Thinking in English

Latest Episodes:

93. Why Do We Need Passports to Travel?: A history of the passport! (English Vocabulary Lesson) Aug 16, 2021

Show notes

If you want to travel abroad, you need a passport. But why? Why do we need these little documents to leave our own country? When was the first passport used? When did modern passports develop? What is the future of passports? Let’s try to answer these questions on this episode of Thinking in English!

TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/08/16/93-why-do-we-need-passports-to-travel-a-history-of-the-passport-english-vocabulary-lesson/

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Vocabulary list

Destination (n) - the place where someone is going or where something is being sent or taken

The letter never reached its destination

Prosperity (n) - the state of being successful and having a lot of money

The war was followed by a period of peace and prosperity

Prophet (n) - a person who speaks for God or a god

Jesus is considered a Prophet by Christians

To credit (v) - to publicly acknowledge someone’s role in the production or creation of something

He is credited with inventing the the TV

Maritime (adj) - connected with human activity at sea

Venice was once an important maritime power

To standardise (v) - to make things of the same type all have the same basic features

Phone companies should standardise their charging cables

Quirk (n) - something unusual, strange, or unexpected

There is a quirk in the rules that allows tax free investment

To embed (v) - to fix something firmly into something

Computer chips are now embedded into all sorts of technology

Ignorance (n) - lack of knowledge, understanding, or information about something

Public ignorance about the disease is still a cause for concern

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92. What is happening in Afghanistan? (English Vocabulary Lesson) Aug 11, 2021

Show notes

Over the past few months, fighting and conflict in Afghanistan has been increasing. As the US leaves, the problems in the country seem to be multiplying. In this episode of Thinking in English, let’s discuss what’s happening in Afghanistan in more detail!

TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/08/11/92-what-is-happening-in-afghanistan-english-vocabulary-lesson/

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Vocabulary List

To take over (phrasal v) - to begin to have control of something

President Biden officially took over from President Trump in January 2021

Ally (n) - a country that has agreed officially to give help and support to another one, especially during a war

During the First World War, Turkey and Germany were allies

Solely (adv) - not involving anyone or anything else; only

I am solely responsible for this podcast

Insurgent (n) - someone who is fighting against the government in their own country

The insurgents are about to enter the capital city

To recapture (v) - to take something into your possession again, especially by force

The army recaptures the town from the rebels

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

They have been arrested for committing atrocities against people

Islamist (n) - a person or group who believes strongly in Islam, especially one who believes that Islam should influence political systems

Islamist groups are growing stronger in the region

Militant (adj) - engaged in warfare and combat

The militant army is growing stronger

Austere (adj) - very severe and unfriendly in manner

He has an austere face

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‘Fat Cats,’ ‘Cat Naps,’ and ‘Doggy Bags’: Dog and Cat Idioms! Aug 06, 2021

Show notes

People have always loved animals, and especially cats and dogs. They are the most popular pets around the world, and have even been worshipped as gods and used to help us work in the past. As they are so important to our societies, it is only natural that idioms surrounding cats and dogs have entered our languages and everyday vocabulary. So, today, I’m going to introduce you to 5 cat based idioms and 5 dog based idioms that you can apply to your daily lives!

TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/08/06/fat-cats-cat-naps-and-doggy-bags-dog-and-cat-idioms/

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91. What is a refugee? (English Vocabulary Lesson) Aug 04, 2021

Show notes

Millions of people around the world are forced to flee their homes, abandon their belongings, and search for safety in countries away from their own country. However, there is a lot of confusion surrounding the rules, laws, and definitions of refugees and other similar people. So, in this episode of Thinking in English, let’s try to answer questions like who can be a refugee? What is the difference between a refugee, an asylum seeker, and a migrant? What protection are refugees entitled to receive?

TRANSCRIPT -- https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/08/04/91-what-is-a-refugee-english-vocabulary-lesson/

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Vocabulary List

To flee (v) - to escape by running away, especially because of danger or fear

The criminal fled from the police

To displace (v) - to force someone to leave their home

The construction of a new airport will displace a whole town

Well-founded (adj) - based on facts

To qualify as a refugee you need to prove you have a well-founded fear of persecution

To persecute (v) - to treat someone unfairly or cruelly over a long period of time because of their race, religion, or political beliefs

His latest book is about the experience of being persecuted for his religion

To abandon (v) - to leave a place, thing, or person, usually for ever

We had to abandon the car due to the snowstorm

To deport (v) - to force someone to leave a country, especially someone who has no legal right to be there or who has broken the law

Thousands of illegal immigrants are caught and deported every year

Eligible (adj) - having the necessary qualities or satisfying the necessary conditions

Only people over 18 are eligible to vote

Asylum (n) - protection or safety, especially that given by a government to people who have been forced to leave their own countries for their safety or because of war

The athlete applied for asylum in Japan

To grant (n) - to give or allow someone something, usually in an official way

They granted her an entry visa

Abject (adj) - the state of being extremely unhappy, poor, unsuccessful, etc

They live in abject poverty

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10 Business Abbreviations! (Advanced English Vocabulary) Jul 30, 2021

Show notes

The world of business is full of strange and often confusing abbreviations and acronyms. To be able to communicate effectively and successfully in an English language business environment, it is vital you learn what these phrases mean and, importantly, how to use them! So, in this episode of Thinking in English, I am going to introduce 10 of the most common and useful abbreviations that you can apply to your daily lives!

TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/07/30/10-business-abbreviations-advanced-english-vocabulary/

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90. Should the Weekend be Longer?: The Four Day Working Week (English Vocabulary Lesson) Jul 28, 2021

Show notes

Have you ever thought about why you work 5 days a week? Or 8 hours a day? Why are weekends only two days long? Research suggests that there could be real benefits to reducing employees working hours and shortening the working week. This episode is going to look at the history of working hours, and then discuss whether it would be better for everyone if our weekends were longer, and the time we spend in the office is reduced.

TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/07/28/90-should-the-weekend-be-longer-the-four-day-working-week-english-vocabulary-lesson/

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Vocabulary List

To entitle (v) - to give someone the right to do or have something

Children and the elderly are entitled to cheap train tickets

Trade union (n) - an organization that represents the people who work in a particular industry, protects their rights, and discusses their pay and working conditions with employers

The government’s proposals have been strongly criticized by the trade unions

To compensate (v) - to pay someone money in exchange for work done

That company compensates their employees really well

Productivity (n) - the rate at which a person, company, or country does useful work

A pleasant working environment increases productivity

Invoice (n) - a statement listing goods or services provided and their prices, used in business as a record of sale

You need to have a copy of your original invoice if want a refund

Obstacle (n) - something that blocks you so that movement, going forward, or action is prevented or made more difficult

Money seems to be no obstacle

Output (n) - an amount of something produced by a person, machine, factory, country, etc

Last year manufacturing output fell by 14 percent

Abundance (n) - a situation in which there is more than enough of something

The area has an abundance of lakes, rivers and streams to swim in!

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89. What is the most ‘normal’ country in the world? (English Vocabulary Lesson) Jul 26, 2021

Show notes

Over the last year and a half, the way people live, work, socialise, and much more, has completely changed. While we are beginning to return to normal in some ways, it is also possible that we will never return to the way things were before the pandemic. So, in this episode, let’s look at which country is currently the most ‘normal’ in the world?

TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/07/26/89-what-is-the-most-normal-country-in-the-world-english-vocabulary-lesson/

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84. Where is the Best Place to Live?: the Most ‘Liveable’ City 2021 (English Vocabulary Lesson)

74. Is Taiwan the Most Dangerous Place in the World? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

61. What is the Happiest Country in the World?: 2021 Worl d Happiness Report (English Vocabulary Lesson)

40. What is t he Most Expensive City in the World? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

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Vocabulary List

Accustomed (adj) - familiar with something

She quickly became accustomed to his strange sleeping pattern

To invest in (v) - to put money, effort, time, etc. into something in order to improve it or get an advantage

My favourite restaurant invested in iPads to make ordering easier

Viable (adj) - able to work as intended or able to succeed

With government restrictions, it is no longer viable to hold our event

Extent (n) - amount

We don’t know the extent of his injuries

Normalcy (n) - the state of being normal (also said as normality)

Now that the war is over, perhaps our region will return to normalcy

Indicator (n) - something that shows what a situation is like

Increasing sales is an indicator that the food industry is recovering

congested (adj) - too much traffic and movement is difficult

The roads are always congested on national holidays

Conversely (adv) - in an opposite way

Children from rich areas are encouraged to go to university. Conversely, children from poor areas don’t have as many opportunities

Controversy (n) - a lot of disagreement or argument about something, usually because it affects or is important to many people

There is a lot of controversy surrounding the Tokyo Olympics

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More than delicious: Advanced Food Vocabulary (English Vocabulary Lesson) Jul 23, 2021

Show notes

Food is something that unifies people across the world. Most people love to eat and to try new tastes and flavours. Food helps us connect with family, to socialise, and to feel happy. So, let’s learn some more advanced vocabulary to help you talk about food! Make sure you check out the transcript on thinkininenglish.blog and my Instagram page!

TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/07/24/more-than-delicious-advanced-food-vocabulary-english-vocabulary-lesson/

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88. Why are the Tokyo 2020 Olympics so controversial? (English Vocabulary Lesson) Jul 21, 2021

Show notes

This week is the beginning of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. While the Games are usually a time of excitement and joy, this time is different. Covid has changed everything. This episode of Thinking in English will introduce some information about the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, discuss why it is so controversial, and then present more general arguments about the benefits and negatives of hosting the Games

TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/07/21/88-why-are-the-tokyo-2020-olympics-so-controversial-english-vocabulary-lesson/

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Vocabulary List

Eagerly (adv) - In a way that shows that you want to do or have something very much, especially something interesting or enjoyable

He eagerly accepted an invitation to the party

To anticipate (v) - to imagine or expect that something will happen

We don’t anticipate any trouble

To safeguard (v) - to protect something from harm

The union safeguards the interests of all its members

Precarious (adj) - a precarious situation is likely to get worse

After the bank collapsed, many customers are in a precarious financial position

Peacetime (n) - a period of time when a country is not at war

The country is buying more weapons even though we are in peacetime

To revive (v) - to come or bring something back to life, health, existence, or use

My plants revived as soon as I gave them some water

Alternating (adj) - starting with one thing, then another thing, and then the first thing again

He is always alternating between happy and sad

To revitalize (v) - to give new life, energy, activity, or success to something

Investment has revitalize this neighbourhood

Stature (n) - the good reputation a person or organization has, based on their behaviour and ability

He is an artist of great stature

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87. How to Move Country in the Middle of a Pandemic! Jul 19, 2021

Show notes

In this episode, I’m going to talk about a big change in my life, explain why I've not uploaded many episodes recently, and discuss the process of moving to a new country during the middle of a pandemic!

TRANSCRIPT -- https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2021/07/19/87-how-to-move-country-in-the-middle-of-a-pandemic/

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