words to pronounce in English. Pronunciation often seems extra tricky because a lot of the time, English words...
Las 10 mejores apps para aprender inglés en 2021
July 07, 2021No hay mejor momento que éste para empezar a utilizar alguna de las mejores apps para aprender inglés que hay disponbiles en el mercado. Son rápidas, fáciles y divertidas. Las aplicaciones para aprender inglés pueden ser tan entretenidas que ni siquiera te darás cuenta de que estás estudiando. Además, te permiten aprender desde casa o...
The 50 most used irregular verbs in English
June 25, 2021Irregular verbs are such an important part of learning English, I think we all know this! What we also know is that they can be tricky to learn too, as they don’t follow the same forms and structures as regular verbs, and this can make things a little more complicated. Stay tuned for a future...
English words that don’t translate
June 11, 2021Here at Wannalisn we love to talk about all of the different things that you’ll find useful along your English-learning journey, and today’s topic is something we are sure you’ll find super interesting! Have you ever noticed that some English words are just impossible to translate into your own native language? That’s because there are...
Top English common expressions used in everyday life
May 21, 2021It is no secret that learning and using common English expressions is one of the keys to fluency! Today we are going to show you some of the most common expressions used on a daily basis in English, so that you can add them to your vocabulary and start sounding like an English pro in...
How to learn Contractions
April 20, 2021It’s no secret that here at Wannalisn we LOVE contractions, and we LOVE teaching how to learn them! They are the key to sounding natural when we speak in English, and also to understanding fast speakers. If you have already downloaded our free app, you’ll know we pay special attention to them, often including short and...
4 Things to do every day to improve your English
April 08, 2021As we all know, learning English can oftentimes be a tedious task that it seems almost impossible to find the time for. Most of us have extremely busy lives and we are constantly trying to squeeze extra activities into our hectic schedules. One thing we can all agree on is the importance of learning and...
The best way to learn phrasal verbs in English
March 30, 2021An essential part of the English language, Phrasal verbs are extremely important when learning English, as we have mentioned in previous posts and Wannalessons. Today we are going to focus on the best method to learn Phrasal verbs and actually be able to remember and use them! The Classic Method Although nowadays lots...
Learn Spring Vocabulary: Spring has sprung!
March 22, 2021Spring is finally here and it’s time we learned some spring vocabulary and expressions! It’s important to know how to speak about recent or current events or moments in time. So when spring finally arrives, we need to know how to talk about it! It may sound pointless, but trust me, when we know how...
Everything you need to know about Phrasal Verbs
March 15, 2021After our post on idioms last week, this week it’s time we talked about Phrasal verbs! Just like with idioms, it seems you either love them or you hate them, but of course, they are necessary and are without a doubt a supremely important part of learning English that we just can’t ignore. Today we...
Idiom sentences: Learn to use them like a pro!
March 05, 2021As we all know, learning and understanding idioms is an essential part of the English language, whether we like it or not! Much like phrasal verbs, oftentimes students have a hard time with them because there are so many, with such disparate meanings and uses. Truth be told, idioms are simple and can actually be...
Learning real English: My experience
February 26, 2021Nicole is a 17-year-old teen from Argentina who has always had an interest in learning real English. Like most of us, Nicole has studied English at school for years, following the same tired methods that make learning English a chore. That’s where Wannalisn comes in! Being fully aware of the opportunities that learning...
10 New English words trending in 2021
December 22, 2020As the English language continually evolves, new words and expressions are invented (or reinvented!) all the time. Some new English words are the result of cultural trends, and may have been first used in a book, TV series, or a song. Others can be old words that have come back into fashion, or also old...
Great Reasons to Learn English in 2021
November 27, 2020Why learn English? As the modern day lingua franca, there are many reasons to learn English in 2021. That’s because it’s everywhere. It is the language of international communication, of diplomacy, science, and technology. Try out the best app for learning English! Despite the fact that English is not the most spoken language...
Dating class: Phrases to Flirt in English!
November 24, 2020To flirt means to show a person that you are attracted to them when you are speaking to them. This can be tricky in any language, and even more so if you want to use phrases to flirt in English like a native speaker. For example, if you spot that special someone at the other...
10 Best Apps to Learn English in 2021
November 09, 2020There is no better time than now to start using an App to improve your English! They are quick, easy and fun. Apps for learning English can be so entertaining that you won’t even realise you’re studying. Furthermore, they allow you to learn from home or ‘on the go’ anytime, anywhere on your mobile device....
Trick Or Treat: Halloween Wannas For Free!
October 30, 2020‘Trick or treat’ is a Halloween tradition when children, usually dressed in disguise, go to houses to ask for sweets. A ring or knock on the door, followed by «trick or treat?», is heard in many countries around the world on October 31. The term ‘trick or treating’ was first used in the US in...
