Thinking in English
Thomas Wilkinson
- 23 minutes 50 seconds369. History of Australia! (English Vocabulary Lesson)
Australia is a country that many English learners dream of visiting, studying in, or even working in. Its beaches, culture, and cities are famous all over the world. But how much do you really know about the history of this country?
In today’s episode, I want to discuss the development of Australia, from the first Aboriginal Australians who arrived tens of thousands of years ago, to the European settlers, the creation of modern Australia, and life today.
Along the way, I’ll explain important vocabulary and expressions, so you can improve your listening and speaking skills as we explore the fascinating story of Australia together.
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5 January 2026, 12:05 pm - 23 minutes 6 seconds368. How to Make Resolutions for 2026 (English Vocabulary Lesson)
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Last year, I made an episode where I openly shared my goals and New Year’s resolutions for 2025. Now, it’s time to look back and see how I did.
In this episode, I’ll review my 2025 goals. I’ talk about what I achieved, what I only partially achieved, and where I failed. And there were definitely some failures.
I’ll also share my personal and professional goals for 2026 and hopefully give you some ideas for your own New Year’s resolutions.
Remember, I’m not perfect, and neither are you, but we can try! Let’s take a look at what I learned last year and what’s coming next.
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TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2025/12/29/368-how-to-make-resolutions-for-2026-english-vocabulary-lesson/
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29 December 2025, 3:00 am - 3 minutes 11 secondsEnd of Year Update & Free Bonus Episode
This is a short end-of-year bonus episode of Thinking in English. In this episode, I share a few important updates as we move towards the new year.
The Thinking in English AGM 2025 (Bonus Episode)
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27 December 2025, 3:00 am - 19 minutes 37 seconds367. The Strange Story of Christmas Island: Exploitation, Occupation, and Refugees! (English Vocabulary Lesson)
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Welcome to a special Thinking in English Christmas episode!
Today’s lesson isn’t about Santa Claus, reindeer, Christmas trees, or anything you might normally expect at this time of year. Instead, I want to talk about a place that literally carries the name Christmas: Christmas Island.
Christmas Island sounds like a cheerful and festive place. Photos of the island show bright blue oceans, white beaches, tropical forests, and its famous red crabs that are often featured in nature documentaries.
But behind the beautiful scenery and joyful name lies a far more complicated, and often dark, history. Christmas Island has been home to exploited migrant workers, brutal colonial mining operations, Japanese wartime occupation, and, more recently, Australia’s controversial refugee detention centre.
So today, in this Christmas special, let’s explore why one of the world’s most festive-sounding islands has such a complex past, while learning some new English vocabulary!
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22 December 2025, 3:00 am - 21 minutes 46 seconds366. Do We Live in a Post-Truth Society? (English Vocabulary Lesson)
In a world of social media, fake news, and deepfakes… how can we know what’s true anymore?
The phrase “post-truth” has become one of the defining ideas of our time. Politicians lie without consequence, misinformation spreads faster than facts, and many people seem to trust their feelings more than solid evidence. As a result, truth itself seems less influential than emotion or personal belief.
In today’s episode, we’re going to explore what it means to live in a post-truth society…. a society where the line between fact and opinion is increasingly blurred, and where it can feel harder than ever to know what is real.
At the same time, I’ll introduce some new and useful vocabulary, and we will practice our English listening comprehension!
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TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2025/12/15/366-do-we-live-in-a-post-truth-society-english-vocabulary-lesson/
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15 December 2025, 3:00 am - 21 minutes 13 seconds365. Who Was Ramanujan? The Greatest Mathematician of All Time? (English Vocabulary Lesson)
Today I want to talk about one of the greatest mathematicians of all time. A genius who, with almost no formal training, made mathematical discoveries that still astonish experts today. His name is Srinivasa Ramanujan, and his story is as extraordinary as the mathematical formulas he created.
Despite growing up in poverty and facing enormous challenges, Ramanujan produced ideas that continue to shape modern mathematics.
This episode is part of my Greatest Scientists Series, where we explore the lives and contributions of people who transformed our understanding of the world (while learning some new English vocabulary). And today, I want to ask an interesting question: can a mathematician like Ramanujan be considered a scientist?
