Thinking in English

On Sunday 15th August, the Taliban entered the capital city of Afghanistan and effectively took control of the country. Let’s look at what has happened in the last few days, how the US withdrawal has been criticised, and what the future of the country looks like! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/08/18/94-the-fall-of-afghanistan-what-is-happening-in-afghanistan-part-2-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT ME!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - thinkinginenglishpod@gmail.com Vocabulary List To fall (v) - if a place falls in a war, an enemy army gets control of it Rome fell to the Vandals in the year 455 Bloodshed (n) - killing and violence We must find a way to end the bloodshed Exodus (n) - the movement of a lot of people from a place There has been an exodus of workers from the villages to the towns Sensitive (adj) - needing to be treated with care or secrecy A government minister left hundreds of sensitive documents on the train Abject (adj) - extremely unhappy, poor, unsuccessful etc The government’s decision has been an abject failure To evacuate (v) - to move people from a dangerous place to somewhere safe A thousand people were evacuated from their homes following the floods To impose (v) - to officially force a rule, law, punishment Very high taxes have been imposed on cigarettes Humanitarian (adj, n) - involved in or connected with improving people’s lives and reducing suffering The UN is sending humanitarian aid to the worst affected areas --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you want to travel abroad, you need a passport. But why? Why do we need these little documents to leave our own country? When was the first passport used? When did modern passports develop? What is the future of passports? Let’s try to answer these questions on this episode of Thinking in English! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/08/16/93-why-do-we-need-passports-to-travel-a-history-of-the-passport-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT ME!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - thinkinginenglishpod@gmail.com Vocabulary list  Destination (n) - the place where someone is going or where something is being sent or taken The letter never reached its destination Prosperity (n) - the state of being successful and having a lot of money The war was followed by a period of peace and prosperity Prophet (n) - a person who speaks for God or a god Jesus is considered a Prophet by Christians To credit (v) - to publicly acknowledge someone’s role in the production or creation of something He is credited with inventing the the TV Maritime (adj) - connected with human activity at sea Venice was once an important maritime power To standardise (v) - to make things of the same type all have the same basic features Phone companies should standardise their charging cables Quirk (n) - something unusual, strange, or unexpected There is a quirk in the rules that allows tax free investment To embed (v) - to fix something firmly into something Computer chips are now embedded into all sorts of technology Ignorance (n) - lack of knowledge, understanding, or information about something Public ignorance about the disease is still a cause for concern --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the past few months, fighting and conflict in Afghanistan has been increasing. As the US leaves, the problems in the country seem to be multiplying. In this episode of Thinking in English, let’s discuss what’s happening in Afghanistan in more detail! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/08/11/92-what-is-happening-in-afghanistan-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - thinkinginenglishpod@gmail.com Vocabulary List To take over (phrasal v) - to begin to have control of something President Biden officially took over from President Trump in January 2021 Ally (n) - a country that has agreed officially to give help and support to another one, especially during a war During the First World War, Turkey and Germany were allies Solely (adv) - not involving anyone or anything else; only I am solely responsible for this podcast Insurgent (n) - someone who is fighting against the government in their own country The insurgents are about to enter the capital city To recapture (v) - to take something into your possession again, especially by force The army recaptures the town from the rebels Atrocity (n) - an extremely cruel, violent, or shocking act They have been arrested for committing atrocities against people Islamist (n) - a person or group who believes strongly in Islam, especially one who believes that Islam should influence political systems Islamist groups are growing stronger in the region Militant (adj) - engaged in warfare and combat The militant army is growing stronger Austere (adj) - very severe and unfriendly in manner He has an austere face --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People have always loved animals, and especially cats and dogs. They are the most popular pets around the world, and have even been worshipped as gods and used to help us work in the past. As they are so important to our societies, it is only natural that idioms surrounding cats and dogs have entered our languages and everyday vocabulary. So, today, I’m going to introduce you to 5 cat based idioms and 5 dog based idioms that you can apply to your daily lives! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/08/06/fat-cats-cat-naps-and-doggy-bags-dog-and-cat-idioms/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - thinkinginenglishpod@gmail.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Millions of people around the world are forced to flee their homes, abandon their belongings, and search for safety in countries away from their own country. However, there is a lot of confusion surrounding the rules, laws, and definitions of refugees and other similar people. So, in this episode of Thinking in English, let’s try to answer questions like who can be a refugee? What is the difference between a refugee, an asylum seeker, and a migrant? What protection are refugees entitled to receive? TRANSCRIPT -- https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/08/04/91-what-is-a-refugee-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - thinkinginenglishpod@gmail.com Vocabulary List To flee (v) - to escape by running away, especially because of danger or fear The criminal fled from the police To displace (v) - to force someone to leave their home The construction of a new airport will displace a whole town Well-founded (adj) - based on facts To qualify as a refugee you need to prove you have a well-founded fear of persecution To persecute (v) - to treat someone unfairly or cruelly over a long period of time because of their race, religion, or political beliefs His latest book is about the experience of being persecuted for his religion To abandon (v) - to leave a place, thing, or person, usually for ever We had to abandon the car due to the snowstorm To deport (v) - to force someone to leave a country, especially someone who has no legal right to be there or who has broken the law Thousands of illegal immigrants are caught and deported every year Eligible (adj) - having the necessary qualities or satisfying the necessary conditions Only people over 18 are eligible to vote Asylum (n) - protection or safety, especially that given by a government to people who have been forced to leave their own countries for their safety or because of war The athlete applied for asylum in Japan To grant (n) - to give or allow someone something, usually in an official way They granted her an entry visa Abject (adj) - the state of being extremely unhappy, poor, unsuccessful, etc They live in abject poverty --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The world of business is full of strange and often confusing abbreviations and acronyms. To be able to communicate effectively and successfully in an English language business environment, it is vital you learn what these phrases mean and, importantly, how to use them! So, in this episode of Thinking in English, I am going to introduce 10 of the most common and useful abbreviations that you can apply to your daily lives! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/07/30/10-business-abbreviations-advanced-english-vocabulary/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - thinkinginenglishpod@gmail.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever thought about why you work 5 days a week? Or 8 hours a day? Why are weekends only two days long? Research suggests that there could be real benefits to reducing employees working hours and shortening the working week. This episode is going to look at the history of working hours, and then discuss whether it would be better for everyone if our weekends were longer, and the time we spend in the office is reduced. TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/07/28/90-should-the-weekend-be-longer-the-four-day-working-week-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - thinkinginenglishpod@gmail.com Vocabulary List To entitle (v) - to give someone the right to do or have something Children and the elderly are entitled to cheap train tickets Trade union (n) - an organization that represents the people who work in a particular industry, protects their rights, and discusses their pay and working conditions with employers The government’s proposals have been strongly criticized by the trade unions To compensate (v) - to pay someone money in exchange for work done That company compensates their employees really well Productivity (n) - the rate at which a person, company, or country does useful work A pleasant working environment increases productivity Invoice (n) - a statement listing goods or services provided and their prices, used in business as a record of sale You need to have a copy of your original invoice if want a refund Obstacle (n) - something that blocks you so that movement, going forward, or action is prevented or made more difficult Money seems to be no obstacle Output (n) - an amount of something produced by a person, machine, factory, country, etc Last year manufacturing output fell by 14 percent Abundance (n) - a situation in which there is more than enough of something The area has an abundance of lakes, rivers and streams to swim in! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the last year and a half, the way people live, work, socialise, and much more, has completely changed. While we are beginning to return to normal in some ways, it is also possible that we will never return to the way things were before the pandemic. So, in this episode, let’s look at which country is currently the most ‘normal’ in the world? TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/07/26/89-what-is-the-most-normal-country-in-the-world-english-vocabulary-lesson/ You may also like... 84. Where is the Best Place to Live?: the Most ‘Liveable’ City 2021 (English Vocabulary Lesson) 74. Is Taiwan the Most Dangerous Place in the World? (English Vocabulary Lesson) 61. What is the Happiest Country in the World?: 2021 World Happiness Report (English Vocabulary Lesson) 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 Gmail - thinkinginenglishpod@gmail.com Vocabulary List Accustomed (adj) - familiar with something She quickly became accustomed to his strange sleeping pattern To invest in (v) - to put money, effort, time, etc. into something in order to improve it or get an advantage My favourite restaurant invested in iPads to make ordering easier Viable (adj) - able to work as intended or able to succeed With government restrictions, it is no longer viable to hold our event Extent (n) - amount We don’t know the extent of his injuries Normalcy (n) - the state of being normal (also said as normality) Now that the war is over, perhaps our region will return to normalcy Indicator (n) - something that shows what a situation is like Increasing sales is an indicator that the food industry is recovering congested (adj) - too much traffic and movement is difficult The roads are always congested on national holidays Conversely (adv) - in an opposite way Children from rich areas are encouraged to go to university. Conversely, children from poor areas don’t have as many opportunities Controversy (n) - a lot of disagreement or argument about something, usually because it affects or is important to many people There is a lot of controversy surrounding the Tokyo Olympics --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Food is something that unifies people across the world. Most people love to eat and to try new tastes and flavours. Food helps us connect with family, to socialise, and to feel happy. So, let’s learn some more advanced vocabulary to help you talk about food! Make sure you check out the transcript on thinkininenglish.blog and my Instagram page! TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/07/24/more-than-delicious-advanced-food-vocabulary-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - thinkinginenglishpod@gmail.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week is the beginning of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. While the Games are usually a time of excitement and joy, this time is different. Covid has changed everything. This episode of Thinking in English will introduce some information about the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, discuss why it is so controversial, and then present more general arguments about the benefits and negatives of hosting the Games TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/07/21/88-why-are-the-tokyo-2020-olympics-so-controversial-english-vocabulary-lesson/ CONTACT US!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - thinkinginenglishpod@gmail.com Vocabulary List Eagerly (adv) - In a way that shows that you want to do or have something very much, especially something interesting or enjoyable He eagerly accepted an invitation to the party To anticipate (v) - to imagine or expect that something will happen We don’t anticipate any trouble To safeguard (v) - to protect something from harm The union safeguards the interests of all its members Precarious (adj) - a precarious situation is likely to get worse After the bank collapsed, many customers are in a precarious financial position Peacetime (n) - a period of time when a country is not at war The country is buying more weapons even though we are in peacetime To revive (v) - to come or bring something back to life, health, existence, or use My plants revived as soon as I gave them some water Alternating (adj) - starting with one thing, then another thing, and then the first thing again He is always alternating between happy and sad To revitalize (v) - to give new life, energy, activity, or success to something Investment has revitalize this neighbourhood Stature (n) - the good reputation a person or organization has, based on their behaviour and ability He is an artist of great stature --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices