Thinking in English is a podcast for intermediate and advanced English learners who want to do more than just study grammar and vocabulary.

I believe that thinking is one of the most important steps on the road to fluency. That’s why 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. You’ll expand your knowledge, discover new ideas, and improve your language skills, all at the same time.



Bonus episodes and ad-free episodes, exclusive for Patreon subscribers: https://www.patreon.com/collection/869866
Join our Conversation Clubs and support the podcast: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish⁠
Visit the website: ⁠https://thinkinginenglish.blog/⁠



Thinking in English is part of the&nbsp;Airwave Media&nbsp;podcast network. Contact&nbsp;advertising@airwavemedia.com&nbsp;to advertise on Thinking in English.

Thinking in English

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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TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2026/09/14/405-history-of-singapore-english-vocabulary-lesson/



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405. History of Singapore! (English Vocabulary Lesson)

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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TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2026/09/07/404-what-is-corruption-english-vocabulary-lesson/



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404. What is Corruption? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

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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TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2026/08/31/403-what-is-a-growth-mindset-english-vocabulary-lesson/



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403. What is a Growth Mindset? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

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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TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2026/08/24/402-france-is-bigger-than-you-think-english-vocabulary-lesson/



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402. France is Bigger Than You Think! (English Vocabulary Lesson)

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 fluent in English? For some people, English exams provide a clear goal to motivate your study and offer a fair way to measure language ability. Others believe tests encourage memorisation, reward good test-taking rather than good communication, and turn English into just another school subject.

In today's episode, I want to explore the history of testing, why English has become one of the world's most tested subjects, and whether English proficiency exams actually improve education!



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TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2026/08/17/401-english-tests-do-they-improve-education-english-vocabulary-lesson/



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401. English Tests: Do They Improve Education? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

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!



Today I want to discuss how the city got its names, became the centre of battles between European powers, grew into one of the largest slave ports in the world, and at one time was the only city in the America’s to be the capital of a European Empire. We’ll explore how the city built its fortunes based on gold and coffee, and the how the city has developed in the modern period.



And we’ll also practice your English listening comprehension and learn some new vocabulary at the same time!



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TRANSCRIPT - ⁠https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2026/08/10/400-history-of-rio-de-janeiro-english-vocabulary-lesson/⁠



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400. History of Rio de Janeiro! (English Vocabulary Lesson)

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 with corruption, dictatorship, economic instability, civil war, and widespread poverty. Instead of becoming wealthy, they have become trapped in a cycle of dependence and political turmoil.Economists have a name for this paradox: the Resource Curse.

At the same time, countries with few natural resources, places like Japan, Singapore, and South Korea, have become some of the richest and most developed economies in the world.

Today, we're going to explore the resource curse. We’ll discuss why having valuable natural resources can sometimes become a disadvantage and look at some of the world's best-known examples.

And we’ll do this while practicing your English listening comprehension and learning some new vocabulary!



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TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2026/08/03/399-what-is-the-resource-curse-why-some-of-the-worlds-richest-countries-stay-poor-english-vocabulary-lesson/



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399. What is the Resource Curse? Why Some of the World's Richest Countries Stay Poor (English Vocabulary Lesson)

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 economies, consistently ranks among the best places to live, and is often seen as one of the most multicultural societies in the world. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people choose to make Canada their new home.

The history of Canada is fascinating. Indigenous peoples lived there for thousands of years before Europeans arrived. It was claimed and settled by both France and Britain. It developed differently from its neighbour the United States and gradually evolved into an independent country while still having a close relationship with the British Crown.

So, in today's episode, we're going to explore how Canada was formed, why English and French coexist, how Canada developed its unique relationship with Britain, and the biggest challenges shaping Canada's future.

And we will do all of this while practicing your English listening comprehension and learning some new vocabulary.



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TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2026/07/27/398-why-does-canada-speak-french-and-english-english-vocabulary-lesson/



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398. Why Does Canada Speak French and English? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

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 promised to solve the country's problems, but then ended up leaving their role earlier than expected.



In fact, this is now the third time I've made an episode asking the question, "Who Will Be the Next Prime Minister of the UK?" Episode 161 explored the race to replace Boris Johnson back in 2022, and Episode 302 looked at what might happen if the Conservatives lost power before the 2024 election. We're asking exactly the same question again in this episode, but this time, it's the Labour Party looking for a new leader.



So, what happened? Why has Keir Starmer resigned after such a convincing election victory? Who is Andy Burnham, the politician many people expect to replace him? What kind of prime minister might he become? And why has British politics become so unstable over the past decade?



Let's find out, and at the same time learn some new English vocabulary and practice your English listening comprehension.



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TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2026/07/20/397-who-will-be-the-next-prime-minister-of-the-uk-english-vocabulary-lesson/



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397. Who Will Be the Next Prime Minister of the UK? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

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 are things that I'm incredibly proud of in my Japanese learning journey and a few things that I wish I had done differently.

So in today's episode of Thinking in English, I thought it would be interesting to discuss my past 10 years of language learning experiences: how I went from zero knowledge of Japanese to being able to live in Japanese daily if I [00:01:00] need to. Hopefully by listening to this episode, you guys will receive some motivation and some advice about your own language learning journeys.



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TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2026/07/13/396-10-years-language-learning-lessons-id-give-my-younger-self-english-vocabulary-lesson/

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