Learn English with Netflix series and movies!
October 29, 2020Have you ever wondered if it is possible to learn English with Netflix? Wannalisn can help because it teaches English through clips from popular Netflix movies and series to provide you with a unique learning experience that combines education with entertainment. Walt Disney himself was a firm believer in education through film and television and...
Wannalisn: The Best English App for listening
October 16, 2020Do you find it hard to understand native English speakers, and still need subtitles to watch TV? Wannalisn is the best app to solve the problem of listening comprehension. Wannalisn is named after the way the words ‘Want to’ + ‘Listen’ are normally pronounced in spoken English. Learners of English around the globe...
Toilet slang: Other ways to say Go to the Bathroom
October 06, 2020The word “toilet” derives from the French «toilette», which meant «dressing room». In the 19th century in the USA, toilet began to be associated with the room where people get dressed, as well as being the place with the device that we now call ‘toilet’. Despite the fact that we all have to go there...
The Schwa and clear, natural English
September 28, 2020If you want to speak clear, natural English, and improve your listening comprehension, you need to be acquainted with Schwa, the most common English vowel sound. It looks and sounds like this: Pronunciation of schwa Schwa is present in almost all words in English with 2 or more syllables. The key thing to...
‘Drunk’ synonyms – How you might feel after too much partying!
September 14, 2020No war, pandemic, or financial crisis has affected pubs and bars more than COVID-19 and lockdown. Pubs and bars don’t just sell drinks. They are places where people get together to relax and hang out. Pubs and bars are social settings, and the opposite of so-called social distancing. People will, of course, continue to drink....
English CIusters to understand native speakers!
September 07, 2020Have you been learning English for several years now but feel you only understand 50% of the fast English of native speakers? Do you still need subtitles to watch a movie or TV in English? Well, we thought that it’s finally time to tackle this problem, and that’s why we launched a very useful and...
Tech Words from the Future that even Terminator Can’t Pronounce
August 31, 2020Because the Internet was invented in the USA, the vast majority of tech (tek) related words are in English, and later found their way into other languages. The problem with this is that many second language English speakers aren’t aware of the ‘original’ pronunciation of common ‘digital age’ terms. As a result, this often leads...
10 insults in English that polite teachers don’t teach
August 13, 2020Whether we like it or not, English insults are part of the language and of peoples’ personal and professional lives. In fact, data from recorded conversations shows us that between 80-90 words a person says per day (0.5% – 0.7% of all words used) are swear words. Our intention in this post is not to...
Chop-Chop! Common English idioms and their meanings
August 05, 2020Idioms can be confusing to many learners of English because they generally have a figurative meaning rather than making literal sense. In previous posts we have seen how ‘pull somebody’s leg’ means to lie to someone in a friendly way. Similarly, today’s expression Chop-chop would be hard to understand at face value because the word...
Hassle: Common Words that People Know the Least
August 01, 2020Hassle verb meaning As a verb, hassle means to persistently annoy someone: // My girlfriend started hassling me as soon as I got home Hassle noun meaning As a noun, it means that something is annoying because it creates problems or is difficult to do: //I don’t feel like cleaning the house today, it’s too much hassle ...
Hunch meaning – Just follow your instinct!
July 31, 2020If you have a hunch, you have a feeling about what will happen because you have a strong intuition or instinct. Although there is no known origin of this word as a noun, it has been around since the 1800s. Have a Hunch related phrases Hunch with the meaning of ‘gut feeling’...
8 English loanwords that come from Spanish
July 29, 2020One of the reasons why so many loanwords from other languages have found their way into official English dictionaries is that English-speaking countries have never had an formally recognised national body that monitors the words that enter and leave the language. The other reason why English is so influenced by other languages can be found...
3 very common phrasal verbs with ‘Get’
July 27, 2020Phrasal verbs are extremely common in everyday English conversation, and you need to learn them if you want to better understand native speakers and make your English sound more natural. Most phrasal verbs are composed of two words (verb + adverb or verb + preposition), although there are also examples with three words. Furthermore, we...
3 Common Leg idioms – Pull someone’s legs, No leg to stand on, Have legs
July 25, 2020As with other parts of the body, legs are present in many common English expressions. Curiously, there are a number of leg idioms in other languages too. For example, in Japanese «The legs of a snake» means «Unnecessary things». In Ukraine and China, ‘Extend one’s legs’ means to die. In Argentina they say that ‘Lies...
Turn a Blind Eye – Common eye idioms in English
July 24, 2020Turn a blind eye is one of many common eye related idioms in English. Other languages have expressions with eye too. This infographic provided to us by contact lens retailer Lenstore shows 10 eye idioms from other languages that don’t exist in English. For example, the Spanish ‘Me costó un ojo de la cara (It...
10 Star Wars words you’re probably mispronouncing
July 22, 2020Do you sometimes ask yourself if you are pronouncing names from books and movies correctly? Well, you’re not alone. As a matter of fact, the audio book retailer ‘Audible’ carried out a survey with 2000 participants and discovered that 39% of people have incorrectly pronounced the names of well-known fictional characters. Today we thought we’d...
Listening skills and sentence stress in English
July 20, 2020Have you been learning English for several years but still find it hard to understand the natural English of first language speakers? Do you still need subtitles to watch TV shows and movies in English because you feel you only understand 50% of what you’re hearing? Well, you’re not alone. Learners around the globe say...
Start from scratch – common English expressions
July 19, 2020Scratch appears in a number of common English phrases and expressions such as : (not) up to scratch, scratch someone’s back; scratch the surface (of something) or scratch your head. Start from scratch is arguably the most frequent of these common idioms. From scratch meaning To do something from scratch is to begin from...
In, On , At ! Confusing Prepositions of Place
July 18, 2020Many learners of English report that they are often confused about the correct usage of the English prepositions of place In, On, At. For this reason, today’s post will try to clarify your doubts once and for all because correct grammar is important if you want to keep on improving your English. What are Place...
Hit it off! Common social phrasal verbs
July 17, 2020Hit it off is one of several common phrasal verbs with ‘hit’. Others, which we will surely see in future posts, include: Hit out at somebody Hit upon something Hit back Hit on someone Hit it off Meaning Because this common English phrasal verb contains the word ‘Hit’, it might surprise you to learn...
Catch-22 : Common expressions with numbers
July 15, 2020In previous posts we have seen idioms with names. Catch-22 or a Catch-22 situation is one of many common English expressions with numbers. Other frequently used number idioms which we shall also see in future posts include: Two’s company; three’s a crowd Take five At sixes and sevens Seventh heaven On cloud nine The eleventh hour...
Fewer or Less: Correct grammar is important!
July 15, 2020People are often confused when it comes to using Fewer or Less in a sentence. Even native speakers make grammatical mistakes with these two easily confused words. Today we’re going to clarify this doubt because correct grammar is important if you want to keep on improving your English and make it sound more natural. Lets’s...
Hard to pronounce words in English. It’s about the spelling!
July 13, 2020You may well have asked yourself why there are many hard to pronounce words in English. However, the problem is not so much the pronunciation, but rather the actual spelling of words. Some languages are phonetic, which means that when you know how to pronounce a word, you will also know how to spell it....
No way José! English expressions with names
July 12, 2020Most English expressions and phrases are figurative but there are some idioms such as ‘No way José’ that refer to names of people. Others idiom examples in the English language with names include: Achilles’ heel Bob’s your Uncle Elvis has left the building Jack of all trades, master of none Keeping up with the...
Lockdown/Outbreak/Vaccine 3 Must-know Coronavirus words
July 11, 2020In these times of Coronavirus you may well have heard these 3 words: Lockdown , Outbreak, and Vaccine. Here we are going to look more in depth into these must-know Coronavirus terms so you can add them to your vocabulary and be more confident and natural when speaking English. 1. Lockdown meaning Lockdown...
Startle someone! Vocabulary gives you more confidence
July 10, 2020Meaning & definition of ‘Startle’ Startle is a verb and an adjective (Startled). It means to suddenly surprise someone or be slightly surprised or shocked. You can add Startle to your vocabulary and and use it as a synonym for other verbs such as alarm, scare, shock, surprise, frighten, make jump. Using synonyms will give...
Keep me posted: Must-know Expressions with ‘Keep’
July 09, 2020Meaning of Keep me posted This is a common and useful English expression. If you keep someone posted it means that you continue to give them the latest information about something. // They made me promise to keep them posted on any developments. // I’ll keep you posted on the situation. ...
Video Game Day: Edutainment & the New Wannalisn App!
July 08, 2020Today is National Video Game Day! It’s actually an unofficial holiday launched in 1991 by David Earle, president of Kid Video Warriors. In fact, did you know that the first video game was invented in 1958 and involved a simple game of tennis? Currently there are more than five million video games in existence....
Speak & Understand Natural English
July 07, 2020Relaxed pronunciation is not slang. It’s natural English! You have most probably heard native speakers of English using ‘wanna‘ (want +to ), ‘gonna‘ (going + to), and ‘hafta‘ (have + to) in everyday speech. However, did you know that there are many more examples of relaxed pronunciation in English? Informal speech is not slang or...
