Thinking in English

Museums around the world have historical artefacts in their collections with controversial histories. Many of their exhibits were taken or stolen from places around the world. And now, the original owners want their history back! In this episode of Thinking in English we’ll explore the question “Should these museums return those artefacts?” TRANSCRIPT -- https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/04/21/70-should-museums-return-historical-artefacts-english-vocabulary-list/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] Vocabulary List Exhibit (n) - an object that is shown to the public in a museum The museum has an amazing collection of exhibits Artefact (n) - an object that is made by person and is of historical interest The museum’s collection includes artefacts dating back to prehistoric times Colonialism (n) - control by one country over another and its economy It took years for the country to end colonialism and achieve independence To benefit (v) - to be helped by something I feel that i have benefited from her advice To demolish (v) - to completely destroy a building, especially in order to use the land for something else A number of houses were demolished so that the supermarkets could be built To reclaim (v) - to take back something that was yours I reclaimed my suitcase from the lost luggage office To confiscate (v) - to take a possession away from someone when you have the right to do so, usually as a punishment and often for a limited period, after which it is returned to the owner The teacher confiscated my phone To proclaim (v) - to announce something publicly or officially, especially something positive She was proclaimed Queen at the age of 13 Encyclopaedic (adj) - containing a lot of information Her knowledge of France is encyclopedic --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Twelve of the biggest European football clubs have announced their intention to form their own competition, known as the Super League. This has become a major news story, and has been criticized by fans, players, football club owners, and politicians across Europe. So, in this episode of Thinking in English I will explain what a Super League is, why clubs want to join it, and why it is such a controversial topic! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/04/19/69-the-european-super-league-explained-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] Vocabulary List Fixture (n) - a day and time agreed for a sports event Next season’s fixtures will be published early next month To establish (v) - to start a company or organization that will continue for a long time The brewery was established in 1822 Unanimously (adv) - in a way that is agreed or supported by everyone in a group All four proposals were unanimously approved To qualify (v) - to succeed in getting into a competition Nigeria was the first team to qualify for the world cup Founding (adj) - involved in establishing or originating an institution or organization There are three founding members of our company Domestic (adj) - relating to a person’s own country Domestic opinion has turned against the war Broadcasting (n) - the activity or business of sending out programmes on television or radio Huge amounts of money are spent on sports broadcasting Theoretically (adv) - used to say what is possible, although it may not actually happen It is theoretically possible --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On April 12th the Muslim holy month of Ramadan began. Millions of Muslims around the world are now fasting, observing the religious holiday, and celebrating with friends and family. In this episode of Thinking in English, I want to answer some of the most common questions people have about Ramadan, and introduce you to some religious vocabulary! TRANSCRIPT -- https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/04/14/68-ramadan-2021-an-introduction-to-islams-holy-month-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] Vocabulary List To observe (v) - to obey a law, rule, or custom People must observe the law To fast (v) - to eat no food for a period of time One day a week he fasts for health reasons practicing (adj) - actively involved in a religion He is a practicing Christian, and goes to church every week Holy (adj) - related to a religion or a god The Quran is the holy book of Islam Sacred (adj) - considered to be holy and deserving respect, especially because of a connection with a god This area is sacred to Buddhists Pilgrimage (n) - a special journey made by a pilgrim Muslims try to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their life Dawn (n) - the period in the day when light from the sun begins to appear in the sky I wake up before dawn every morning Crescent (n) - a curved shape, like the moon when it is less that half of a circle The moon was a brightly shining crescent --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh and husband of Queen Elizabeth II, passed away. His death has dominated news reporting in the UK and abroad. Prince Philip was an influential and well known international figure for over 70 years, carrying out thousands of meetings and engagements for the British royal family and his own personal passions. In this special episode of Thinking in English, lets answer the question “Who was Prince Philip?" TRANSCRIPT -- https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/04/12/67-who-was-prince-philip-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] Vocabulary List Outpouring (n) - an expression of strong feeling that is difficult to control His death at the age of 35 has caused an outpouring of grief Condolence (n) - sympathy and sadness for the family or close friends of a person who has recently died, or an expression of this, especially in written form World leaders from all over the globe offered their condolences To banish (v) - to send someone away, especially from their country, and not allow them to come back He was banished to an uninhabited island for a year Prestigious (adj) - very much respected and admired, usually because of being important He studied at a prestigious university Gratitude (n) - a strong feeling of appreciation to someone or something for what the person has done to help you She sent them a present to show her gratitude Amoeba (n) - a very small, simple living creature consisting of only one cell All life started as amoebas Sensitive (adj) - easily upset by the things people say or do, or causing people to be upset, embarrassed, or angry He was very sensitive about his appearance and thought everyone was staring at him phenomenally (adv) - extremely, especially in a way that is surprising Her first novel was phenomenally successful Engagement (n) - an arrangement to do something or meet someone at a particular time and place We have a dinner engagement Thursday --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is wrong with Israel’s politics? In the last two years, they have had four different elections. Each time no leader has been able to form a government, and no political parties have been willing to work together. Despite an election being held only a few weeks ago in March, it is already a possibility that a new election will need to be held in the summer. Let’s discuss some of the problems in Israeli politics, as well as practice using advanced political vocabulary! TRANSCRIPT -- https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/04/07/66-what-is-wrong-with-israels-politics-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] Vocabulary List Informed (adj) - having a lot of knowledge or information about something I will keep you informed about my decision Coalition (n) - the joining together of different political parties or groups for a particular purpose, usually for a limited time, or a government that is formed in this way By forming a coalition, the rebels and the oppositions parties defeated the government Short-lived (adj) - lasting only for a brief time I had a few relationships at college, most of which were fairly short-lived To convert (v) - to cause something to change in form or character Could we convert the bedroom to an office Threshold (n) - the level or point at which something starts to happen He earns £200 a month, which is way below the threshold for paying tax To fall out (phrasal v) - to argue with someone and stop being friendly with them He left home after falling out with his parents Allegation (n) - a statement, made without giving proof, that someone has done something wrong or illegal The allegations of corruption were not true Autocratic (adj) - demanding that people obey completely, without asking or caring about anyone else's opinions The president resigned after 30 years of autocratic rule --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Thinking in English we will discuss the Milk Tea Alliance. Protestors and pro-democracy activists in South East Asia have begun to connect with each other online using the hashtag Milk Tea Alliance. What is this alliance, how did it start, and what does it involve? And why does it use the name “milk tea?” Hopefully by the end of this episode you will be able to answer some, or all, of these questions! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/04/05/65-what-is-the-milk-tea-alliance-english-vocabulary-lesson/ Similar Episodes! Myanmar Coup - http://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/02/03/48-myanmar-military-coup-what-is-happening-and-why-english-vocabulary-lesson/ Democracy Rankings - http://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/03/08/57-is-democracy-dying-freedom-house-2021-report-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] Vocabulary List Viral (adj) - spreading or becoming popular very quickly on the internet He seems different since he went viral on Tik Tok Alliance (n) - a group of people or countries who have agreed to work together because of shared interests or aims In the USA, religious groups and conservative political parties have formed an alliance Prominent (adj) - very well known and important He is a prominent member of the royal family To advocate (v) - to publicly support or suggest an idea, development, or way of doing something The organisation advocates for human rights Neat (adj) - a drink without anything added to it She likes her whisky neat, with no ice or water To distinguish (v) - to notice or understand the different between two things, or to make one person or thing seem different from another I’m colour blind and can’t distinguish between red and green easily Boycott (v) - to refuse to buy a product or take part in an activity as a way of expressing strong disapproval People in China have boycotted H&M's products Nationalism (n) - a great, or too great, love for your own country Nationalism has been spreading through Europe recently --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the final Sunday of March, the UK and many other European countries adjust their time forward by one hour. This is known as Daylight Savings Time, or Summer time, and is designed to give people more hours of sunlight during the summer months. In this episode of Thinking in English we will look at the history and rationale for DST, before discussing whether or not we really need it in 2021! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/04/01/64-daylight-savings-time-why-do-we-change-our-time-in-the-summer-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] Vocabulary List To skip (v) - to leave one thing or place, especially quickly, in order to go to another This part of the book isn’t very interesting, so I’m going to skip it To switch (v) - to change suddenly or completely, especially from one thing to another, or to exchange by replacing one person or thing with another She started studying English, but switched to History in her second year Equator (n) - an imaginary line drawn around the middle of the earth unequal distance from the North Pole and the South pole Indonesia lies on the equator Industrialised (adj) - Used to describe a country, economy, area, etc. that has many businesses and factories involved in producing goods Even in the industrialised world illiteracy is a problem Agricultural (adj) - used for farming or relating to farming The country’s economy is mainly agricultural Consistent (adj) - always behaving or happening in a similar way Her work is sometimes good, but the problem is she’s not consistent To adjust (v) - to change something slightly, especially to make it more correct, effective or suitable If the chair is too high you can adjust it to suit you Rationale (n) - the reasons or intentions that cause a particular set of beliefs or actions I don’t understand the rationale for these restrictions Deprived (adj) - not having the things that are necessary for a pleasant life, such as enough money, food, or good living conditions As I work at night, I am often sleep deprived --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

