Thinking in English - podcast cover

Thinking in English

Thomas Wilkinsonthinkinginenglish.blog
Thinking in English is a podcast designed for intermediate and advanced English learners. I believe that thinking is an incredibly important step on the road fluency, and this podcast is going to help you achieve this by discussing topics ranging from politics and economics, to philosophy and science. Rather than "learning English", Thinking in English focuses on "learning in English." Learn something new, listen to something interesting, and improve your English at the same time! Conversation Clubs, bonus episodes, and more on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish My website - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/ Thinking in English is part of the Airwave Media podcast network. Contact [email protected] to advertise on Thinking in English.

Episodes

5 Amazing Books to Improve Your English!

On today's episode, I'm going to give you 5 amazing books to help you improve and practice your English skills! All language students should be reading as often as possible. You can develop your vocabulary and grammar knowledge, discover new information about cultures and history, and enjoy yourself at the same time! It can be scary and frustrating when trying to choose your first English book, but hopefully this episode will make it a much simpler experience. TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginengl...

Sep 03, 202116 min

98. Are Video Games Bad For Children?: China’s Video Game Ban Explained (English Vocabulary Lesson)

China recently announced the world’s strictest limitations on children’s ability to play video games. On this episode of Thinking in English, let’s look at what these new restrictions are, investigate why they have been introduced, and examine some of the potential consequences! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/09/01/98-are-video-games-bad-for-children-chinas-video-game-ban-explained-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT ME!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagr...

Sep 01, 202117 minSeason 1Ep. 98

97. Dark Tourism Explained: Why do people want to visit dangerous and terrifying places? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

Although most people like to spend their vacations visiting historical sites or sunbathing on the beach, some people choose to visit dangerous and terrifying places! Would you travel to a war zone, a country that arrests visitors, or a place with a high crime rate? Let’s talk about it on this episode of Thinking in English! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/08/30/97-dark-tourism-explained-why-do-people-want-to-visit-dangerous-and-terrifying-places-english-vocabulary-lesson/ You ma...

Aug 30, 202118 minSeason 1Ep. 97

“When pigs fly:” Essential English Idioms, Expressions, and Proverbs! (English Vocabulary Lesson)

Welcome to Thinking in English. Today I want to introduce some common English idioms, proverbs, and expressions using the word “fly”. TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/08/27/when-pigs-fly-essential-english-idioms-expressions-and-proverbs-english-vocabulary-lesson/ You might also like... Useful Phrases and Expressions for Presentations! (Business and Academic English) ‘Fat Cats,’ ‘Cat Naps,’ and ‘Doggy Bags’: Dog and Cat Idioms! More than delicious: Advanced Food Vocabulary (Englis...

Aug 27, 202113 min

96. What are the Paralympic Games?: Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games Explained! (English Vocabulary Lesson)

On Tuesday 24th of August, the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will be held! Although the Paralympics tend to attract less attention than their more famous counterparts, the Olympic Games, they are an excellent showcase of incredible athletes with amazing stories. This episode of Thinking in English will introduce what the Paralympics are, some of the history behind the competition, and end by discussing the potential legacy of Tokyo 2020! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginengli...

Aug 25, 202119 minSeason 1Ep. 96

95. The World’s Strangest Time Zones!: What are time zones and why are they so weird? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

You may not have thought about it before, but time zones are strange. What are time zones and why do we use them? Who decided the world should be loosely split into 24 different regions with 24 different times? Why do some countries and territories decide to change or make their own time zones? Where are the strangest time zones in the world? Let’s try to answer these questions in this episode of Thinking in English! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/08/23/95-the-worlds-strangest-...

Aug 23, 202125 minSeason 1Ep. 95

Awesome English Riddle Challenge!!

On this episode of Thinking in English, I am going to set you all a challenge! A riddle is a question, statement, or phrase that is almost a puzzle and requires you to think to answer. Riddles are a great way to stimulate your mind, get your brain working, and have fun! They are also excellent ways to test your English skills. TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/08/20/awesome-english-riddle-challenge/ You might also like... 3 English Riddles Terrifyingly Troubling Tongue Twisters!: ...

Aug 20, 20216 min

94. The Fall of Afghanistan: What is happening in Afghanistan - Part 2 (English Vocabulary Lesson)

On Sunday 15th August, the Taliban entered the capital city of Afghanistan and effectively took control of the country. Let’s look at what has happened in the last few days, how the US withdrawal has been criticised, and what the future of the country looks like! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/08/18/94-the-fall-of-afghanistan-what-is-happening-in-afghanistan-part-2-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT ME!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkingin...

Aug 18, 202117 minSeason 1Ep. 94

93. Why Do We Need Passports to Travel?: A history of the passport! (English Vocabulary Lesson)

If you want to travel abroad, you need a passport. But why? Why do we need these little documents to leave our own country? When was the first passport used? When did modern passports develop? What is the future of passports? Let’s try to answer these questions on this episode of Thinking in English! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/08/16/93-why-do-we-need-passports-to-travel-a-history-of-the-passport-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT ME!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (h...

Aug 16, 202119 minSeason 1Ep. 93

92. What is happening in Afghanistan? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

Over the past few months, fighting and conflict in Afghanistan has been increasing. As the US leaves, the problems in the country seem to be multiplying. In this episode of Thinking in English, let’s discuss what’s happening in Afghanistan in more detail! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/08/11/92-what-is-happening-in-afghanistan-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Blog - thinkinginengli...

Aug 11, 202115 minSeason 1Ep. 92

‘Fat Cats,’ ‘Cat Naps,’ and ‘Doggy Bags’: Dog and Cat Idioms!

People have always loved animals, and especially cats and dogs. They are the most popular pets around the world, and have even been worshipped as gods and used to help us work in the past. As they are so important to our societies, it is only natural that idioms surrounding cats and dogs have entered our languages and everyday vocabulary. So, today, I’m going to introduce you to 5 cat based idioms and 5 dog based idioms that you can apply to your daily lives! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginengli...

Aug 06, 202112 min

91. What is a refugee? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

Millions of people around the world are forced to flee their homes, abandon their belongings, and search for safety in countries away from their own country. However, there is a lot of confusion surrounding the rules, laws, and definitions of refugees and other similar people. So, in this episode of Thinking in English, let’s try to answer questions like who can be a refugee? What is the difference between a refugee, an asylum seeker, and a migrant? What protection are refugees entitled to recei...

Aug 04, 202125 minSeason 1Ep. 91

10 Business Abbreviations! (Advanced English Vocabulary)

The world of business is full of strange and often confusing abbreviations and acronyms. To be able to communicate effectively and successfully in an English language business environment, it is vital you learn what these phrases mean and, importantly, how to use them! So, in this episode of Thinking in English, I am going to introduce 10 of the most common and useful abbreviations that you can apply to your daily lives! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/07/30/10-business-abbrevia...

Jul 30, 202111 min

90. Should the Weekend be Longer?: The Four Day Working Week (English Vocabulary Lesson)

Have you ever thought about why you work 5 days a week? Or 8 hours a day? Why are weekends only two days long? Research suggests that there could be real benefits to reducing employees working hours and shortening the working week. This episode is going to look at the history of working hours, and then discuss whether it would be better for everyone if our weekends were longer, and the time we spend in the office is reduced. TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/07/28/90-should-the-we...

Jul 28, 202120 minSeason 1Ep. 90

89. What is the most ‘normal’ country in the world? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

Over the last year and a half, the way people live, work, socialise, and much more, has completely changed. While we are beginning to return to normal in some ways, it is also possible that we will never return to the way things were before the pandemic. So, in this episode, let’s look at which country is currently the most ‘normal’ in the world? TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/07/26/89-what-is-the-most-normal-country-in-the-world-english-vocabulary-lesson/ You may also like... ...

Jul 26, 202122 minSeason 1Ep. 89

More than delicious: Advanced Food Vocabulary (English Vocabulary Lesson)

Food is something that unifies people across the world. Most people love to eat and to try new tastes and flavours. Food helps us connect with family, to socialise, and to feel happy. So, let’s learn some more advanced vocabulary to help you talk about food! Make sure you check out the transcript on thinkininenglish.blog and my Instagram page! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/07/24/more-than-delicious-advanced-food-vocabulary-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - th...

Jul 23, 202111 min

88. Why are the Tokyo 2020 Olympics so controversial? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

This week is the beginning of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. While the Games are usually a time of excitement and joy, this time is different. Covid has changed everything. This episode of Thinking in English will introduce some information about the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, discuss why it is so controversial, and then present more general arguments about the benefits and negatives of hosting the Games TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/07/21/88-why-are-the-tokyo-2020-olympics-so-contro...

Jul 21, 202121 min

87. How to Move Country in the Middle of a Pandemic!

In this episode, I’m going to talk about a big change in my life, explain why I've not uploaded many episodes recently, and discuss the process of moving to a new country during the middle of a pandemic! TRANSCRIPT -- https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/07/19/87-how-to-move-country-in-the-middle-of-a-pandemic/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - thinkinginenglishpo...

Jul 19, 202115 minSeason 1Ep. 87

The 'Rona', 'Covidiots', and 'Quarantinis': Covid-19 Slang (English Vocabulary Lesson)

Today, I want to introduce some common slang that English speakers are using to talk about Covid-19 and the pandemic! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/06/30/the-rona-covidiots-and-quarantinis-covid-19-slang/ 32. The Oxford Dictionary Words of the Year 2020! (English Vocabulary Lesson) CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected]...

Jun 30, 20217 min

Terrifyingly Troubling Tongue Twisters!: A Pronunciation Challenge

Today, I want to challenge you to a tongue twister competition! TRANSCRIPT -- https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/06/28/terrifyingly-troubling-tongue-twisters-a-pronunciation-challenge/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] Tongue Twisters! Red Lorry, Yellow Lorry (x3) She sells seashells on the seashore If three witches were watching t...

Jun 28, 20217 min

English Riddle Challenge (Mini Episode 1)

Today, I’m going to give you all a challenge! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/06/23/3-english-riddles/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] Riddle 1 What has a face and two hands but no arms or legs? Riddle 2 What occurs once in a minute, twice in a moment and never in one thousand years? Riddle 3 What five-letter word...

Jun 23, 20215 min

86. The Best Way to Master English?: Everything You Need to Know About Language Exchanges!

The best way to improve your English is by speaking as regularly as possible. But, for many of you, it might be difficult to find people or opportunities to practice speaking. So, on this episode of Thinking in English I am going to provide a detailed introduction to language exchanges, explain how to find conversation partners, and give you some tips to make sure you have the best experience possible! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/06/16/86-the-best-way-to-master-english-every...

Jun 16, 202126 minSeason 1Ep. 86

85. Football English: All the Vocabulary You Need to Watch the UEFA European Football Championship in English! (English Vocabulary Lesson)

Back of the net! What a save! To move the goalposts! To be on the ball! English, and especially British English, is full of football related vocabulary, expressions and idioms. So, to celebrate the start of the UEFA European Football Championship, let’s learn a few of the most useful examples together. Hopefully by the end of the episode you will be able to watch football games in English with ease. And if you hate football, don’t worry! Much of the vocabulary in the episode is also used in busi...

Jun 14, 202123 minSeason 1Ep. 85

84. Where is the Best Place to Live?: the Most ‘Liveable’ City 2021 (English Vocabulary Lesson)

Where is the best place to live in the world? Which city has the best living conditions? And how can we determine what the “best” really means? Fortunately for us, The Global Liveability Index 2021 was recently released which answers many of these questions, and I will discuss the results on this episode of Thinking in English! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/06/09/84-where-is-the-best-place-to-live-the-most-liveable-city-2021-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - ...

Jun 09, 202116 minSeason 1Ep. 84

83. Why are the World’s Most Powerful Leaders Meeting in the UK?: The G7 Explained! (English Vocabulary Lesson)

This week seven of the most powerful leaders in international politics are meeting in the south of England. The G7 members will discuss the pandemic, economy, trade, and the environment. You may have heard of the G7 before, but how much do you really know about the organisation? What does the G7 do? Who are the members? Why is the meeting in the UK? TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/06/07/83-why-are-the-worlds-most-powerful-leaders-meeting-in-the-uk-the-g7-explained-english-vocabu...

Jun 07, 202117 minSeason 1Ep. 83

82. Why is your English not improving?: Tips and advice on how to get better! (English Vocabulary Lesson)

Why is your English not improving? So many students tell me that they have been studying for years, and practicing in many different ways, but they cannot get better! Why? On this episode of Thinking in English, I will try to explain some of the major reasons why your English ability might be stuck, and offer some tips to start improving again! TRANSCRIPT -- https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/06/02/82-why-is-your-english-not-improving-tips-and-advice-on-how-to-get-better-english-vocabulary-less...

Jun 02, 202125 minSeason 1Ep. 82

81. The End of Coffee!!: How can we save the world’s coffee industry? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

Coffee is in jeopardy. As the world’s temperatures increase and the climate changes, it is becoming more and more difficult to grow coffee. For farmers, cafes, and coffee drinkers this is terrible news. In this episode of Thinking in English, let’s talk about the issue and discuss a potential solution to the problem! TRANSCRIPT -- https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/05/31/81-the-end-of-coffee-how-can-we-save-the-worlds-coffee-industry-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkingi...

May 31, 202118 minSeason 1Ep. 81

80. Why did Belarus “Hijack” a Plane? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

Earlier this week, the Eastern European country Belarus stopped a plane travelling from Greece to Lithuania. While on the ground they took and arrested two of the passengers. This episode of Thinking in English will look at what happened, why Belarus took this action, and what some of the potential consequences could be for the country! TRANSCRIPT -- https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/05/26/80-why-did-belarus-hijack-a-plane-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpo...

May 26, 202115 minSeason 1Ep. 80

79. What is the strangest language in the world? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

What is the strangest language in the world? Many linguists believe that all languages share certain universal rules and features. They believe that humans have innate or natural grammar that we are born with. However, there is a language from South America which is so strange and peculiar that it challenges this theory! Let’s discuss it in this episode of Thinking in English! Transcript -- https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/05/24/79-what-is-the-strangest-language-in-the-world-english-vocabular...

May 24, 202120 minSeason 1Ep. 79

78. What is the Eurovision Song Contest? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

In this episode of Thinking in English, I want to talk about one of the most popular events in Europe: the Eurovision Song Contest. With nearly 200 million people watching, and over 40 countries entering, it is a massive contest full of incredible (and sometimes bizarre) performances. Many of the listeners of this podcast are not European, so hopefully you will learn something about the continent's culture today! TRANSCRIPT -- https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/05/19/78-what-is-the-eurovision-s...

May 19, 202120 minSeason 1Ep. 78