

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

Jul 12, 2023 • 26min
250. What is a Polyglot? And What Can We Learn from Polyglots? (English Vocabulary Lesson)
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While I’m struggling to learn Japanese, and all of you guys are trying your best to learn English, there are some people out there who can speak multiple different languages to a high level of proficiency. Today I want to look at these people, discuss how they can learn languages effectively, and discuss what we can learn form multilingual polyglots!
TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2023/07/12/250-what-is-a-polyglot-and-what-can-we-learn-from-polyglots-english-vocabulary-lesson/
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Vocabulary
Polyglot (n) - someone who can speak or use several different languages.
Multilingual (adj) - (of people or groups) able to use more than two languages for communication.
Repertoire (n) - the entire range of skills or aptitudes or devices used in a particular field or occupation.
Cognitive (adj) - connected with thinking or conscious mental processes.
Maintenance (n) - the process of keeping or continuing something or the work needed to keep something in good condition.
Aptitude (n) - a natural ability or skill.
Embrace (v) - to accept something enthusiastically.
To juggle (v) - to try to do two or more jobs or activities at the same time, because you do not have a lot of time.
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Jul 10, 2023 • 26min
249. Musk Vs Zuckerberg?: The Battle of the Tech Billionaires! (English Vocabulary Lesson)
Listen to Simple English News Daily - https://www.send7.org/
Check out the latest episode of Simple English News Daily - https://open.spotify.com/show/4QctJjCUuHefLzeZWDoXqc?si=d381def2ae9a4cb8
Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, two of the wealthiest and most influential men on the planet, are currently arguing. The reason? A new app called “Threads”! Let’s discuss this news today!
TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2023/07/10/249-musk-vs-zuckerberg-the-battle-of-the-tech-billionaires/
My Links
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Vocabulary
Founder (n) - someone who establishes an organization.
Rival (n) - a person, group, etc. competing with others for the same thing or in the same area.
Social media (n) - websites and computer programs that allow people to communicate and share information on the internet using a computer or mobile phone.
Platform (n) - a method of communication or entertainment, for example television, radio, or the internet.
To acquire (v) - to get or obtain something.
To rebrand (v) - to change the way that an organization, company, or product is seen by the public.
To take advantage of something (idiom) - to use an opportunity to achieve results, sometimes in an unfair way.
Backlash (n) - a strong feeling among a group of people in reaction to a change or recent events in society or politics.
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Jul 5, 2023 • 29min
248. How Long Does It Take to Learn English? (English Vocabulary Lesson)
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How long does it take to learn English? I’m sure every single person listening has thought about this question before. Today, let’s look at why we want to learn quickly, what it means to have “learned English”, the official estimates for length of time to learn English, and some factors that can affect the length of time you will spend studying!
TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2023/07/05/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-english-english-vocabulary-lesson/
My Links
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Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog
Vocabulary
Intensive (adj) - Involving or requiring great effort, focus, or concentration.
Proficiency (n) - Competence or skill in a particular field or area.
Language acquisition (n) - The process of learning and gaining fluency in a language.
Frameworks (n) - Structures or systems that provide a basis for understanding or organizing something.
Guidelines (n) - Recommendations or instructions that provide direction or advice.
Immersion (n) - Deep involvement or engagement in a particular activity or environment.
Aptitude (n) - Natural ability or talent for a specific skill or subject.
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Jul 3, 2023 • 27min
247. What is Affirmative Action? And Why Did the Supreme Court End It? (English Vocabulary Lesson)
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Last week, the US Supreme Court decided to end affirmative action – a policy that has helped millions of people from underrepresented communities enter top universities and get better jobs. Let’s discuss what affirmative action is, why the supreme court ruled it unconstitutional, and what could happen next!
TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2023/07/03/247-what-is-affirmative-action-and-why-did-the-supreme-court-end-it/
My Links
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Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog
Vocabulary
Race (n) - the idea that people can be divided into different groups based on physical characteristics that they are perceived to share such as skin colour, eye shape, etc.
Diversity (n) - the fact of many different types of things or people being included in something, a range of different things or people.