North Korea has recently restarted missile tests, worrying neighbouring countries and international organisations. Why have they decided to do this now? This episode will look at a few different explanations for North Korea’s missile tests, as well as discussing the country's weapons programme in general! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/03/29/63-north-korean-missile-tests-explained-english-vocabulary-lesson/ Myanmar Coup - http://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/02/03/48-myanmar-military-coup-what-is-happening-and-why-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] Vocabulary List Tumultuous (adj) - full of confusion, change, or uncertainty After the tumultuous events of 1990, Europe was completely changed Totalitarian (adj) - being a political system in which those in power have complete control and do not allow people freedom to oppose them North Korea may be a totalitarian regime To violate (v) - to break or act against something, especially a law, agreement, principle, or something that should be treated with respect They were charged with violating federal law Provocative (adj) - causing an angry reaction, usually intentionally In a deliberately provocative speech, she criticized the whole system of government To unveil (v) - to make something secret known The president’s new policy was unveiled at the press conference To prohibit (v) - to officially refuse to allow something Motor vehicles are prohibited from driving in the town centre Escalating (adj) - increasing in price, amount, rate, etc. The price of oil is escalating Stalemate (n) - a situation in which neither group involved in an argument can win or get an advantage and no action can be taken Despite long discussions, the workers and the management remain locked in stalemate Sanction (n) - an official order, such as the stopping of trade, that is taken against a country in order to make it obey international law Economic sanctions will only be lifted when the aggressive nation withdraws its troops --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The plural of bird is birds, the plural of dog is dogs, but what is the plural of octopus? Is it octopuses, octopi, or octopodes? In this episode, we’ll discuss why no one seems to know the answer to this question, and look at the strange and confusing world of English plurals! Transcript - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/03/24/62-octopuses-vs-octopi-vs-octopodes-the-strange-world-of-english-plurals/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] Vocabulary List --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Where is the happiest country in the world? How can we measure happiness? Is happiness a good way to compare countries? Has the ongoing pandemic affected people's happiness all over the world? These questions might seem a little complicated to answer, but fortunately for us the World Happiness Report 2021 was released last week! In this episode we’ll talk about the results of their rankings and discuss their findings on global happiness! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/03/22/61-what-is-the-happiest-country-in-the-world-2021-world-happiness-report-english-vocabulary-lesson/ https://worldhappiness.report/ed/2021/ Democracy Rankings - http://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/03/08/57-is-democracy-dying-freedom-house-2021-report-english-vocabulary-lesson/ Most Languages? - http://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/01/13/42-which-country-has-the-most-languages-english-vocabulary-lesson/ What is the most expensive city? - http://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/01/06/40-what-is-the-most-expensive-city-in-the-world-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Vocabulary List Corruption (n) - illegal, bad, or dishonest behaviour, especially by people in positions of power Political corruption is widespread throughout that country Obsessed (adj) - unable to stop thinking about something; too interest in or worried about something Why are people so obsessed with money? Evaluation (n) - A judgment or calculation of the quality, importance, amount, or value of something Student evaluations of the class will be collected next week Mutual (adj) - (of two or more people or groups) feeling the same emotion, or doing the same thing to or for each other Their partnerships was based on mutual trust, respect, and understanding Stringent (adj) - having a very severe effect, or being extremely limiting We need to introduce more stringent security measures such as identity cards To buffer (v) - to provide protection against harm People’s concerns were buffered by the government’s strong actions Morale (n) - the amount of confidence felt by a person or group of people, especially when in a dangerous or difficult situation A couple of victories would improve the team's morale enormously Frequency (n) - the number of times something happens within a particular period Complaints about the frequency of buses rose in the last year Solidarity (n) - agreement between, and support, for the members of a group The purpose of the speech was to show solidarity with the country’s leaders --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I want to talk about St Patrick’s day! St Patrick’s day is an incredibly popular celebration of Ireland and Irish culture with events taking place around the world. However, the history of this holiday is incredibly surprising. Let’s learn about the life of St Patrick, the history of the festival, and some of the myths surrounding the events!! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/03/17/60-st-patricks-day-explained-english-vocabulary-lesson/ Similar Episodes! What is Halloween? - http://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/10/30/14-what-is-halloween/ Bonfire Night! - http://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/11/06/bonfire-night-a-unique-british-festival-with-an-explosive-history/ Christmas! - http://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/12/23/36-christmas-special-christmas-idioms-phrases-and-sayings-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] Vocabulary List Enthralling (adj) - keeping someone’s interest and attention completely I found your book absolutely enthralling! Festivities (plural n) - the parties, meals, and other social activities with which people celebrate a special occasion If you’re in Europe during winter, you should join in with the Christmas festivities! Advocate (n) - someone who publicly supports something He’s a strong advocate of human rights To inhabit (v) - to live in a place These remote islands are inhabited only by birds To convert (v) - to change to a new religion, belief, opinion, etc., or to make someone do this He converted to Catholicism when he got married Mythology (n) - a popular belief that is probably not true There is a lot of mythology surrounding the origin of that country To banish (v) - to send someone away, especially from their country, and not allow them to come back He was banished to an uninhabited island for a year To flee (v) - to escape by running away, especially because of danger or fear In order to escape his enemies, he fled to the mountains Misconception (n) - an idea that is wrong because it has been based on a failure to understand a situation I’d like to clear up the common misconception that older workers don’t know how to use technology --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reading is an incredibly important skill to learn and improve for all language students. You can build your vocabulary and grammar knowledge, discover new facts about different cultures and history, and enjoy yourself at the same time! It can be scary and frustrating when trying to choose your first English book, so in this episode I’m going to give you 5 classic novel recommendations that are all available as graded readers designed for English learners! TRANSCRIPT -- https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/03/15/59-5-books-recommendations-to-improve-your-english/ Recommended Books The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - https://amzn.to/30ONvgp (PAID LINK) The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Graded Reader) - https://amzn.to/38Ehcp7 (PAID LINK) Animal Farm - https://amzn.to/3czhe2D (PAID LINK) Animal Farm (Graded Reader) - https://amzn.to/3bLQRr9 (PAID LINK) The Night Manager - https://amzn.to/3co1BL6 (PAID LINK) The Night Manager (Graded Reader) - https://amzn.to/3rRKoQU (PAID LINK) Great Expectations - https://amzn.to/3bKlJYQ (PAID LINK) Great Expectation (Graded Reader) - https://amzn.to/3bLeAHO (PAID LINK) Moby Dick - https://amzn.to/3vnwkk9 (PAID LINK) Moby Dick (Graded Reader) - https://amzn.to/2OXkPzu (PAID LINK) (I get commissions for purchases made through these links) CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Vocabulary List To underestimate (v) - to fail to guess or understand the real cost, size, difficulty, etc. of something They’ve seriously underestimated the cost of the building project Rewarding (adj) - giving a reward, especially by making you feel satisfied that you have done something important or useful, or done something well Teaching is a really rewarding career Accomplishment (n) - something that is successful, or that is achieved after a lot of work or effort There’s a feeling of accomplishment from having a job and all that goes with it To simplify (v) - to make something less complicated and therefore easier to do or understand He tried to simplify the story for the younger audience To grade (v) - to separate people or things into different levels of quality, size, importance, etc. The fruit is washed and then graded by size Satire (n) - a way of criticizing people or ideas in a humorous way, especially in order to make a political point, or a piece of writing that uses this style Her play was a satire on life in the 1980s Undoubtedly (adv) - used to emphasize that something is true She was undoubtedly the best candidate --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It has been 10 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake struck the Asian country, causing a massive and destructive tsunami. On this episode of Thinking in English, I want to talk about the events of March 11th 2011, and look at the Fukushima nuclear disaster in more detail. Finally, I will discuss the future of nuclear power, as well as its pros and cons! Transcript - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/03/10/58-the-future-of-nuclear-power-10-years-after-the-great-east-japan-earthquake/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] Vocabulary List To trigger (v) - to cause something to start Some people find that certain foods trigger their headaches To breach (v) - to make an opening in a wall or fence, especially in order to attack someone or something behind it Their defences were easily breached Reactor (n) - a large machine in which atoms are either divided or joined in order to produce power How many nuclear reactors does your country have? Epicenter (n) - the point on the earth’s surface directly above an earthquake or atomic explosion Those islands are close to epicenter of the earthquake To expose (v) - to put someone at risk from something harmful or unpleasant It is feared that people living near the power station may have been exposed to radiation To evacuate (v) - to move people from a dangerous place to somewhere safe The police evacuated the village shortly before the explosion Radioactive (adj) - having or producing the energy that comes from the breaking up of atoms Uranium is a radioactive material Footprint (n) - a measurement of the size, effect, etc. of something We took the decision to invest in new countries and grow our global footprint To pose (v) - to cause something, especially a problem or difficulty Nuclear weapons pose a threat to everyone --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is democracy dying? According to a recently released report, the answer might be ‘yes.’ Freedom House’s democracy rankings for 2020 were released last week, and the findings were shocking! In this episode we’ll talk about their conclusions, how Freedom House is able to assess democracy, and discuss why democracy might be struggling! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/03/08/57-is-democracy-dying-freedom-house-2021-report-english-vocabulary-lesson/ 2021 Freedom in the World Report - https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2021/democracy-under-siege What is Democracy? - http://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/11/08/18-what-is-democracy-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] Vocabulary List To collapse (v) - to suddenly fail, be unable to continue or work correctly The Soviet Union collapsed in the early 1990s Unprecedented (adj) - never having happened or existed in the past Unemployment has reached an unprecedented level Reliable (adj) - someone or something that is reliable can be trusted or believed because he, she or it works or behaves well in the way expected Is your watch reliable? Or is it a little slow? Unstable (adj) - not solid and firm and therefore not strong, safe, or likely to last That chair looks really unstable! Deterioration (n) - the fact or process of becoming worse We’ve seen a deterioration in relations between the countries Secretive (adj) - people or organisation who are secretive hide their feelings, thoughts, intentions and actions from other people He’s being very secretive about his new girlfriend Surveillance (n) - the careful watching of a person or place, especially by the police or army, because of a crime that has happened or is expected to happen More banks are now installing surveillance cameras To enforce (v) - to make people obey a law It isn’t always easy for the police to enforce speed limits Bribery (n) - an attempt to make someone do something for you by giving the person money, presents, or something else that they wanted Some cultures consider tipping waiters bribery, while in others it’s considered an insult if you don’t leave a tip --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is the lowest wage a company should be able to pay someone? This is not an easy question to answer. Higher wages might help workers but hurt companies, while low wages will hurt those workers but help the businesses. Should we have a minimum wage, and if so, what should that minimum wage be? This episode of Thinking in English will look at the history of minimum wages, and then investigate a few arguments for and against higher minimum wages! TRANSCRIPT -- https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/03/03/56-the-minimum-wage-debate-explained-english-vocabulary-lesson/ Most Expensive Cities Episode -- http://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/01/06/40-what-is-the-most-expensive-city-in-the-world-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] Vocabulary List Legally (adv) - as stated by the law Children under 16 are not legally allowed to buy cigarettes in the UK Poverty (n) - the condition of being extremely poor Two million people in that city live in poverty Entitle (v) - to give someone the right to do or have something Being unemployed entitles you to government support To spur (v) - to encourage an activity or development or make it happen faster A huge new factory spurred economic growth in the entire region Necessity (n) - something that you need, especially in order to live Eating is a biological necessity Devastating (adj) - causing a lot of damage or destruction The missile strike was devastating - the target was totally destroyed Market (n) - the business or activity of buying and selling a particular product or service Many companies are waiting to enter the Chinese market! To exploit (v) - to use someone or something unfairly for your own advantage Laws exist to stop companies exploiting their employees --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

British English or American English: which one is better? I’ve been asked this question hundreds of times. It can be confusing and frustrating for language learners when the vocabulary they have spent years learning is different to that of their British or American friends’. So on this episode, I want to introduce a few of the key differences between the two dialects, explain why there are some variations, and finally offer a little advice on which you should focus on! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/03/01/55-british-english-vs-american-english-which-is-better/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] Vocabulary List To frustrate (v) - to make someone feel annoyed or less confident because that cannot achieve what they want It frustrates me that I’m not able to put any of my ideas into practice Dialect (n) - a form of language that people speak in a particular part of a country, containing some different words and grammar The poem is written in a southern dialect Variation (n) - something that is slightly different from the usual form or arrangement Her movies are all variations on the same theme Distinction (n) - a difference between two similar things There’s a clear distinction between the dialects spoken in the two regions Noticeable (adj) - easy to see or recognise There has been a noticeable improvement in Tim’s cooking Straightforward (adj) - easy to understand or simple This recipe is so straightforward - you just mix all the ingredients together To occur (v) - to happen The incident occurred shortly after the plane took off Fashionable (adj) - popular at a particular time Celebrities are always eating at that fashionable restaurant Responsible (adj) - to be the person who caused something to happen, especially something bad Last month’s bad weather was responsible for the crop failure --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode I want to talk about conversations and how to have better ones! English learners often really want to start having conversations in English, but at the same time can be nervous and anxious. Don’t worry though! If you follow the tips in this episode you will be having conversations like a professional in no time! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/02/24/54-how-to-have-better-conversations-english-vocabulary-lesson/ Related Episodes! George Orwell's tips for writing! (http://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/02/01/47-how-to-improve-your-written-english-according-to-the-great-writer-george-orwell/) How to improve your writing skills! (http://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/12/21/35-how-to-improve-your-writing-skills/) How to ask excellent question! (http://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/12/14/how-to-ask-excellent-questions-english-vocabulary-lesson/) CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] Vocabulary List Light-hearted (adj) - happy and not serious We had a fairly light-hearted discussion Anxiety (n) - an uncomfortable feeling of nervousness or worry about something that is happening or might happen in the future Children normally feel a lot of anxiety about their first day at school Awkward (adj) - embarrassed or nervous He seemed a little awkward when i first met him Favour (n) - a kind action that you do for someone Could you do me a favour - would you feed my cat this weekend? Uncomfortable (adj) - not feeling comfortable and pleasant, or not making you feel comfortable and pleasant The boy looked uncomfortable and out of place among the adults Interaction (n) - an occasion when two or more people or thing communicate with each other Language games are usually intended to encourage student interaction Curious (adj) - interested in learning about people or things around you Babies are curious about everything around them Naturally (adv) - having an ability or characteristic from birth He’s naturally funny - he doesn’t even have to try --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Australian Facebook users realised last week that they could no longer read, access, or share news articles on the social media platform. Facebook, the world’s largest social media site, has banned news in Australia. This episode will look at why this happened, and what some of the consequences could be! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/02/22/53-why-has-facebook-banned-news-in-australia-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] Vocabulary List To rival (v) - to be as good, clever, beautiful, etc. as someone or something else At the moment, no one can rival China as the world's biggest luxury goods market! Drastic (adj) - (especially for actions) severe and sudden or having very noticeable effects Many employees have had to take drastic cuts in pay Consequence (n) - a result of a particular action or situation, often one that is bad or not convenient Failure to do proper safety checks may have serious consequences. Publisher (n) - a person or company that produces and sells books, magazines, newspapers, software, etc. He is both the publisher and editor of the local newspaper To host (v) - to provide the computer equipment, technology and software for a website or advertisement to be available on the internet The Thinking in English blog is hosted by WordPress Determined (adj) - wanting to do something very much and not allowing anyone or any difficulties to stop you She will get the job she wants - she’s a very determined person Inquiry (n) - an official process to discover the facts about something bad that has happened Citizens have demanded a full inquiry into the government’s handling of the epidemic Unintended (adj) - not intended The group argues that many of the proposed reforms will have unintended consequences To generate (v) - to cause something to exist Her latest film has generated a lot of interest! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Missions from China, the UAE, and the USA have all arrived on, or near to, Mars. This is the first time three different countries have sent missions to the planet at the same time. Why? This episode will look at the reasons behind each of the three current missions, investigate why we want to travel there at all, and what the future holds for Mars and humanity! TRANSCRIPT -- https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/02/17/52-the-missions-to-mars-why-are-the-usa-china-and-uae-all-heading-to-the-red-planet-english-vocabulary-lesson/ Venus Episode - http://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/10/08/life-on-venus/ China and the Moon - http://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/12/03/china-lands-on-the-moon-are-we-on-the-verge-of-a-new-space-race-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] VOCABULARY LIST Humanity (n) - people in general In the war they committed many crimes against humanity! To glimmer (v) - to shine with a weak light The lights of the village were glimmering in the distance To orbit (v) - to follow a curved path around a planet or star On this mission the shuttle will orbit the Earth at a height of several hundred kilometers Mission (n) - a group of people or objects sent somewhere to investigate or achieve a goal This is their third mission to the Moon! Exploration (n) - the act of traveling to a place or searching a place in order to learn about it Space exploration is one of the main goals of his government! Atmosphere (n) - a mixture of gases that surrounds any planet We are searching for a planet with a breathable atmosphere To replicate (v) - to make or do something again in exactly the same way Researchers have tried many times to replicate the original experiment Colony (n) - a country or area controlled politically by a more powerful country that is often far away Australia