Thinking in English

Latest Episodes:

A Guide to Insulting Boris Johnson (Using His Own Strange Vocabulary)! Jan 14, 2022

Show notes

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has found himself in the middle of another poltical scandal. A quick glance at twitter, newspapers, or even speeches in parliament will reveal countless insults aimed at Boris: a liar, disrespectful, an idiot. These insults are a little boring and repetitive. So I thought I'd make a guide for insulting Boris using some of his own unique vocabulary!

TRANSCRIPT -- https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2022/01/14/a-guide-to-insulting-boris-johnson/

Vocabulary List

Scores (plural n) - a lot of things or people

He received cards from scores of local supporters

Religiously (adv) - if you do something religiously, you do it regularly

He visits his father religiously every week

Phonetic (adj) - a spelling system can be described as phonetic if you can understand how words are pronounced simply by looking at their spelling

German is a largely phonetic language

Correspondence (n) - written communications such as letters and emails

He was ordered to supply copies of any correspondence between his office and the client

Barrier (n) - anything that prevents people from being together or understanding each other

Despite the language barriers, they soon became good friends

Tedious (adj) - boring

My last job was so tedious

Syntax (n) - the grammatical arrangement of words in a sentence

Donald Trump was well known for his incorrect syntax

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128. Should Novak Djokovic be Allowed to Stay in Australia? (English Vocabulary Lesson) Jan 10, 2022

Show notes

Currently stuck in an immigration detention hotel in Australia, and facing deportation, tennis superstar Novak Djokovic is at the centre of an immigration battle. So, should he be allowed to stay in Australia? Let’s talk about it on this episode of Thinking in English!!

TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2022/01/10/128-should-novak-djokovic-be-allowed-to-stay-in-australia/

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127. What is Happening in Kazakhstan?: Massive Protests Explained (English Vocabulary Lesson)

126. The Most Unstable Country in the World?: What is Happening in Sudan? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

125. New Zealand’s Smoking Ban Explained!!: Should We Ban Cigarettes?

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Vocabulary List

Saga (n) - a long complicated series of related, usually negative, events

It was just another episode in the ongoing saga of their marriage problems

Up in the air (phrase) - if a matter is up in the air, it is uncertain, often because other matters have to be decided first

The whole future of the project is still up in the air

Exemption (n) - special permission not to do or pay something

Religions qualify for tax exemptions on their income

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

She indicated to me that she was unhappy

To adopt (v) - to accept or start to use something new

The new tax would force companies to adopt energy-saving measures

Immune (adj) - protected against a particular disease by particular substances in the blood

Most people who’ve had chickenpox once are immune to it for the rest of their lives

To revoke (v) - to say officially that an agreement, permission, a law, etc. is no longer in effect

The authorities have revoked their original decision to allow the building of a new department store

Loophole (n) - a small mistake in an agreement or law that gives someone the chance to avoid having to do something

He used a loophole in the immigration law to stay in the USA

Notice (n) - information or a warning given about something that is going to happen in the future

The building is closed until further notice

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127. What is Happening in Kazakhstan?: Massive Protests Explained (English Vocabulary Lesson) Jan 07, 2022

Show notes

Massive protests, the resignation of the government, widespread violence, and Russian-led security forces. What is happening in Kazakhstan? Let’s talk about it on today’s episode of Thinking in English!!

TRANSCRIPT -- https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2022/01/07/127-what-is-happening-in-kazakhstan-massive-protests-explained-english-vocabulary-lesson%ef%bf%bc/

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126. The Most Unstable Country in the World?: What is Happening in Sudan? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

125. New Zealand’s Smoking Ban Explained!!: Should We Ban Cigarettes?

124. Who was Desmond Tutu?: The Life of an Extraordinary Man Explained!! (English Vocabulary Lesson)

123. Should We Boycott China’s Winter Olympics? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

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Vocabulary List

Take to the streets (phrase) - when people take to the streets, they express their opposition to something in public and often violently

Thousands of people have taken to the streets to protest against food shortages

Steppe (n) - a large area of land with grass but no trees, especially in eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia

The people have lived for centuries on the Central Asian steppes

Landlocked (adj) - Completely surrounded by other countries, with no ocean borders

Kazakhstan is the largest landlocked country

Swathe (n) - a large areas especially of land

Huge swathes of rainforest are being cleared for farming and mining

To emerge (v) - the become known or develop as a result of something

New business opportunities will emerge with advances in technology

Consolidated (adj) - made stronger and more certain

He was re-elected for another four years and his power was consolidated

To rock (v) - If an event rocks a group of people or society it causes feelings of shock

The managing director’s resignation rocked the whole company

Blackout (n) - an action taken to make certain that information about something is not reported to the public

There was a news blackout after the revolution

Peacekeeping (n) - the activity of preventing war and violence, especially using armed forces not involved in a disagreement to prevent fighting

The UN sent a peacekeeping force to Rwanda

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126. The Most Unstable Country in the World?: What is Happening in Sudan? (English Vocabulary Lesson) Jan 05, 2022

Show notes

What is the most unstable country in the world? How about a country with nearly 20 coups since becoming independent? A country with countless wars, massive corruption, and daily protests? A country with a Prime Minister who was appointed, arrested, reinstated, and then resigned in the space of a few months? Let’s talk about this country on today’s episode of Thinking in English!!

TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2022/01/05/126-the-most-unstable-country-in-the-world-what-is-happening-in-sudan-english-vocabulary-lesson%ef%bf%bc/

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124. Who was Desmond Tutu?: The Life of an Extraordinary Man Explained!! (English Vocabulary Lesson)

125. New Zealand’s Smoking Ban Explained!!: Should We Ban Cigarettes?

123. Should We Boycott China’s Winter Olympics? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

122. Ten Years of Kim Jong Un!: North Korea’s Last Decade Explained (English Vocabulary Lesson)

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Vocabulary List

To dissolve (v) - to end an official organisation or a legal arrangement

Parliament has been dissolved before the election

Coup (n) - a sudden illegal, often violent, taking of government power, especially by part of an army

Last year Myanmar’s government was overthrown by a military coup

Unstable (adj) - not firm and therefore not strong, safe, or likely to last

It is a politically unstable country

Consensus (n) - a generally accepted opinion, decision, or agreement among a group of people

The general consensus in the company is that the manager is a horrible person

Civilian (adj) - relating to a person who is not a member of the police or the armed forces

The army has been criticised for attacking the unarmed civilian population

To reinstate (v) - to give someone back their previous job or position

A month after being unfairly fired, he was reinstated in his job

Ungovernable (adj) - unable to be governed or controlled; uncontrollable

After an economic crisis, the state became ungovernable

To mount (v) - to organise and begin an activity or event

The lawyers are preparing to mount a defence of their client

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125. New Zealand’s Smoking Ban Explained!!: Should We Ban Cigarettes? Jan 03, 2022

Show notes

New Zealand recently announced a complete ban on cigarette sales for future generations. People born after 2008 will never be able to buy tobacco products in the country. Is this a good idea? Should other countries ban cigarettes? Or are there problems with such an approach? Let’s discuss this and more on today’s episode of Thinking in English!

TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2022/01/03/124-new-zealands-smoking-ban-explained-should-we-ban-cigarettes%ef%bf%bc/

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124. Who was Desmond Tutu?: The Life of an Extraordinary Man Explained!! (English Vocabulary Lesson)

Answering Your Questions!! The Future of the Podcast, How to Use the Word ‘Bloke,’ and Where do I Live!

123. Should We Boycott China’s Winter Olympics? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

122. Ten Years of Kim Jong Un!: North Korea’s Last Decade Explained (English Vocabulary Lesson)

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Vocabulary List

Upside (n) - the advantage of a situation

It’s annoying that I can’t go on vacation this year, but the upside is that I can save up money to go somewhere more expensive next year

Prevalence (n) - the fact that something is very common or happens often

The prevalence of obesity is increasing in children

Ubiquitous (adj) - seeming to be everywhere

The mobile phone is perhaps the most ubiquitous of all consumer-electronic appliances

To enact (v) - to put something into action, especially to make something a law

The government has failed to enact any serious environmental laws

To authorise (v) - to give someone official permission to do something

I authorised my bank to pay her £3000

Accompanying (adj) - appearing or going with someone or something else

Children under twelve require an accompanying parent or guardian to see the movie

Take (something) with a pinch of salt (idiom) - to not completely believe something that you are told, because you think it is unlikely to be true

You have to take everything you read on Facebook with a pinch of salt

Craving (n) - a strong feeling of wanting something

I have a craving for chocolate

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124. Who was Desmond Tutu?: The Life of an Extraordinary Man Explained!! (English Vocabulary Lesson) Dec 29, 2021

Show notes

On Sunday the 26th of December, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, South African anti-apartheid activist, and one of the world’s most loved religious leaders, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, sadly passed away at the age of 90. Today, I want to explain to you all a little bit about his life, what he did, and why he became one of the most respected, revered, and well known international figures.

TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/12/29/124-who-was-desmond-tutu-the-life-of-an-extraordinary-man-explained-english-vocabulary-lesson%ef%bf%bc/

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Answering Your Questions!! The Future of the Podcast, How to Use the Word ‘Bloke,’ and Where do I Live!

123. Should We Boycott China’s Winter Olympics? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

122. Ten Years of Kim Jong Un!: North Korea’s Last Decade Explained (English Vocabulary Lesson)

121. How to Start Your Own Country!!! (English Vocabulary Lesson)

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Vocabulary List

To wander (v) - to walk around slowly in a relaxed way or without any clear purpose or direction

We spent the afternoon wandering around the market stalls

Segregation (n) - the state of keeping groups of people separate due to race, religion, sex, etc

The policy has been criticised for allowing racial segregation

Discrimination (n) - treating a person or group of people differently, especially in a worse way from the way in which you treat other people, because of their skin colour, sex, sexuality, etc

Disabled people often experience discrimination

Routinely (adv) - used for describing what often or usually happens

Health and safety rules are routinely ignored

To subject (v) - cause or force someone or something to undergo a particularly unwelcome experience or treatment

He was subjected to a terrifying ordeal

Movement (n) - a group of people with a particular set of aims or ideas

The suffragette movement campaigned for votes for women

To advocate (v) - to publicly support or suggest an idea, development, or way of doing something

She advocates taking more vacation

To preside (v) - to be in charge of a formal meeting, ceremony, or trial

The judge presided over the official enquiry

To pardon (v) - If someone who has committed a crime is pardoned, that person is officially forgiven and their punishment is stopped

Large numbers of political prisoners have been pardoned by the new president

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Christmas Tongue Twisters! Dec 24, 2021

Show notes

Merry Christmas!! Let's practice our English pronunciation with some Christmas inspired tongue twisters!!

TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/12/24/christmas-tongue-twisters/

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Most Difficult English Pronunciation Poem!!: The Chaos (English Pronunciation Lesson)

Terrifyingly Troubling Tongue Twisters!: A Pronunciation Challenge

Tongue Twister Challenge!: English Pronunciation Practice

112. English Accents Explained!: Why do Language Learners Have Accents and Should We Care? (English Lesson)

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Seven Santas sang silly songs How many deer would a reindeer reign if a reindeer could reign deer? Running reindeer romp ’round red wreaths Kris Kringle clapped crisply Eleven elves licked eleven little liquorice lollipops. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support

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Answering Your Questions!! The Future of the Podcast, How to Use the Word 'Bloke,' and Where do I Live! Dec 22, 2021

Show notes

On today’s episode of Thinking in English, I’m going to answer some of your questions!!

TRANSCRIPT -- https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/12/22/answering-your-questions-the-future-of-the-podcast-how-to-use-the-word-bloke-and-where-do-i-live/

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122. Ten Years of Kim Jong Un!: North Korea’s Last Decade Explained (English Vocabulary Lesson)

121. How to Start Your Own Country!!! (English Vocabulary Lesson)

120. Bye Bye Queen!: Why Did Barbados Become a Republic? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

88. Why are the Tokyo 2020 Olympics so controversial? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

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123. Should We Boycott China’s Winter Olympics? (English Vocabulary Lesson) Dec 20, 2021

Show notes

On this episode of Thinking in English, let's discuss why the boycott has been declared, and if sporting boycotts are ever successful!

TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/12/20/123-should-we-boycott-chinas-winter-olympics-english-vocabulary-lesson%ef%bf%bc/

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122. Ten Years of Kim Jong Un!: North Korea’s Last Decade Explained (English Vocabulary Lesson)

121. How to Start Your Own Country!!! (English Vocabulary Lesson)

120. Bye Bye Queen!: Why Did Barbados Become a Republic? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

88. Why are the Tokyo 2020 Olympics so controversial? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

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

Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog

Gmail - thinkinginenglishpod@gmail.com

Vocabulary List

To boycott (v) - to refuse to buy a product or take part in an activity as a way of expressing strong disapproval

Many people boycotted the singer’s shows after he was accused of racism

Atrocity (n) - an extremely cruel, violent, or shocking act

The rebel army is accused of committing atrocities against women and children

Sterilisation (n) - the process of having a medical operation to make it impossible to have children

Although they discussed sterilisation, in the end they decided to just keep a careful eye on their dog!

Tantamount (adj) - being almost the same or having the same effect as something, usually something bad

Her refusal to answer was tantamount to an admission of guilt

Erroneous (adj) - wrong or false

The erroneous belief that the 2020 election was won by Donald Trump has caused a great deal of anger in the USA

Apartheid (n) - refers to a past South African system under which people of different races were legally separated and White people were given more political rights, education, and other advantages

Nelson Mandela was an important leader in the struggle against the apartheid regime

Cover up (phrasal v) - to keep something unpleasant or illegal secret or hidden

The police tries to cover up the truth

Isolation (n) - the state of being separate, or kept separate, from other people or things

Japan had a policy of isolation until the late 19th century

Symbolic (adj) - used to refer to an action that expresses or seems to express an intention or feeling, but has little practical influence on a situation

He knelt on the floor as a symbolic gesture

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