Discrimination (n) - treating a person or particular group of people differently, especially in a worse way from the way in which you treat other people, because of their race, gender, sexuality, etc.
To marginalise (v) - to treat someone or something as if they are not important.
Underrepresented (adj) - If a type of person or thing is underrepresented in a group or organization, there are not enough of them in it.
Preferential (adj) - used to say that something that someone is given is better than what other people receive.
Representation (n) - the fact of including different types of people, for example in films, politics, or sport, so that all different groups are represented.
A level playing field (idiom) - a situation in which everyone has the same chance of succeeding.
Extended Vocabulary List available
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Jun 28, 2023 • 28min
246. The History of Curry: From India to Britain and the World! (English Vocabulary Lesson)
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From the UK, to Japan, to the Caribbean, to the Pacific Islands, “curry” is one of the most popular and loved dishes around the world. For many people, it is synonymous with Indian food… but did you know that in India the term curry isn’t used in the same way. Today, let’s discuss what “curry” is, how it was invented, and how it has spread around the world!
TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2023/06/28/246-the-history-of-curry-from-india-to-britain-and-the-world/
My Links
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Vocabulary
Spice (n) - a substance made from a plant, used to give a special flavour to food.
Aromatic (adj) - strong, pleasant smelling, usually from food or drink.
Melting pot (n) - a place where many different people and ideas exist together, often mixing and producing something new.
Culinary (adj) – connected with cooking or kitchens.
Homogeneous (adj) - consisting of parts or people that are similar to each other or are of the same type.
Adequately (adv) - in a way that is enough or satisfactory for a particular purpose.
Flavour profile (phrase) - the specific combination and characteristics of flavours present in a particular dish or food.
Subcontinent (n) - a large area of land that is part of a continent, often referring to South Asia.
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Jun 26, 2023 • 24min
245. What is Happening in Russia?: Mutiny and the Wagner Group! (English Vocabulary Lesson)
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Over the weekend, the leader of the Wagner Group of mercenaries started a mutiny in Russia. What happened? What is the Wagner Group? Who is Yevgeny Prigozhin? Why was there and conflict? And what does this mean for Vladimir Putin, the Ukraine war, and the future of the Wagner Group? Let’s discuss this all today!
TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2023/06/26/245-what-is-happening-in-russia-mutiny-and-the-wagner-group/
My Links
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Vocabulary
Mercenary (n) - a soldier who fights for any country or group that pays them.
Mutiny (n) - an occasion when a group of people, especially soldiers or sailors, refuses to obey orders and/or attempts to take control from people in authority.
Insurrection (n) - an organized attempt by a group of people to defeat their government and take control of their country, usually by violence.
Occupied (adj) - An occupied place is being controlled by an army or group of people that has moved into it.
To reclaim (v) - to take back something that was yours.
Plausible deniability (phrase) - the ability of someone to deny any knowledge or involvement in a particular action or event, especially in a way that seems believable or credible.
Incompetence (n) - lack of ability to do something successfully or as it should be done.
To operate (v) - to do business in or from a particular place.
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Jun 21, 2023 • 28min
244. Why is Hawaii part of the United States? (English Vocabulary Lesson)
Listen to Simple English News Daily - https://www.send7.org/
Check out the latest episode of Simple English News Daily - https://open.spotify.com/show/4QctJjCUuHefLzeZWDoXqc?si=d381def2ae9a4cb8
The United States has 50 states, and today I want to discuss why (and how) Hawaii became the most recent to join the union. An island chain in the Pacific, far from the contiguous United States, the story of how Hawaii became “American” is fascinating and controversial!
TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2023/06/21/244-why-is-hawaii-part-of-the-united-states/
My Links
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Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog
Vocabulary
State (n) - a part of a large country with its own government, such as in Germany, Australia, or the US.
Contiguous (adj) - next to or touching another, usually similar, thing.
Expansion (n) - the action of becoming larger or more extensive.
Acquisition (n) - something that someone buys or gets, often to add to a collection of things.
Plantation (n) - a large farm, especially in a hot part of the world, on which a particular type of crop is grown.
To annex (v) - to take possession of an area of land or a country, usually by force or without permission.
Restoration (n) - the act or process of returning something to its earlier good condition or position, or to its owner.
Territory (n) - (especially in Australia, Canada, and the United States) a large area that has some local government but fewer rights than a province or a state.
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Jun 19, 2023 • 23min
243. Animals That May (or May Not) Exist: What is a Cryptid? (English Vocabulary Lesson)
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Have we discovered every single animal on our planet? What about the legends and myths of strange creatures in locations around the world? Today I want to talk about the unusual world of “cryptids.” I’ll discuss some animals that were once considered to be myths or impossible, but were eventually proven to be real, and suggest a few animals that may exist today!
TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2023/06/19/243-animals-that-may-or-may-not-exist/
My Links
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Vocabulary
Creature (n) - used to refer to a life form that is unusual or imaginary.
Mythical (adj) - existing only in stories.
Outlandish (adj) - strange and unusual and difficult to accept or like.
Legend (n) - a very old story or set of stories from ancient times, or the stories, not always true, that people tell about a famous event or person.
Extinct (adj) – not now existing.
Shed light on something (idiom) - Something or someone that sheds light on a situation provides an explanation for it or information that makes it easier to understand.
Elusive (adj) - difficult to describe, find, achieve, or remember.
Conclusive (adj) - proving that something is true or ending any doubt.
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4 snips
Jun 14, 2023 • 26min
242. The History of Sushi: Japan’s Most Famous Cuisine! (English Vocabulary Lesson)
English Learning for Curious Minds - https://www.leonardoenglish.com/podcasts
Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0Hqh7seQDFP0K41GMa40aL?si=08262f6581114262
If you think about Japanese food, probably the first dish that comes to mind is sushi. But would it surprise you to know that sushi today is vastly different from just a few hundred years ago? Today, let’s talk about how a fermented fish dish from China evolved into the national food of Japan!
TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2023/06/14/242-the-history-of-sushi-japans-most-famous-cuisine-english-vocabulary-lesson/
My Links
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Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog
Vocabulary
Cuisine (n) - a style of cooking
Raw (adj) - (of food) not cooked.
Refrigerate (v) - to make or keep something, especially food or drink, cold so that it stays fresh, usually in a fridge.
Preserve (v) - to treat food in a particular way so that it can be kept for a long time without going bad.
Ferment (v) - If food or drink ferments or if you ferment it, it goes through a chemical change because of the action of yeast or bacteria, which may cause it to produce bubbles or heat, or turn sugars in it into alcohol.
Predecessor (n) - something that comes before another thing in time or in a series.
Parasite (n) - an animal or plant that lives on or in another animal or plant of a different type and feeds from it.
Authentic (adj) - If something is authentic, it is real, true, or what people say it is.
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Jun 12, 2023 • 24min
241. What is Environmental Terrorism?: The Collapse of Ukraine’s Largest Dam! (English Vocabulary Lesson)
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The largest dam in Ukraine collapsed, and it is likely the disaster was due to a deliberate attack. If it was deliberate, it would one of the most severe acts of environmental terrorism in history. Let’s discuss the collapse, talk about environmental terrorism, and discuss the risks and history of destroying the environment in war and conflicts!
TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2023/06/12/241-what-is-environmental-terrorism/
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Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog
Vocabulary
Dam (n) - a wall built across a river that stops the river's flow and collects the water, especially to make a reservoir (= an artificial lake) that provides water for an area.
Collapse (v) - to fall down suddenly because of pressure or having no strength or support.
Counter-offensive (n) - a set of attacks that defend against enemy attacks.
Blow (something) up (phrasal v) - to destroy something or kill someone with a bomb, or to be destroyed or killed by a bomb.
Contaminate (v) - to make something less pure or make it poisonous.
Ecological (adj) - relating to ecology (= the relationship between living things and their environment) or the environment.
Destructive (adj) - causing great and irreparable damage.
Flooding (n) - the condition of becoming filled or covered with a large amount of water.
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