and New Zealand are former British colonies --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Thinking in English I want to talk about Clubhouse. Clubhouse is a social media application that has become incredibly popular over the last few weeks. Entrepreneurs, investors, and creative people are using the site to host discussion and conversations for thousands of listeners. However, it is an exclusive platform and all users need to be invited before they can join. What is Clubhouse? Why is it so popular at this moment? What does the future hold for the application? TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/02/15/51-what-is-clubhouse-the-social-media-app-taking-the-world-by-storm-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] VOCABULARY LIST To take (something) by storm (phrase) - to be very successful in a particular place or among a particular group of people Jazz took London and Paris by storm in the 1920s Exclusive (adj) - limited to only one person, a few people or a group of people This room is for the exclusive use of guests Moderator (n) - someone who makes certain that a formal discussion happens without problems and follows the rules He was the moderator for the presidential debate! To gossip (v) - to talk about other people’s private lives Stop gossiping and do your work Entrepreneur (n) - someone who starts their own business, especially when this involves seeing a new opportunity He is a talented entrepreneur who has started over one hundred businesses! Nuanced (adj) - a quality of something that is not easy to notice but may be important The actor gives a beautifully nuanced performance in a tricky role Dialogue (n) - a serious exchange of opinion, especially among people or groups that disagree We have held a number of meetings, and the dialogue is ongoing Capacity (n) - the total amount that can be contained or produced The stadium has a seating capacity of 50,000 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Coronavirus is not the first disease to kill millions of people and impact our lives. Throughout history, smallpox destroyed countless lives and devastated entire communities. It was incredibly infectious and incredibly deadly. However, smallpox is also the only disease to ever be completely eradicated by humans. This episode will look at the history of that deadly disease, investigate how we got rid of the virus, and consider the lessons we can take from the time! TRANSCRIPT -- https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/02/10/50-the-history-of-smallpox-how-did-we-eradicate-the-disease-and-what-can-it-teach-us-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] VOCABULARY LIST To infect (v) - to pass a disease to another person The hospital is full of people infected with coronavirus Precaution (n) - an action that is done to prevent something unpleasant or dangerous happening They failed to take the necessary precautions to avoid infection Infectious (adj) - an infectious disease is able to be passed from one person, animal, or plant to another; an infectious person is someone able to pass a disease After the 21-day isolation period, survivors are no longer infectious To devastate (v) - to destroy a place or thing completely or cause great damage The town was devastated by a hurricane in 1928 To eradicate (v) - to get rid of something completely or destroy something bad Hopefully we will eradicate coronavirus soon! To contract (v) - to catch or become ill with a disease He contracted a rare illness while he was travelling Immunity (n) - a situation in which you are protected against disease The vaccination gives you immunity against the disease for up to six months Bulletproof (adj) - cannot be corrected, altered, or modified The lawyer made a bulletproof argument in front of the judge! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We drink millions of bottles of water every year. However, in some countries, including mine the UK, our tap water is perfectly safe! We don’t really need to buy bottled water! There are environmental, financial, and health costs connected to bottled water. Should bottled water be banned? TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/02/08/49-should-bottled-water-be-banned-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] VOCABULARY LIST Optician (n) - Someone whose job is examining people’s eyes and selling glasses or contact lenses to correct sight problems The optician recommended I choose a different pair of glasses! Beverage (n) - a drink of any type Hot beverages include tea, coffee, and hot chocolate Roughly (adv) - approximately or about We have roughly similar tastes! Source (n) - the place something comes from or starts at, or the cause of something Experts are trying to track down the source of the contamination in the water supply Stringently (adv) - in a way that is strict, severe, or limiting Fire regulations are stringently enforced in all our factories Defect (n) - a physical condition in which something is wrong with a part of someone’s body The drug has been shown to cause birth defects Consumption (n) - the act of using, eating, or drinking something: This programme is designed to increase the consumption of vegetables by children! Carbonated (adj) - a carbonated drink is fizzy because it contains bubbles of carbon dioxide Although I love carbonated sodas, I really dislike carbonated water! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On February 1st, the military of Myanmar staged a coup and took control of the country. They arrested elected leaders including the famous Aung San Suu Kyi, and there are worries they will damage Myanmar’s democracy! In this episode we’ll look at what happened, why it happened, and what will happen in the future! TRANSCRIPT: https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/02/03/48-myanmar-military-coup-what-is-happening-and-why-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] VOCABULARY LIST Independence (n) - freedom from being governed or ruled by another country Mexico gained its independence from Spain in 1821 Coup (n) - (or a coup d’etat) a sudden illegal, often violent, taking of government power, especially by part of an army The military took control in a coup! To restore (v) - to return something or someone to an earlier good condition or position After a week in bed, she was fully restored to health Allegation (n) - a statement, made without giving proof, that someone has done something wrong or illegal Allegations the president was receiving money from criminals have caused a scandal To file (v) - to officially record something, especially in a law court The police filed charges against the two suspects Fraudulent (adj) - dishonest and illegal; or intended to deceive The company was fined for fraudulent advertising To threaten (v) - to tell someone that you will hurt or harm him or her, esp. if the person does not do something in particular They threatened to drop him from the team if he didn’t come to practice Straightforward (adj) - easy to understand or simple Just follow the signs to London - it’s very straightforward! Sanction (n) - an official order, such as the stopping of trade, that is taken against a country in order to make it obey international law Many nations have imposed sanctions on the country because of its attacks on its own people --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

George Orwell is one of the most famous and talented writers of the last hundred years. Fortunately for us, Orwell left a list of rules for writers to follow and questions to consider which will help you to improve your written English. Writing is an essential skill, and something we can always improve! Hopefully you will find Orwell’s tips and tricks useful! TRANSCRIPT -- https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/02/01/47-how-to-improve-your-written-english-according-to-the-great-writer-george-orwell/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] VOCABULARY LIST To convey (v) - to express a thought, feeling, or idea so that it is understood by other people I tried to convey in my speech how grateful i am for everyone’s help Passionate (adj) - having very strong feelings or emotions Joe is passionate about baseball Imitation (n) - when someone or something imitates another person or thing Ten-years-olds have started wearing lipstick and make-up in imitation of the older girls Worn out (adj) - Something that is worn out can no longer be used because it is so old or because it has been damaged by continued use My jeans are almost worn out because I’ve worn them so much To emphasise (v) - to show that something is very important or worth giving attention to I’d like to emphasize how important it is for people to learn foreign languages Jargon (n) - special words and phrases that are used by particular groups of people, especially in their work Business people use jargon all the time Abbreviation (n) - a short form of a word or phrase “BBC” is the abbreviation for “British Broadcasting Corporation” Compulsory (adj) - If something is compulsory, you must do it because of a rule or law Swimming was compulsory at my school --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Archaeologists recently discovered the world’s oldest cave paintings of animals, in an isolated cave in Indonesia. This has challenged the way scientists think about our history, and provided evidence for people in Asia tens of thousands of years ago! Let’s learn about this topic, while studying English vocabulary! Transcript -- https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/01/27/46-worlds-oldest-cave-paintings-discovered-in-indonesia-english-vocabulary-lesson/# CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] Vocabulary Archaeologist (n) - someone who studies the buildings, graves, tools, and other objects of people who lived in the past Archaeologists have uncovered the remains of an Anglo-Saxon settlement Remote (adj) - far away in distance; a long way from any towns or cities They live in a remote mountain village, miles from the nearest shop Characteristic (n) - a typical or noticeable quality of someone or something A big nose is a characteristic in my family Capacity (n) - someone’s ability to do a particular thing She has a great capacity for hard work To date (v) - to say how long something has existed or when it was made Archaeologists have been unable to date these fossils Artefact (n) - an object that is made by a person, such as a tool or decoration, especially one that is of historical interest The museum’s collection includes artefacts dating back to prehistoric times Reasonable (adj) - based on or using good judgement and therefore fair and practical If you tell him what happened, I’m sure he’ll understand - he’s a reasonable man! Sophisticated (adj) - intelligent or made in a complicated way and therefore able to do complicated tasks I think a more sophisticated approach is needed to solve this problem Pigment (n) - a substance that gives something a particular colour when it is added to it Pigment is mixed into oil, glue, egg, etc. to make different types of paint Comprehension Questions Q. What animal was painted in the cave? Q. When did humans arrive in Australia? Q. Where was the oldest human produced art discovered? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I am going to introduce eight idioms that are commonly used in business situations. One of the major problems language learners face when working in a native English environment is recognising and comprehending idioms. Even if you are not interested in business, these idioms are used in many different situations and contexts! Whether you are studying, working, living, and or just enjoying English, these idioms will be perfect for you! TRANCRIPT: https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/01/25/45-eight-more-business-english-idioms/ Previous Episodes! http://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/11/29/incredibly-useful-english-idioms-ideal-for-business-english-ielts-study-abroad-and-more-english-vocabulary-lesson/ http://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/11/11/19-eight-useful-business-english-idioms/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] VOCABULARY LIST Frequently (adv) - often The buses run less frequently on Sundays To originate (v) - to come from a particular place, time, situation, etc Although the game originated in the UK, it has become an international sport Elaborate (adj) - containing a lot of careful detail or many detailed parts They are making elaborate preparations for their wedding Flaw (n) - a fault, mistake, or weakness, especially one that happens while something is being planned or made, or that causes something not to be perfect This report is full of flaws Dependent (adj) - needing the support of something or someone in order to continue existing or operating It’s very easy to become dependent on sleeping pills To concentrate (v) - to direct your attention or your efforts towards a particular activity, subject, or problem Many wine producers have concentrated their efforts on producing higher quality wine Bureaucracy (n) - a system for controlling or managing a country, company, or organization, that is operated by a large number of officials employed to follow rules carefully I had to deal with the university’s bureaucracy when I was applying for financial aid --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everyone has binge-watched a TV show. Only a few weeks ago, I watched the Netflix show the Queen's Gambit in only 3 days. However, is binge-watching actually bad for you? In this episode, of thinking in English, we will look at what binge-watching is and then think about the benefits and consequences of doing it! Hopefully, by the end of the episode you will be able to express your own opinion on the topic. TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/01/20/44-is-binge-watching-bad-for-you/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] VOCABULARY LIST Sitting (n) - a limited period of time during which you sit and do a particular activity I read that book in one sitting Cliffhanger (n) - a story or a situation that is exciting because its ending or result is uncertain until it happens Many of Hitchcock’s films are real cliffhangers To indulge (v) - to allow yourself or another person to have something enjoyable, especially more than is good for you I love champagne but i don’t often indulge myself To admit (v) - to agree that something is true, especially unwillingly She admitted making a mistake Perspective (n) - a particular way of considering something Her attitude lends a fresh perspective to the subject Beneficial (adj) - helpful, useful, or good A stay in the countryside will be beneficial to his health Excessive (adj) - too much Excessive exercise can sometimes cause health problems Insomnia (n) - the condition of being unable to sleep, over a period of time She suffered from insomnia caused by stress at work Fulfilling (adj) - making you feel happy and satisfied Nursing is hard work, but it can be very fulfilling --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the 20th January, Joe Biden will officially replace Donald Trump as the President of the United States of America. This process is very traditional, and therefore uses traditional and specific vocabulary. Today’s episode will introduce some of the events that will take place on the 20th, and highlight some of the essential vocabulary you might notice! TRANSCRIPT -- https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/01/18/43-inauguration-day-all-the-essential-vocabulary/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] Vocabulary List To reverse (v) - to cause something to go in the opposite direction, order, or position The Court of Appeal reversed the earlier judgment. Restriction (n) - an official limit on something I can’t wait for the coronavirus restrictions to be over -elect (suffix) - used after the title of an official job to refer to someone who has been chosen by vote to do that job, but who has not yet started doing it: Mr Theroux is chairman-elect of the Promotion Marketing Association. To deliver (v) - to give or produce a speech The President is scheduled to deliver a speech on foreign policy Address (n) - a formal speech She gave an address to the Royal Academy Long-standing (adj) - having existed for a long time It’s been our long-standing policy not to allow pets at the hotel To honour (v) - to show great respect for someone or something, especially in public I would be honoured to meet him Parade (n) - a large number of people walking or in vehicles, all going in the same direction, usually as part of a public celebration of something: To serve (v) - to work for; to do your duty to He served in the army for 22 years Oath (n) - a serious promise that you will tell the truth or that you will do what you have said --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are thousands of languages in the world. Some are spoken by billions of people, others by less than one hundred! Which country has the most languages? In this episode I’ll answer that question, look at some of the languages spoken in that country, and try to explain why there are so many! TRANSCRIPT -- https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/01/13/42-which-country-has-the-most-languages-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] VOCABULARY LIST Diversity (n) - a range of different things or people The wonderful diversity of our country’s wildlife is now under threat Inhabitant (v) - a person or animal that lives in a particular place That city has 5 million inhabitants Linguistically (adv) - in a way that is connected with language or the study of language Apparently Silicon Valley has become one of the most linguistically diverse places in America Dialect (n) - a form of a language that people speak in a particular part of a country, containing some different words and grammar, etc. The poem is written in northern dialect Descend from (Phrasal v) - if one thing descend from or is descended from another, the later thing develops from the earlier thing Romance languages are directly descended from Latin Ancestor (n) - a person related to you who lived a long time ago There were portraits of his ancestors on the walls of the room Indigenous (adj) - existing naturally or having always lived in a place; native The Navajos are among the indigenous people of North America Colonist (n) - someone who lives in or goes to live in a country or area that is a colony The first American colonists arrived in the 17th century Creole (n) - a language that has developed from a mixture of languages Many Afro-Caribbean Englishes are creoles Tribe (n) - a group of people, often of related families, who live together, sharing the same language, culture, and history, especially those who do not live in towns or cities The Masai tribe live in Africa COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS Q. Apart from English, what languages are native to the UK? A. Welsh, Gaelic, Scots, Ulster scots, Irish, and Cornish! Q. How many languages are spoken in Papua New Guinea? A. About 850 Q. Why are there so many languages in Papua New Guinea? A. The geographical conditions, isolated tribes, and a long history are the perfect ingredients to create a huge range of languages. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As I'm sure you already know, a riot broke out in the capital of the USA recently as Donald Trump supporters invaded the US Congress. In the aftermath, Trump has been removed and banned from numerous social media platforms. On today’s episode, we will look at the events of January 6th, and then discuss the idea of free speech. Free speech has been a major talking point after the banning of Trump. Should social media sites have the right to ban users because of what they say or believe? CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] VOCABULARY LIST To evacuate (v) - to move people from a dangerous place to somewhere safe The police evacuated the village shortly after the explosion To discredit (v) - to cause people to stop respecting someone or believing in an idea of person Evidence of links with criminals discredited the mayor To intimidate (v) - to frighten or threaten someone, usually in order to persuade them to so something that you want them to do They were intimidated into accepting a pay cut by the threat of losing their jobs To cover (v) - to report the news about a particular important event She is covering the American election for BBC television To excuse (v) - to forgive someone We cannot excuse him for these crimes Freely (adv) - without being controlled or limited Exotic foods are freely available in supermarkets To moderate (v) - to manage a public discussion The local TV anchorman is going to moderate the debate Personality (n) - a famous person The show is hosted by a popular TV personality --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How expensive is the city you live in? Recently, the Economist Intelligence Unit has released its ranking of the most expensive cities in the world. The episode will look at the results of this ranking, as well as talk about some of the trends in price increases or decreases and the reasons behind these trends! https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/01/06/40-what-is-the-most-expensive-city-in-the-world-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] VOCABULARY LIST To rank (v) - to have a position a higher or lower than others, or to be considered to have such a position She ranked the bottle in order of size along the shelf Inexpensive (adj) - not costing a lot of money That is an inexpensive perfume To drop (v) - to move to a lower level, or cause something to move to a lower level We had to drop our prices because of the recession Habit (n) - something that you do often and regularly, sometimes without knowing that you are doing it Members of the public were asked about their shopping habits To embrace (v) - to accept something enthusiastically He embraced the opportunity Vice (n) - a moral fault or weakness in someone’s character My one real vice is chocolate To cope (v) - to deal successfully with a difficult situation It must be really hard to cope with three young children and a job To plummet (v) - to fall very quickly and suddenly House prices have plummeted in recent months --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brexit. I’m sure you must have heard about Brexit at some point in the last four years, and the UK finally left the EU on January 1st 2020. I often get asked about Brexit by English students and foreign friends, and one of the biggest challenges people face is the vocabulary. It can be complicated, confusing, and full of political and economic jargon! So on this episode, I will introduce some of the key vocabulary that could help you to understand and read about Brexit! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/01/04/39-brexit-all-the-essential-vocabulary-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] VOCABULARY LIST Departure (n) - the act leaving somewhere, or an occasion when this happens Our departure was delayed because of bad weather Union (n) - the act or the state of being joined together The debate on European political and monetary union continues To coin (v) - to invent a new word or expression, or to use one in a particular way for the first time Allen Ginsberg coined the term “flower power” Divisive (adj) - used to describe something that causes great and sometimes unfriendly disagreement within a group of people The Vietnam war was an extremely divisive issue in the US To trigger (v) - to cause something to start Some people find that certain food trigger their headaches To reach (v) - to achieve something after careful thought or discussion After hours of discussion, the committee finally reached a decision Tariff (n) - a charge for services or on goods entering a country The US has imposed new tariffs on chocolate from Brazil Regulation (n) - an official rule or the act of controlling something New safety regulations have been brought in contention (n) - the disagreement that results from opposing arguments There’s a lot of contention about that issue - for every person firmly in favour, there’s someone fiercely against it --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2020 is almost over! What a strange and unforgettable year it has been! In this episode, we are going to look at New Year’s resolutions. And if you listen until the end, I will give you some suggestions for English learning related New Year’s resolutions that you can try yourself! https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/12/30/38-new-years-resolutions-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] VOCABULARY LIST To alter (v) - to change something, usually slightly, or to cause the characteristics of something to change We’ve had to alter some of our plans To socialise (v) - To spend time when you are not working with friends or with other people in order to enjoy yourself I tend to not socialise with my colleagues resolution (n) - a promise to yourself to do or to not do something I made a resolution to give up chocolate trait (n) - a particular characteristic that can produce a particular type of behaviour His sense of humour is one of his better traits Cliché (n) - a saying or remark that is very often made and is therefore not original and not interesting People always use cliches in job interviews unachievable (adj) - an unachievable task, ambition, etc. is one that is impossible to achieve It may be an unachievable goal, but you set your targets as high as you possibly can spontaneously (adv) - in a way that is natural, often sudden, and not planned or forced Hundred of people spontaneously appeared at the house for a party satisfied (adj) - pleased because you have got what you wanted, or because something has happened in the way that you wanted Some people are never satisfied! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, let's talk about money. Whether you love the idea of money, or hate it, money is undoubtedly one of the most important parts of our modern world! As an important part of our culture, money has obviously impacted our language. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of different ways to refer to or talk about money; although I can't introduce you to all of these, this episode will give you a few interesting alternatives to add to your vocabulary. I’ll also suggest a few money-related idioms you could try to use! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/12/28/37-money-essential-english-vocabulary/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] VOCABULARY LIST Good (n) - things for sale, or the things that you own There is a 25 percent discount on all electrical goods until the end of the week To barter (v) - to exchange goods for other things rather than for money He bartered his stamp collection for her comics. To negotiate (v) - to have formal discussions with someone in order to reach an agreement with them I’m negotiating for a new contract Currency (n) - the money that is used in a particular country at a particular time 19 European countries use the Euro as their currency Slang (n) - very informal language that is usually spoken rather than written “Chicken” is slang for someone who isn’t brave Colloquial (adj) - (of words and expressions) informal and more suitable for use in speech than in writing English is full of colloquial terms and phrases Simultaneously (adv) - in a way that is simultaneous (= happening or being done at exactly the same time) Two children answered the teacher’s question simultaneously Budget (n) - the amount of money you have available to spend The school budget is going to be cut again Mainstream (adj) - considered normal, and having or using ideas, beliefs, etc. that are accepted by most people This is the director’s first mainstream Hollywood film COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS Q. What currency does Ireland use? A. Euro Q. “I have no money” - What idiom would describe me? A. Broke/Short on money Q. “I am rich” - What idiom would describe me? A. Loaded/Filthy rich --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hello and Merry Christmas! This episode is probably being released on Christmas eve, so there is no better time to learn some Christmassy words!! Learn some festive themed idioms, phrases, and sayings to boost your Christmas vocabulary! TRANSCRIPT!! - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/12/23/36-christmas-special-christmas-idioms-phrases-and-sayings-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] Vocabulary list Intrinsic (adj) - being an extremely important and basic characteristic of a person or thing Maths is an intrinsic part of the school curriculum To associate (v) - to connect someone or something in your mind with someone or something else Most people associate this brand with good quality Ecstatic (adj) - extremely happy The new president was greeted by an ecstatic crowd Loosely (adv) - not exactly The film is loosely based on a novel by John Smith Illogical (adj) - not reasonable, wise, or practical, usually because directed by the emotions rather than by careful thought It is an illogical statement, because if one part is true, then the other must be false Insignificant (adj) - small or not noticeable, and therefore not considered important Why bother arguing about such an insignificant amount of money? Intention (n) - something that you want and plan to do I’ve no intention of changing my plans just to fit in with his --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, I'm hoping to give you some tips to improve your writing skills! Writing is one of the key language skills, and often students want to know how they can get better! We’ll look at some of the reasons writing is important to practice, and then I'll offer some advice on how to improve! Transcript - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/12/21/35-how-to-improve-your-writing-skills/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] VOCABULARY LIST To reinforce (v) - to make something stronger The pockets on my jeans are reinforced with double stitching Aspect (n) - one part of a situation, problem, subject, etc. Which aspects of your job do you most enjoy? Element (n) - a part of something The movie has all the elements of a blockbuster Flow (n) - if discussions or ideas flow, people talk and exchange information in a relaxed way Ideas flow more easily in an atmosphere of trust Factor (n) - a fact or situation that influences the result of something People’s voting habits are influenced by political, social, and economic factors Perfection (n) - the state of being complete and correct in every way In his quest for physical perfection, he spends hours in the gym To express (v) - to communicate what you think or feel, by speaking or writing, or in some other way Children often express themselves in painting To analyse - to study or examine something in detail, in order to discover more about it Researchers analysed the purchases of 6,300 households --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode we are going to discuss the controversy and debate surrounding zoos! Are zoos vital organisations because they promote scientific research and public education, and save animals on the verge of extinction? Or are zoos terrible prisons with no educational value that damage animals physically and psychologically? TRANSCRIPT -- https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/12/16/34-should-zoos-exist-a-discussion-of-the-benefits-and-controversies-surrounding-zoos-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] VOCABULARY LIST Controversial (adj) - causing disagreement or discussion The book was very controversial To struggle (v) - to experience difficulty and make a very great effort in order to do something I’ve been struggling to understand this article all afternoon Logistically (adv) - in a way that involves the careful organization of a complicated activity In theory, this is a great idea, but logistically, it's a nightmare Aristocrat (n) - a person of high social rank who belongs to the aristocracy Many aristocrats were killed in the French Revolution Conservation (n) - the protection of plants, animals, and natural areas from the damaging effects of human activity Wildlife conservation is an important idea in a number of African countries Biodiversity (n) - the number and types of plants and animals that exist in a particular area in the world, and the problems of protecting this Much of this area’s biodiversity is threatened by climate change Captive (adj) - (of a person or animal) having limited ability to move or act freely because of being kept in a space If it is successful, releasing captive animals into the wild could restore the population to over 500 this year! Habitat (n) - the natural environment in which an animal or plant usually lives With so many areas of forest being cut down, a lot of wildlife is losing its natural habitat Detrimental (adj)- causing harm or damage These chemicals have a detrimental impact on the environment Comprehension Questions Q. Why was Calgary zoo struggling to feed its pandas? A. They could not buy/import enough bamboo!’ Q. Where is the world's oldest operational zoo? A. Tiergarten Schönbrunn in Austria Q. What is the leading cause of death of gorillas in captivity? A. Heart disease --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, we are going to look at how to ask great questions! Asking questions is one of the most important skills in daily life, but most people do not realise we can practice and improve! I’ll look at why questions are important, the mistakes we often make when asking questions, and then some tips on how to improve! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/12/14/how-to-ask-excellent-questions-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] Vocabulary List To clarify (v) - to make something clear or easier to understand by giving more details or a simpler explanation Could you clarify the first point please? I don’t understand it completely. Tremendous (adj) - very great in amount or level, or extremely good They were making a tremendous amount of noise last night respective (adj) - relating or belonging to each of the separate people or things you have just mentioned Everyone would walk to school together then afterwards we’d go to our respective classes To fuel (v) - something that fuels a feeling or a type of behaviour increases it or makes it stronger The president’s speech fuelled speculation that she is about to resign eager (adj) - wanting very much to do or have something, especially something interesting or enjoyable He is very eager to meet you apathetic (adj) - showing no interest or energy and unwilling to take action, especially over something important Young people today are so apathetic about politics To bias (v) - to cause someone or something to have a bias (bias is the action of supporting or opposing a particular person or thing in an unfair way, because of allowing personal opinions to influence your judgement) I don’t want to bias your judgement! Intrusive (adj) - affecting someone in a way that annoys them or makes them feel uncomfortable The journalists intrusive questioning made me uncomfortable transparent (adj) - open and honest, without secrets We are committed to being totally transparent about our decisions --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, i want to introduce you to some of the Oxford English Dictionary’s 2020 words of the year. For the first time ever, the Oxford Dictionary was unable to choose one single standout word from the previous 12 months. Instead, as a consequence of the unprecedented events of 2020, they have highlighted a number of highly significant developments in our vocabulary! So I’m going to introduce you to some of the words and phrases included in the “Word of the Year” report! TRANSCRIPT -- https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/12/10/32-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] Vocabulary List Unprecedented (adj) - never having happened or existed in the past This century has witnessed environmental destruction on an unprecedented level Prominent (adj) - very well known and important He is a prominent politician in his country Lexicographer (n) - a person whose job is to write dictionaries My friend wants to be a lexicographer momentous (adj) - very important because of effects on future events Whether or not to move overseas was a momentous decision for the family To encompass (v) - to include different types of things The festival is to encompass everything from music, theatre, and ballet to literature, cinema, and the visual arts Linguistic (adj) - connected with language or the study of language She is researching the linguistic development of young children Epidemiologist (n) - someone who studies diseases and how they are found, spread, and controlled in groups of people They are epidemiologists studying the causes of diseases To impeach (v) - to make a formal statement saying that a public official is guilty of a serious offence in connection with their job, especially in the US The governor was impeached for wrongful use of state money --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we will discuss the failure of Quibi! I guess many of you are asking, “what is Quibi?” You’re probably not alone. Quibi was supposed to be the next big thing in online videos, attracting billions of dollars in investments before it launched earlier this year. On the 1st December, however, Quibi ended for ever. We’ll look at the history of Quibi, its unique selling points, and talk about why it failed. TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/12/08/the-downfall-of-quibi-the-story-of-an-expensive-failure-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] Vocabulary List Platform (n) - a method of communication or entertainment like television, radio, or the internet This podcast is available on a number of podcasting platforms, including Apple podcasts, Spotify, and Google podcasts! content (n) - the information and experiences that are directed to an end-user or audience She has been producing Youtube content for 5 years! To tailor (v) - to adjust something to suit a particular need or situation Their services are tailored to client’s needs amalgamation (n) - the action or process of uniting or merging two or more things Opera is an amalgamation of singing, acting, and stagecraft Orientation (n) - arrangement or direction The building has an east-west orientation To consume (v) - to use something such as fuel, energy, money, content or time, especially in large quantities This device will monitor how much energy your household appliances are consuming at any time To break down (Phrasal v) - to break down something such as idea or statement means to separate it into smaller parts in order to make it easier to understand or deal with The report breaks down the results region by region Up-and-coming (adj) - likely to achieve success soon or in the near future She is an up-and-coming actress Comprehension Questions Q. What two words were combined to make the name Quibi? A. Quick Bites Q. How much money did the company raise? A. $1.8 billion Q. How many subscribers did Quibi have when it shut down? A. 400,000 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How much do you know about the history of your languages? Where do the words come from, and why do we use them? Today’s episode will look at the recent news Germany is removing some words of Nazi origins from its phonetic alphabet. Although most German’s were unaware of the history of these terms, the regular use has been considered problematic. Are there any words in your languages that have offensive origins? Transcript - http://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/12/06/30-germany-removes-nazi-words-from-the-german-phonetic-alphabet-how-much-do-you-know-about-the-history-of-your-vocabulary-english-vocabulary-lesson/ Contact Us!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] Vocabulary List Take… for granted (Phrasal V) - to believe something to be the truth without even thinking about it I didn’t realise you hadn’t been to college -I suppose I just took it for granted Quirk (n) - an unusual habit or part of someone’s personality, or something that is strange or unexpected There is a quirk in the rules that allows you to invest money without paying tax Mutually (adv) - felt or done by two or more people or groups in the same way It will be a mutually beneficial project Unintelligible (adj) - not able to be understood He muttered something unintelligible Despicable (adj) - very unpleasant or bad, causing strong feelings of dislike He’s a despicable human being Phonetic (adj) - using special signs to represent the different sounds made by the voice in speech Pronunciations are shown in this dictionary using the International Phonetic Alphabet Bureaucratic (adj) - relating to a system of controlling or managing a country, company, or organization that is operated by a large number of officials The company was inefficient because it was highly bureaucratic Notorious (adj) - famous for something bad The company is notorious for paying its bills late --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode we are going to discuss the news that China has landed another probe on the surface of the moon. The Chinese mission intends to collect rock samples to bring back to Earth; the first time this will happen for over 40 years. Why is China interested in space exploration? Are we on the verge of a new space race? What is the scientific importance of moon rocks? We’ll look at all these questions and more on today’s episode! TRANSCRIPT: https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/12/03/china-lands-on-the-moon-are-we-on-the-verge-of-a-new-space-race-english-vocabulary-lesson/ Contact Us!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] Vocabulary Ensuing (adj) - happening after something and because of it An argument broke out and in the ensuing fight someone got hurt Proxy war (n) - a war fought between groups or smaller countries that each represent the interests of other larger powers, and may have help and support from these The USA and USSR fought a proxy war in Korea Capability (n) - the ability to do something These tasks are beyond my capabilities Probe (n) - a small spacecraft, with no one travelling in it, sent into space to make measurements and send back information to scientists on earth There is currently a space probe heading towards the sun! To analyse (v) - to study or examine something in detail, in order to discover more about it Researchers analysed the purchases of 6300 households Volcanic (adj) - of, or relating to, or made by a volcano They were not expecting the volcanic eruption Overdrive (n) - a state of great activity, effort, or hard work The cast of the play was in overdrive rehearsing for the first performance Lunar (adj) - of or relating to the moon The lunar eclipse was beautiful Comprehension Questions Q. How much material does the Chinese probe hope to bring back to Earth? A. about 2kg Q. Where on the moon is China planning to land? A. Close to an area known as Mons Rümker Q. What private companies are involved in space exploration? A. Space-X, Virgin Galactic, and Boeing --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode we are going to discuss the news that Tesla is now worth over $500 billion! This is considerably more than any other car manufacturer! Is Tesla really worth $500 billion? Why has the company's value increased so much over the last year? How can a company that produces few cars be worth more than many of its competitors combined? TRANSCRIPT!!! - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/12/01/28-is-tesla-really-worth-500-million-english-vocabulary-lesson/ Contact Us!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] Vocabulary list Gruelling (adj) - extremely tiring and difficult, and demanding great effort and determination Runners are taking part in a gruelling 100-mile race in the mountains Value (n) - the amount of money that can be received for something. Also included in this episode are the verb ‘to value’ (meaning to give a judgement about how much money something should be sold for) and the noun ‘valuation’ (which is the act of saying how much something is worth) The value of the pound fell against other currencies Profitable (adj) - making or likely to make a profit Over the years it has developed into a highly profitable business Quarterly (adj,adv) - done or produced four times a year The magazine will be produced quarterly Consecutive (adj) - following one after another without interruption We’ve had five consecutive days of rain -fold (suffix) - multiplied by the stated number - if i start with $5, then it increases threefold, i now have $15! In the last 50 years, there has been a 33-fold increase in the amount of chemicals used in farming To deem (v) - to consider or judge something in a particular way The area has now been deemed safe Consistently (adv) - in a way that does not change The president has consistently denied the rumours To fluctuate (v) - to change, especially continuously and between one level or thing and another Vegetable prices fluctuate according to the season Irrational (adj) - not using reason or clear thinking It’s totally irrational, but i’m frightened of mice Comprehension Questions! Q. What are the three companies I mentioned listed on the S&P 500 index? A. apple, Microsoft, and Amazon Q. How much was a Tesla share in January? How much are they now (at the time i’m writing)? A. $86 in January. Almost $550 now! Q. How many cars did Tesla sell in 2019? A. 367,500 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

‘Ahead of the pack,’ ‘smooth sailing,’ ‘corner the market.’ English is full of idioms like these three I just mentioned. In order to be able to work, study, or live in a native English speaking environment, understanding and comprehending idioms is a vital skill! For that reason, this episode will introduce you to some common idioms that are especially useful for business situations. However, they will also be beneficial to anyone who wants to study abroad, understand English TV shows or movies, or even just enjoys studying languages! TRANSCRIPT!! - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/11/29/incredibly-useful-english-idioms-ideal-for-business-english-ielts-study-abroad-and-more-english-vocabulary-lesson/ Contact Us!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] Vocabulary To accelerate (v) - to move more quickly, or to make something happen faster or sooner He accelerated rapidly to pass a car! Glitch (n) - a small problem or fault that prevents something from being successful or working as well as it should The system has been plagued with glitches ever since its launch! Initiative (n) - a new plan or process to achieve something or solve a problem The government launched their new education initiative last week! To blink (v) - when you blink, you close and then open your eyes quickly once or several times, and when an eye blinks, it does this You’ve got something in your eye - try blinking a few times! Standard (n) - a level of quality This essay is not of an acceptable standard - do it again! Manufacturer (n) - a company that produces goods in large numbers Japan is a major manufacturer of vehicles! Towering (adj) - very high or very great The baseball player hit a towering home run! Howling (adj) - (of wind) blowing hard and making a lot of noise The hurricane’s howling winds just missed the island! Gale (n) - a very strong wind Hundreds of old trees were blown down in the gales! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, we are going to look at the idea of free education. Should university be free? This question has been debated for many years. The costs have been rising every year, and more and more graduates are struggling with large amounts of debt. In particular, poorer students are normally those who need to borrow the most money. Should they be punished for wanting to educate themselves? Should taxpayers pay for the education of other people? All of these questions will be addressed in today’s episode of thinking in English! Full Transcript: https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/11/26/should-university-be-free-english-vocabulary-lesson/ Contact Us!