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Thinking in English

Thinking in English

Thomas Wilkinson 474 Episodes Aug 17, 2026

Thinking in English is a podcast for intermediate and advanced English learners who want to do more than just study grammar and vocabulary. Each episode explores fascinating topics, from politics, economics, and history to philosophy, science, and culture. Instead of simply learning English, this podcast helps you learn in English, expanding your knowledge and improving your language skills simultaneously.

Episodes

401. English Tests: Do They Improve Education? (English Vocabulary Lesson)
401. English Tests: Do They Improve Education? (English Vocabulary Lesson) Aug 17, 2026 1620 English tests are everywhere. Many of you listening to this episode will have spent (or currently are spending) months preparing for exams like IELTS, TOEFL, TOEIC, and the Cambridge English qualifications. Passing a proficiency test is often required if you want to study abroad, qualify for a new job, or move to another country. But do proficiency tests actually help you in your goal to become
400. History of Rio de Janeiro! (English Vocabulary Lesson)
400. History of Rio de Janeiro! (English Vocabulary Lesson) Aug 10, 2026 1505 Today I want to discuss the history of one of the most famous cities in South America: Rio de Janeiro. Rio is a city that had become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. It is known for its colourful carnival celebrations, the Christ the Redeemer statue and white beaches, and of course its association with football and samba music. Its history is also fascinating! To
399. What is the Resource Curse? Why Some of the World's Richest Countries Stay Poor (English Vocabulary Lesson)
399. What is the Resource Curse? Why Some of the World's Richest Countries Stay Poor (English Vocabulary Lesson) Aug 3, 2026 1769 Scientists have just discovered enormous deposits of gold, diamonds, copper, or the rare earth minerals that are in smartphones and electric cars beneath your country. Is this good news? Not necessarily. You might think that becoming “resource rich” is a great way for a country to become prosperous, but this not always the case. Some of the world's most resource-rich countries have struggled wit
398. Why Does Canada Speak French and English? (English Vocabulary Lesson)
398. Why Does Canada Speak French and English? (English Vocabulary Lesson) Jul 27, 2026 2024 Why does Canada speak both English and French? Why is Canada's head of state the King of the United Kingdom? Why didn't Canada become part of the United States when the rest of Britain’s North American colonies rebelled? Canada is one of the largest countries on Earth. It stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific, and all the way north to the Arctic. It has one of the world's wealthiest ec
397. Who Will Be the Next Prime Minister of the UK? (English Vocabulary Lesson)
397. Who Will Be the Next Prime Minister of the UK? (English Vocabulary Lesson) Jul 20, 2026 1896 In 2024, Keir Starmer became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom after leading the Labour Party to one of the biggest election victories in modern British history. Just two years later, he has announced his resignation… and Britain is once again preparing for a new leader. Since the Brexit referendum in 2016, the UK has gone through an unusually high number of prime ministers. Each has
396. 10 Years Language Learning: Lessons I'd Give My Younger Self (English Vocabulary Lesson)
396. 10 Years Language Learning: Lessons I'd Give My Younger Self (English Vocabulary Lesson) Jul 13, 2026 1738 In August 2016, I moved to a small town on the Japanese island of Shikoku. I had almost no Japanese ability and I didn't have an expectation that I'd stay very long in Japan. Maybe I'd stay in Japan for one year. 10 years later, though, I'm still in Japan. I'm now married. I have a daughter. I run a business from Japan. And I can live my entire life in Japanese if I need to. Looking back, there
395. What Was the USA Like in 1776? (English Vocabulary Lesson)
395. What Was the USA Like in 1776? (English Vocabulary Lesson) Jul 6, 2026 1710 When I think of the USA, I picture New York's skyscrapers, Hollywood movies, and Silicon Valley technology companies. I think of the world’s largest economy, and the most powerful country, with a population of more the 340 million people. But what was the USA like when it was first founded? This year, the US is celebrating the 250th anniversary since it declared independence from the British Em
394. How to Become a Confident English Speaker (English Vocabulary Lesson)
394. How to Become a Confident English Speaker (English Vocabulary Lesson) Jun 29, 2026 1766 What is confidence? What does a confident English speaker look like? And how can you become a confident speaker? This episode is going to try and answer some of these important questions. You might assume that someone with perfect grammar, a huge vocabulary, and a native-like accent will be a confident speaker. But that is not necessarily the case. Over the years, I've met English learners w
393. History of Football! (English Vocabulary Lesson)
393. History of Football! (English Vocabulary Lesson) Jun 22, 2026 1952 The World Cup is currently underway in North America, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to talk about football, or soccer depending on where you are from. And specifically, we are going to explore the history of the world’s most popular sport. Most people probably think football has always looked more or less the same. Two teams with eleven players. Referees and clear rules. Ninety-minu
392. History of Warsaw (English Vocabulary Lesson)
392. History of Warsaw (English Vocabulary Lesson) Jun 15, 2026 1650 Today, we’re going to talk about Warsaw. Warsaw is the capital of Poland and one of Europe’s most resilient cities. If you visit Warsaw today, you’ll find a modern and quickly developing European capital. There are skyscrapers, busy shopping streets, trendy cafés, and a growing economy. But history of city is dramatic and tragic. In this episode, I am going to explore the fascinating history of
391. Why Is the UAE Leaving OPEC? And What Is OPEC Anyway? (English Vocabulary Lesson)
391. Why Is the UAE Leaving OPEC? And What Is OPEC Anyway? (English Vocabulary Lesson) Jun 8, 2026 1296 The United Arab Emirates has announced that it is leaving OPEC (the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) after almost sixty years as a member. Why does this matter? Well, oil is still one of the most important resources in the world. The price of oil affects how much we pay for petrol, the cost of transporting food, airline tickets, electricity, and much more. When oil prices rise,
390. What are the “New” Seven Wonders of the World? (English Vocabulary Lesson)
390. What are the “New” Seven Wonders of the World? (English Vocabulary Lesson) Jun 1, 2026 1898 Thousands of years ago, Ancient Greek travellers created a list of the most extraordinary sights they encountered: the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. These included places like the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, and the Colossus of Rhodes. Today though, only one still survives: the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. So, in the early 2000s, a huge international campai

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