Latest from John Wilson
Linked sounds in English: why “an apple” sounds like one word
Native speakers don't pause between words. Once you understand the linking patterns, your listening and pronunciation both improve.
How to introduce yourself in English — naturally, without sounding rehearsed
Most learners introduce themselves the way they learned in school — and it sounds like a recital. Here's how native speakers actually…
15 English idioms native speakers actually use every day
Skip the ones from your textbook nobody says ("raining cats and dogs"). These are the idioms that show up in real conversation…
How to use our English quizzes (and learn faster from them)
Quizzes are only as useful as the way you take them. Here's the approach that turns a 3-minute practice session into measurable…
How to handle fast native English: the listening trick that actually works
If native speakers sound like one long blur of sound, the problem isn't your vocabulary. It's that English isn't pronounced the way…
Formal vs casual English: when to switch register, and how
Same idea, different audience, different words. Knowing which register fits a situation is a fluency skill that even advanced learners get wrong.
Your first professional email in English: structure, tone, and what to skip
Professional emails follow a predictable shape — once you know it, every email gets faster to write. Here's the template, the tone,…
12 phrasal verbs every English learner actually needs
Forget the list of 200. These twelve do most of the heavy lifting in everyday English — and once you own them,…
English word stress: the patterns that make you instantly clearer
English isn't just about pronouncing each sound right — it's about which syllable you punch. Get word stress wrong and even simple…
20 easily confused English words: affect vs effect, fewer vs less, and friends
Some word pairs look identical and mean opposite things. Lock the difference in once — and never lose marks on these again.