Thinking in English

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 - thinkinginenglishpod@gmail.com 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 - thinkinginenglishpod@gmail.com 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 - thinkinginenglishpod@gmail.com 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 - thinkinginenglishpod@gmail.com 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 - thinkinginenglishpod@gmail.com 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 - thinkinginenglishpod@gmail.com 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 - thinkinginenglishpod@gmail.com 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 - thinkinginenglishpod@gmail.com 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 - thinkinginenglishpod@gmail.com 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 - thinkinginenglishpod@gmail.com 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