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] Vocabulary Proportion (n) - the number or amount of something when compared to the whole Children make up a large proportion of the world’s population! Tuition (n) - teaching, especially when given to a small group or one person, such as in a college or university All students receive tuition in maths! To saddle with (Phrasal v) - to give someone a responsibility or problem that they do not want and thus will cause them a lot of work or difficulty The company is saddled with debt! Crippling (adj) - causing serious injuries or harm The bomb attack dealt a crippling blow to tourism in the country! Default (n) - a failure to do something, such as pay a debt, that you legally have to do Any default on your mortgage payments may mean you will lose your house! Burden (n) - something difficult or unpleasant that you have to deal with or worry about Buying a house is often a large financial burden on young people! Notably (adv) - important and deserving attention Other sports have had work stoppages, most notably baseball! Vocational (adj) - providing skills and education that prepare you for a job The school offers vocational programs in welding, electrical work, and construction Amenity (n) - something, such as a swimming pool or shopping centre, that is intended to make life more pleasant or comfortable for the people of a town, hotel, or other place The council is spending money on many new public amenities! Comprehension Questions Q. How much debt does the average UK graduate have? A. £40,000 Q. Name 3 things I mentioned that the GI bill paid for. A. 3 of the following - 22,000 dentists, 67,000 doctors, 91,000 scientists, 238,000 teachers, 240,000 accountants, 450,000 engineers, three Supreme Court Justices, three presidents , many congressmen, at least one Secretary of State, 14 Nobel Prize winners, at least 24 Pulitzer Prize winners, many entertainers Q. True or false. Bernie Sanders is an opponent of free education. A. False --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To celebrate the 25th episode of Thinking in English, today I've made a slightly different episode! I decided it's time to introduce myself to all of the listeners, let you know my background, and talk about why I started Thinking in English!! Transcript! - http://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/11/24/25-who-am-i-my-self-introduction-and-why-i-started-thinking-in-english-english-vocabulary-lesson/ Contact Us!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] Vocabulary List Milestone (n) - an important event in the development or history of something or in someone’s life We’ve been married now for 20 years, a real milestone Stereotypical (adj) - with the qualities that people usually expect of a particular type of person or thing, although this idea may be wrong Managers need to leave behind their stereotypical ideas about women Institution (n) - a large and important organization, such as a university or bank This institution is over 800 years old! To fascinate (v) - to interest someone a lot Science has always fascinated me! To comprehend (v) - to understand something completely He doesn’t seem to comprehend the scale of the problem! Colonial (adj) - relating to a colony or colonisation Various parts of Africa have suffered under colonial rule! Dissertation (n) - a long piece of writing on a particular subject, especially one that is done in order to receive a degree at college or university Ann did her dissertation on Karl Marx Immense (adj) - extremely large in size or degree They spent an immense amount of time getting the room ready for their guests! Indigenous (adj) - naturally existing in a place or country rather than arriving from another place The indigenous people of Australia have suffered for many years! To scupper (v) - to cause something such as a plan or an opportunity to fail Arriving late for the interview scuppered my chances of getting the job! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode I want to look at the future of transport! Virgin Hyperloop trialled their new technology earlier this month, raising a number of questions about how we will move around in the future. Will cars no longer be needed? How will we travel? Is hyperloop the solution? These questions, and more, will be answered on today’s episode of Thinking in English!! Transcript Available!!! - http://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/11/22/24-virgin-hyperloop-and-the-future-of-transportation-english-vocabulary-lesson/ Contact Us!!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] Vocabulary list urban (adj) - relating to towns and cities Over 82% of Texans live in urban areas congested (adj) - to be crowded or blocked; congested road have too much traffic and it is difficult to move Congested roads are normal on holiday weekends To trial (v) - to test something in a formal way to discover how effective or suitable it is We will trial the new drug in several hospitals Pod (n) - a detachable or self-contained unit on an aircraft, spacecraft, vehicle, or vessel, having a particular function The spacecraft has an escape pod for two people vacuum (n) - a space without any gas or other matter in it, or a space from which most of the air or gas has been removed Edison knew that he had to create a vacuum inside the lightbulb levitation (n) - the act of rising or floating, or making someone rise or float, in the air without any physical support Some superheroes have the power of levitation To exceed (v) - To be greater than a number or amount, or to go past an allowed limit The final cost should not exceed $5000 hypothetical (adj) - imagined or suggested but not necessarily real or true Estimated return is based on a hypothetical $1000 investment To project (v) - to calculate an amount or number expected in the future from information already known Government spending is projected to rise by three percent next year Comprehension Questions Q. What speed did this month's hyperloop test reach? A. 107 mph or 172 kmph Q. How long will it take you to travel from Abu Dhabi to Dubai using hyperloop? A. 12 minutes Q. Who first suggested the idea of hyperloop? A. Elon Musk --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode we will look at the recent announcement that the UK will ban all new fossil fuel powered vehicles by 2030! As part of the UK’s “green industrial revolution”, people will be encouraged to move to electric cars instead of petrol or diesel powered ones. What else is part of the “green new deal”? Does it go far enough? We’ll look at these questions and more in this episode of Thinking in English! Transcript!! - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/11/19/uk-bans-new-fossil-fuel-vehicles-by-2030/ Contact Us!!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] Vocabulary List fossil fuel (n) - fuels, such as gas, coal, and oil, that were formed underground from plant and animal remains millions of years ago Many governments around the world are trying to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy sources hybrid (n) - something that is a mixture of two very different things. So, a hybrid vehicle is a vehicle with an engine that used both petrol and another type of energy, usually electricity Most car manufactures now offer hybrids pole position (n) - the leading or best possible position The supermarket chain is aiming to gain pole position in chosen markets famine (n) - a situation in which there is not enough food for a great number of people, causing illness and death Another crop failure could result in widespread famine Drought (n) - a long period when there is little or no rain This year a severe drought has ruined the crops Emissions (n) - an amount of a substance that is produced and sent out into the air that is harmful to the environment, especially carbon dioxide There are many health risks caused by vehicle emissions Greenhouse gas (n) - one of several gases, especially carbon dioxide, that prevent heat from the earth escaping into space, causing the greenhouse effect We need a global system for limiting greenhouse gas emissions Subsidy (n) - money given as part of the cost of something, to help or encourage it to happen The company received a substantial government subsidy offshore (adj) - away from or at a distance from the coast The wind was blowing offshore pressing (adj) - urgent or needing to be dealt with immediately The most pressing question is what do we do next? Shadow (adj) - used in the title of important politicians in the main opposition party (= the party not in government): Shadow Foreign Secretary or Shadow Chancellor Comprehension Questions Q. Which country will ban fossil fuel cars 5 years before the UK? A. Norway Q. Road vehicles produce how much of the EU’s carbon dioxide emissions? A. Around 30% Q. Who is the UK’s shadow business secretary? A. Ed Miliband --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode we’ll look at the recently signed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which brings together 15 Asian and Oceanic countries into the largest free trade agreement in the world. We’ll discuss the idea of free trade, look at the details of the agreement, and finally think about some criticisms of RCEP! Transcript - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/11/18/22-the-worlds-largest-trade-deal-what-is-rcep-and-what-is-free-trade-english-vocabulary-lesson/ Contact Us!!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] Vocabulary List trade (n) - the activity of buying and selling, or exchanging, goods and/or services between people or countries 70 percent of the country’s trade is with Europe gross domestic product (n) - the total value of goods and services produced by a country in one year Apple makes more money than some countries' gross domestic products! Intricacy (n) - complicated details I enjoyed the film, but i couldn’t follow all the intricacies of the plot Imports (n) - goods bought by one country from another They have restrictions on foreign imports Exports (n) - a product that you sell in another country Coffee is one of Brazil’s main exports Tariff (n) - a charge or list of charges either for services or goods entering a country Prices and tariffs change all the time, so it’s difficult to say what you will get for your money Limitations (n) - if someone or something has limitations, they are not as good as they could be Despite his limitations as a manger, he always brings projects to completion on time Component (n) - a part that combines with other parts to from something bigger The factory supplies electrical components for cars Comprehension Questions! Q. How much of the global gross domestic product comes from RCEP members? A. Around 30% Q. What percentage of tariffs will RCEP eliminate? A. Up to 90% Q. Who criticised RCEP as being ‘low ambition’? A. Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode I want to introduce a few phrasal verbs that are suitable for formal English! Phrasal verbs can be confusing; are they formal or informal? How do we use them? When do we use them? Hopefully by the end of this episode you’ll be able to use seven phrasal verbs that are perfect for business, IELTS or TOEFL exams, and other formal situations! Transcript - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/11/15/21-phrasal-verbs-perfect-for-formal-situations-ideal-for-ielts-toefl-business-university-and-much-more-english-vocabulary-lesson/ Contact Us!!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - [email protected] Vocabulary List To distinguish (v) - to notice or understand the difference between two things, or to make one person or thing seem different from another It is important to distinguish between business and pleasure To specify (v) - to explain or describe something clearly and exactly He said we should meet but didn’t specify a time indirect (adj) - happening in addition to an intended result, often in a way that is complicated or not obvious Indirect effects of the war include disease and food shortages Boastful (adj) - praising yourself and what you have done He was confident, not boastful jet lag (n) - the feeling of tiredness and confusion that people experience after making a long journey by plane to a place where the time is different from the place they left Every time i fly to the USA, I get really bad jet lag Venture (n) - new activity, usually in business, that involves risk or uncertainty She advised us to look abroad for more lucrative business ventures To reduce (v) - to become or to make something become smaller in size, amount, degree, importance, etc Do nuclear weapons really reduce the risk of war? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices