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Thinking in English

Thinking in English

Thomas Wilkinson 474 Episodes Sep 14, 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

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
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

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