Thinking in English

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411. Why Is Trump Renaming Places? (English Vocabulary Lesson) Oct 26, 2026

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There is a large lake between New York State in the USA and the Canadian Province of Ontario. Do you know what it is called?

Lake Ontario is the name the lake has been known by for centuries. But if you look at an official map produced by the United States government, you may now see a different name: Lake America.

In August 2026, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the US government to use the name “Lake America” instead of “Lake Ontario.” This isn't the first geographical name Trump has changed. Earlier in his presidency, Trump ordered the US government to use “Gulf of America” instead of the traditional name “Gulf of Mexico” for the large body of water between the United States and Mexico.

Why does a president care so much about what we call a lake or a gulf?

In this episode, I want to explore the power of names. Why do governments rename places? Who has the authority to decide what a place should be called? And what happens when two countries use completely different names for the same place?

Let’s talk about this, while improving your English listening comprehension and learning some new vocabulary!

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410. Why Spain Is Banning Evictions? (Vocabulary in the News) Oct 19, 2026

Show notes

Today, we're trying something a little different. This is a vocabulary-focused episode based on a recent news story, where we'll take one interesting event and use it to learn useful English words and expressions in context.

Our story today comes from Spain, where an eviction involving an 87-year-old woman has led to large protests and a national debate about the country's housing crisis.

We'll look at what happened, why housing has become such a serious issue in Spain, and along the way, we'll learn vocabulary related to housing, economics, politics, and protest. I'll first explain the story and the wider context, and then we'll break down some of the most useful vocabulary from the story, looking at what these words mean, how they're used, and how you can use them yourself.

So, let's begin with the story of an 87-year-old woman, an apartment in Madrid, and a housing crisis affecting millions of people.

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00:00 Introduction

01:36 Spain Eviction Story

04:38 Vocabulary: Eviction

05:41 Vocabulary: Landlords & Tenants

06:38 Vocabulary: Rent

07:34 Vocabulary: Housing Shortage

08:28 Vocabulary: Afford

10:43 Vocabulary: Intervene

11:31 Vocabulary: Speculative

12:40 Vocabulary: Vulture Fund

13:44 Vocabulary: Roll Over

14:18 Vocabulary: Approve

14:45 Vocabulary: Lack a Majority

15:50 Vocabulary: Protest

16:52 Vocabulary: Strike a Balance

17:42 Big Picture Discussion

18:54 Final Thought

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409. The World Map Is Changing (English Vocabulary Lesson) Oct 12, 2026

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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 Antarctica are much smaller, and some countries have shifted slightly in their position.

So, why did the UN vote to change the map? And was the old map actually wrong?

Today, we're going to look at why our maps of the world look the way they do, why the famous Mercator projection has some major problems, what Equal Earth does differently, and whether it is possible to create a completely accurate map of the world.

And we will practice you English listening comprehension and learn some new vocabulary along the way!

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408. The Bayeux Tapestry (English Vocabulary Lesson) Oct 05, 2026

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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 is in the news right now because it has travelled to Britain. The tapestry normally lives in the French town of Bayeux, but it is currently being displayed at the British Museum in London. This is the first time in nearly 1000 years that the tapestry returned to Britain.

What exactly happened in 1066? Who were the people fighting for the English throne? Why did the Normans invade England? And how reliable is the Bayeux Tapestry as a source of historical information?

Let’s talk about some British history while improving our English listening comprehension and learning some new vocabulary!

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407. Is British Food Really Bad? (English Vocabulary Lesson) Sep 28, 2026

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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 culinary traditions, Britain somehow missed out.

This stereotype is not completely new. British people themselves have made jokes about their country's food for years. British comedy is full of references to terrible meals.

But why exactly did this reputation develop? And is it actually true?

So, let's talk about British food while improving our English listening comprehension and learning some new vocabulary!

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406. Where Is the BEST Place to Study English? (English Vocabulary Lesson) Sep 21, 2026

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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 conversation-focused classes?

In this episode, we’re going to look at the research behind these questions and try to work out what makes an English-learning environment effective. The goal of the episode is to explore what combination of place, teaching, interaction, and practice gives you the best chance of improving your English!

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405. History of Singapore! (English Vocabulary Lesson) Sep 14, 2026

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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 model behind Singapore's success and ask whether its unique approach can continue into the future.

At the same time, we will learn some new vocabulary and practice our English listening comprehension at the same time.

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404. What is Corruption? (English Vocabulary Lesson) Sep 07, 2026

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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 consequences for ordinary people and society. We'll also look at three famous corruption scandals: the 1MDB scandal in Malaysia, the Siemens bribery scandal, and the huge corruption scandal that shook FIFA in 2015.

So, let's understand corruption while improving our English listening comprehension and learning some new vocabulary!

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403. What is a Growth Mindset? (English Vocabulary Lesson) Aug 31, 2026

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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 affects learning, and why it can be particularly important when learning a language. And at the same time, we will practice our English listening comprehension and learn some new vocabulary!

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402. France is Bigger Than You Think! (English Vocabulary Lesson) Aug 24, 2026

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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 officially part of France.

French Guiana isn't the only surprising part of France. France has territories and departments in the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, the Pacific, and South America. People living in many of these places are French citizens. They can vote in French elections, use the euro, and in some cases are part of the European Union.

How did France end up with territory on several different continents? Why are these places still part of France, while many former British colonies became independent countries? And do the people living in these territories want to be French?

In this episode, we're going to explore Overseas France and learn some new English vocabulary along the way!

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