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Thinking in English

Thinking in English

Thomas Wilkinson 474 Episodes Oct 12, 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

409. The World Map Is Changing  (English Vocabulary Lesson)
409. The World Map Is Changing (English Vocabulary Lesson) Oct 12, 2026 1442 The United Nations has recently voted to adopt a new world map. The UN now supports the Equal Earth map which tries to represent the relative size of continents and countries more accurately. If you compare the Equal Earth projection with the traditional Mercator projection (I’ll explain these later in the episode, don’t worry), you will notice that Africa is much larger, Greenland and Antarcti
408. The Bayeux Tapestry (English Vocabulary Lesson)
408. The Bayeux Tapestry (English Vocabulary Lesson) Oct 5, 2026 1513 Today, we’re going to talk about one of the most famous historical objects in the world: the Bayeux Tapestry. The Bayeux Tapestry is a huge piece of embroidered cloth, about 70 metres long, covered with pictures showing kings, soldiers, ships, horses and battles. It was created almost 1,000 years ago and tells the story of the Norman Conquest of England in the year 1066. The Bayeux Tapestry
407. Is British Food Really Bad? (English Vocabulary Lesson)
407. Is British Food Really Bad? (English Vocabulary Lesson) Sep 28, 2026 1859 British food has a bit of a reputation. I’m sure that for a lot of you, the words “British food” brings to mind boiled vegetables, overcooked meat, greasy breakfasts, and meals that are, above all, rather bland. British cuisine is often compared unfavourably with the food of countries such as France, Italy, Spain, or Japan. There is a common idea that while other countries have sophisticated cu
406. Where Is the BEST Place to Study English? (English Vocabulary Lesson)
406. Where Is the BEST Place to Study English? (English Vocabulary Lesson) Sep 21, 2026 1783 Where is the best place to study English? Is it better to move to Britain, the US, or another English-speaking country, or can you learn just as effectively at home? Does studying in person produce better results than studying online? Is a private one-to-one class better than a small group or a large class? What about structured lessons that teach grammar and vocabulary compared with conversati
405. History of Singapore! (English Vocabulary Lesson)
405. History of Singapore! (English Vocabulary Lesson) Sep 14, 2026 1625 Singapore is one of the wealthiest and most modern countries in the world, but that wasn’t always the case. Today, I want to discuss the history of Singapore. We'll look at its early role in Asian trade, British colonial rule, the Japanese occupation, independence, and its transformation into one of the world's richest and most developed countries. We'll also explore the political and social mod
404. What is Corruption? (English Vocabulary Lesson)
404. What is Corruption? (English Vocabulary Lesson) Sep 7, 2026 1823 What is corruption? Corruption or corrupt are words that I use quite often in my episodes… but what is corruption? What forms does it take? Why does corruption happen, what damage does it cause, and why can it be so difficult to stop? In this episode, we are going to look at different types of corruption, the political and economic conditions that allow it to develop, and some of the consequence
403. What is a Growth Mindset? (English Vocabulary Lesson)
403. What is a Growth Mindset? (English Vocabulary Lesson) Aug 31, 2026 1450 Some people see failure as proof that they aren’t good at something. Others see it as an opportunity to improve. Why? Today I want to try and answer this question by thinking about “growth mindsets”. The growth mindset concept suggests that our abilities aren’t completely fixed, and that we can improve through practice and effort. We are going to look at what a growth mindset means, how it affec
402. France is Bigger Than You Think! (English Vocabulary Lesson)
402. France is Bigger Than You Think! (English Vocabulary Lesson) Aug 24, 2026 2030 Which country shares the longest border with France? I think most people would say Spain. Spain is right next to France in Europe. Or perhaps you might have said Belgium, Switzerland, or Italy. But the answer is actually Brazil. Yes, Brazil. France and Brazil share a border of more than 700 kilometres. The reason is French Guiana, a territory on the northeastern coast of South America which is o
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

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