Over the next few minutes, we’ll explore his early life in India, his journey to England, the famous collaboration with G.H. Hardy, his remarkable discoveries, his legacy, and finally, we’ll reflect on the role of mathematics itself in the world of science.
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8 December 2025, 3:00 am - 28 minutes 47 seconds364. What is the EU? (English Vocabulary Lesson)
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What is the EU?
Is it just a group of countries in Europe? Is it a trade bloc? Or is it something much more complex?
When people talk about the EU, they often mention things like the Euro, the Schengen Zone, or European laws, but many people don’t actually know what the EU really is or how it works.
In today’s episode of Thinking in English, I want to explore the European Union, which I think one of the most ambitious and influential political projects in modern history. We’ll look at what the EU actually is, how and why it was created, and what its main institutions do. I’ll also try to clear up some common confusions, like the difference between the Eurozone, the Schengen Area, and the EU itself.
Finally, we’ll examine its successes and criticisms, discuss why the United Kingdom decided to leave, and consider what the future of the European Union might look like, all while learning some new vocabulary and practicing your English comprehension!
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1 December 2025, 3:00 am - 25 minutes 44 seconds363. History of Mexico City! (English Vocabulary Lesson)
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The biggest city in North America isn’t New York or Los Angeles, it’s Mexico City.
Mexico City is also the oldest capital city in the entire Americas and the largest Spanish-speaking city in the world.
Today, this enormous metropolis is home to over twenty million people. But its story began centuries ago, long before the arrival of the Spanish, when it was an island city built by the Aztecs in the middle of a vast lake.
In this episode of Thinking in English, we’re going to explore the incredible history of Mexico City from its origins as the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlán, to its destruction and rebirth under Spanish rule, and finally, to its rise as a vibrant and dynamic modern city.
At the same time, we will learn some new and useful English vocabulary and practice our listening comprehension at the same time!
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TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2025/11/24/363-history-of-mexico-city-english-vocabulary-lesson/
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24 November 2025, 3:00 am - 25 minutes 54 seconds362. What is the 2025 Word of the Year? (English Vocabulary Lesson)
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The Collins Dictionary Word of the Year is… Vibe Coding!
In this Thinking in English episode, I’m going to define and explain the term vibe coding and talk about why it was chosen as the Word of the Year by Collins Dictionary. I’ll also discuss some of the other contenders and runners up for the 2025 Word of the Year, including Broligarchy, Task Masking, and Micro-Retirement.
These are interesting words and are connected to some fascinating changes and problems in modern society!
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TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2025/11/17/362-what-is-the-2025-word-of-the-year-english-vocabulary-lesson/
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17 November 2025, 3:00 am - 25 minutes 46 seconds361. What Are Idioms, Euphemisms, and Slang? (And Should You Learn Them?) (English Vocabulary Lesson)
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Have you ever heard someone say, “kick the bucket” or “pass away,” and felt confused? They both have the meaning of “die”… but are used in different contexts.
English, like all languages, is full of phrases and expressions that don’t always make sense if you look at the words literally.
Native speakers use this kind of language all the time… in conversations, TV shows, songs, and workplaces. But for English learners, idiomatic and informal expressions can be some of the hardest parts of the language to understand.
In today’s episode, we’re going to explore idioms, euphemisms, and slang. These are three important (and sometimes confusing) types of everyday English. We’ll talk about what they mean, why native speakers use them, and whether you should spend time learning and using them yourself.
By the end of this episode, you’ll have a clearer idea of how these kinds of expressions work and how understanding them can help you sound more natural and follow native-level conversations more easily.
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10 November 2025, 3:00 am - 24 minutes 26 seconds360. What is Wales? (English Vocabulary Lesson)
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When people think of the United Kingdom, they often think of England. Maybe, on a rare occasion, they might also think of Scotland. But the United Kingdom is made up of four historic countries, including the proud nation of Wales.
Wales is a small country with a big identity. It has its own language, culture, and its own parliament. Yet many people around the world know surprisingly little about it.
In today’s episode, we’re going to explore what Wales really is. We’ll discuss its geography, history, language, and culture.
Along the way, I’ll try to emphasise what makes Wales unique within the United Kingdom and introduce you to some new and useful English vocabulary!
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