Thinking in English

Latest Episodes:

167. What is a Recession? (English Vocabulary Lesson) Aug 29, 2022

Show notes

Support the Podcast and Join my Patreon HERE -- https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish

CLICK HERE TO DONATE OR SUPPORT THE PODCAST!!!! - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/donate-and-support/

Across the world, our economies are struggling with inflation, soaring energy prices, and the impact of Russia’s war in Ukraine! It is likely the many countries will enter a recession. But… what exactly is a recession? What causes recession? And how can we reverse a shrinking economy? Let’s answer these questions today, while learning some useful economic vocabulary!

TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2022/08/29/what-is-a-recession-english-vocabulary-lesson/

Vocabulary List

Market (n) – is the business or trade in a particular type of goods or services

The job market is strong right now

To shrink (v) – to become smaller, or to make something smaller

The company’s profits have shrunk from $10 million dollars last year, to just $2 million this year

Decline (n) – when something becomes less in amount, importance, quality, or strength

There is a decline in the number of unemployed people this month

Quarter (n) – one of four periods of time into which a year is divided for financial calculations

I pay my rent every quarter

Holistic (adj) – dealing with or treating the whole of something or someone and not just a part

My doctor takes a holistic approach to disease

Bubble (n) – a temporary period of very successful economic performance in a particular country or sector, often followed by sudden failure

There are worries that the current housing bubble may soon burst

Inflation (n) – a general, continuous increase in prices

Inflation in the UK has now reached 10%

Deficit (n) – the total amount by which money spent is more than money received

The country’s deficit is around $500 million

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Learn English from Podcasts! Aug 24, 2022

Show notes

Support the Podcast and Join my Patreon HERE -- https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish

CLICK HERE TO DONATE OR SUPPORT THE PODCAST!!!! - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/donate-and-support/

Podcasts are an excellent tool to help improve your English language ability… but are you using them correctly? Let’s learn how to make the most of Thinking in English and other podcasts!

TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2022/08/24/how-to-learn-english-from-podcasts/

Vocabulary List

To fall (v) – if a place falls in a war or an election, an enemy army or a different political party gets control of it

Rome fell in the year 455 AD

Repercussion (n) – the effect that an action, event, or decision has on something, especially a bad effect

He never thinks about the repercussions of his actions

Reliant (adj) – needing a particular thing or person in order to continue, to work correctly, or to succeed

The project is heavily reliant on volunteers

To freeze (v) – to officially and legally prevent money or property from being used or moved

The government froze the criminals’ assets

Violation (n) – an action that breaks or acts against something, especially a law, agreement, principle, or something that should be treated with respect

The invasion is a clear violation of international law

To diminish (v) -to reduce or be reduced in size of importance

Our house has diminished in value over the last six months

Malnutrition (n) -physical weakness and bad health caused by having too little food, or too little of the types of food necessary for good health

Many refugees are suffering from severe malnutrition

Insurgency (n) – an occasion when a group of people attempt to take control of their country by force

The government is reported to be concerned about the growing insurgency in the South

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

165. Why is Ireland Divided? (English Vocabulary Lesson) Aug 17, 2022

Show notes

Support the Podcast and Join my Patreon HERE -- https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish

CLICK HERE TO DONATE OR SUPPORT THE PODCAST!!!! - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/donate-and-support/

Why is Ireland divided? For just over 100 years, the Emerald Isle has been split between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland - part of the United Kingdom. The history of Ireland is complicated, fascinating, and sometimes controversial. Today, I want to talk about how Ireland became connected with the UK, discuss why Northern Ireland exists, and talk about the possibility of a future united Ireland!

TRANSCRIPT v

Vocabulary List

Be blessed with something (phrase) - to be lucky in having a particular thing

She is blessed with great intelligence

Settler (n) - a person who arrives in a new place in order to live there and use the land

The first settlers on that island came from Africa

Bronze age (n) - the time in the past when tools were made of bronze (a metal made of copper and tin), before iron was discovered

It is thought that Stonehenge was constructed during the Bronze Age

Clan (n) - a group of families who originally came from the same family and have the same name

The O’Brien clan was one of the most powerful clans in Ireland

Anglo- (prefix) - relating to England or the UK

Anglo-Saxons ruled England until the year 1066

To emigrate (v) - to leave a country permanently and go to live in another one

Millions of Germans emigrated to the Americas in the 19th century

Uprising (n) - an act of opposition, sometimes using violence, by many people in one area of a country against those who are in power

There was a popular uprising in the capital city

Unionist (n) - a person who supports Northern Ireland remaining part of the United Kingdom

The deal has been opposed by unionist politicians

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is Social Media Useful for Language Learning? w/ Stew Sensei (English Conversation) Aug 15, 2022

Show notes

Support the Podcast and Join my Patreon HERE -- https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish

CLICK HERE TO DONATE OR SUPPORT THE PODCAST!!!! - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/donate-and-support/

Is the content made by these English teachers actually useful for English learners? Or is it just designed to get the most views and likes? How should an English learner incorporate social media into their study routine? Today, we are going to try and answer these questions!

TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2022/08/15/is-social-media-useful-for-language-learning/

Vocabulary List

Repercussion (n) - the effect that an action, event, or decision had on something, especially a bad effect

The decrease in tourism has had serious repercussions for the local economy

To inhabit (v) - to live in a place

Those islands are inhabited only by birds

Indigenous (adj) - used to refer to the people who originally lived in a place rather than people who moved there from somewhere else

The indigenous people of Australia were discriminated against by the white settlers

Expedition (n) - an organised journey for a particular purpose

Hundreds of people have died on expeditions in the Himalayas

Dynasty (n) - a series of rulers or leaders who are all from the same family, or a period when a country is ruled by them

The Mogul dynasty ruled over India for centuries

Nationalist (adj) - wanting your country to be politically independent

In Asia, communists and nationalists battled for control in a number of countries

To retake (v) - to take something such as a place or position into your possession again, often by force, after losing possession of it

The military tried to retake power in 1999

To recognise (v) - to accept that something is legal, true, or important

Taiwan is only recognised by 13 countries

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My Trip To Fukushima (Preview of PATREON Exclusive Episode) Aug 05, 2022

Show notes

This is a preview of a new BONUS episode of Thinking in English available only on my Patreon page. Subscribe to the Patreon to listen to the full episode, access other bonus content and unedited interviews, participate in conversation clubs, and much more!

Join the Patreon here -

Support the Podcast and Join my Patreon HERE -- https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish

INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/)

Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

163. Are Dress Codes a Good Thing? (English Vocabulary Lesson) Aug 03, 2022

Show notes

Support the Podcast and Join my Patreon HERE -- https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish

CLICK HERE TO DONATE OR SUPPORT THE PODCAST!!!! - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/donate-and-support/

Dress codes are everywhere - at school, at work, in restaurants, and in religious institutions. But are they a good thing? Today, let’s take a look at the debate over dress codes!

TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2022/08/03/are-dress-codes-a-good-thing/

Vocabulary List

Scrubs (n) - loose clothes worn by doctors and nurses in a hospital

She came home wearing her doctor’s scrubs

Limitation (n) - the act of controlling or reducing, or something that controls or reduces something

There are strict limitations on where you can build houses in the UK

To indicate (v) - to show, point, or make clear in another way

Please indicate what course you would like to study on the application form

To enforce (v) - to make people obey a law

The new teacher had failed to enforce any sort of discipline

Synthetic (adj) - synthetic products are made from artificial substances, often copying a natural product

Clothing made from synthetic materials can catch fire easily

Inclusive (adj) - an inclusive group or organisation tries to include many different types of people and treat them all fairly and equally

Our aim is to create a fairer, more inclusive society

To violate (v) - to break or act against something, especially a law or rule

He violated the law with his business deals

To sexualise (v) - to see something or someone in sexual terms

She criticised the number of sexualised music videos being released by pop stars

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Becoming Bilingual, Feminism, and Inequality in Japan! w/ Sneakysmol (English Conversation) Aug 01, 2022

Show notes

Support the Podcast and Join my Patreon HERE -- https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish

CLICK HERE TO DONATE OR SUPPORT THE PODCAST!!!! - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/donate-and-support/

I am incredibly fortunate to be joined on the podcast by my friend Honoka – also known as @sneakysmol on Instagram.

Honoka was born and raised in Japan, but everyone assumes she is American due to her accent and native English level. We talked about how she was raised bilingual despite never living overseas, and Honoka gave some really useful advice on how to help children learn English naturally!

Honoka also runs a popular and bilingual Instagram page focused on Japanese feminism, so we also discussed Japan’s recent performance in the gender inequality rankings and tried to explain why Japan is so unequal.

TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2022/08/01/becoming-bilingual-feminism-and-inequality-in-japan-w-sneakysmol/