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Before the development of germ theory and the discovery of bacteria and viruses, medicine relied on ancient theories that often caused more harm than good. Without modern knowledge, doctors had often used dangerous procedures or had performed surgery without washing their hands. 

Today I want to talk about medicine before the discovery of germ theory. In order to talk about this topic, or other events that have happened in the past, we need to understand and know how to use the past perfect tense. 

Let’s practise the past perfect and learn about the history of medicine!

TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2024/12/16/medicine-before-the-discovery-of-germs-past-perfect-english-grammar-lesson/

My Links

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Last week I came second in a Japanese language speech contest.

Today, I want to talk to you all about how I prepared for giving a speech in a foreign language, explain my approach to writing and practicing speeches and presentations, and hopefully give you some useful advice on public speaking in English!

TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2024/12/09/322-how-to-give-a-speech-in-english-lessons-from-my-participation-in-a-japanese-speech-contest-english-vocabulary-lesson/

My Links

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TEST YOUR ENGLISH LEVEL - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thinkinginenglish.link/placement-level-test/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Vocabulary

• Recount (Verb): To tell or narrate the details of an event or story.
• Stumble (Verb): To make a mistake or hesitate while speaking.
• Intonation (Noun): The rise and fall of pitch in a person's voice while speaking.
• Project (Verb): To speak loudly and clearly so that one's voice carries to a larger space or audience.
• Hesitate (Verb): To pause briefly, often due to uncertainty or nervousness.
• Composure (Noun): A calm and controlled state of mind.

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What are tariffs?

Donald Trump has been talking about introducing and increasing tariffs on goods and products imported into the USA.

Today, let’s take a deeper look at tariffs. We’ll talk about the definition of tariffs, real world examples, and the pros and cons of the US introducing tariffs!

Transcript - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2024/12/02/321-what-are-tariffs-english-vocabulary-lesson/

My Links

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Vocabulary

• Tariff (Noun): A tax or duty placed on a specific class of imports or exports.
• Tax (Noun): A compulsory financial charge or levy imposed by a government on individuals or businesses.
• Import (Noun/Verb): Bringing goods or services into a country from abroad for sale or use.
• Export (Noun/Verb): Sending goods or services produced in one country to another country for sale.
• Good (Noun): A physical item that can be bought or sold; merchandise or products.
• Domestic (Adjective): Relating to one's own country; not foreign or international.
• To impose (Verb): To establish or apply a rule, tax, or penalty in a forceful way.

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I have now lived in the Japanese countryside for over a year! 

I have experienced many interesting situations. I have discovered new interests and hobbies. I have faced significant challenges. And I have learned a lot about myself! 

In order to talk about my past year in Japan, and similar topics about events in the past which influence the present, we need to understand and know how to use the present perfect grammar. 

Let’s practise the present perfect grammar and learn about my past year in Japan at the same time!

TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2024/11/25/i-have-lived-in-japan-for-over-a-year-present-perfect-english-grammar-lesson/

My Links

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Collins English Dictionary has just announced the 2024 Word of the Year. Let's discuss this word, as well as some of the runners up, in today's Thinking in English episode!

TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2024/11/18/320-what-is-the-2024-word-of-the-year-english-vocabulary-lesson/

WOTY - https://www.collinsdictionary.com/woty

My Links

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon - ⁠https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Nihon Hidankyo, an organisation formed by survivors of the atomic bombs dropped on Japan in 1945, have been awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to raise awareness and create the nuclear taboo.

Today, I want to talk about the nuclear taboo and other theories that try to explain why nuclear weapons have not been used since 1945!

Let’s learn about international relations and learn some vocabulary at the same time.

Transcript - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2024/11/11/319-what-is-the-nuclear-taboo-2024-nobel-peace-prize-explained-english-vocabulary-lesson/

My Links

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TEST YOUR ENGLISH LEVEL - https://thinkinginenglish.link/placement-level-test/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Blog - https://www.thinkinginenglish.blog⁠

Vocabulary

• Nuclear Weapon (Noun): A bomb or missile that uses nuclear energy to cause an explosion.
• Awareness (Noun): Knowledge or perception of a situation or fact.
• Taboo (Noun): A social or cultural prohibition or restriction on a particular action or behaviour.
• Deterrence (Noun): The act of discouraging an action through fear of the consequences.
• Conventional (Adjective): Based on or in accordance with what is generally done or believed; ordinary or traditional.
• Devastation (Noun): Severe destruction or damage.
• Annihilation (Noun): Complete destruction or obliteration.

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On November 5th, the United States of America will elect their next President. The two candidates this year are former President Donald Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris.

The election has been controversial and close. There have been assassination attempts against Donald Trump, the original Democratic candidate Joe Biden dropped out of the race, and the United States seems relatively politically unstable.

This episode is not going to focus specifically on this year’s US election, but on the US presidential election in general. My aim is to explain how candidates are selected, the key features of US elections, and what makes them unique.

Hopefully, after listening to this episode, you will be able to understand the events of this year’s election day!

Transcript - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2024/11/04/how-does-the-us-presidential-election-work-english-vocabulary-lesson/

My Links

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TEST YOUR ENGLISH LEVEL - https://thinkinginenglish.link/placement-level-test/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Thinking in English Bonus Podcast - https://www.patreon.com/collection/10513⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NEW YOUTUBE Channel!!! - https://www.youtube.com/@thinkinginenglishpodcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/)  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blog - https://www.thinkinginenglish.blog⁠

Vocabulary

• Candidate (Noun): A person who is nominated for election to a public office.
• Progressive (Adjective): Favouring or promoting social reform or new, liberal ideas.
• Federal (Adjective): Relating to a system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and individual states.
• Delegate (Noun): A person sent to represent others, especially at a conference or convention.
• Elector (Noun): A member of the Electoral College chosen by voters to officially vote for the President and Vice President.
• Campaign (Noun): An organized effort by a candidate or political party to win an election.

⁠ Borough by Blue Dot Sessions⁠

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In 1692, the village of Salem in Massachusetts was the location of the infamous Salem witch trials. Hundreds of innocent people were accused of witchcraft and being witches. People were executed, tortured, and imprisoned.

In this Halloween special episode of Thinking in English, we are going to explore the history, causes, and legacy of the infamous witch hunt!

TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2024/10/28/317-what-were-the-salem-witch-trials-english-vocabulary-lesson/

My Links

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• Infamous (Adjective): Well-known for a bad reason.
• Witchcraft (Noun): The practice of magic or sorcery, especially for evil purposes.
• Accusation (Noun): A claim that someone is guilty of something.
• Mass hysteria (Noun): Collective fear or panic spreading through a group of people.
• Interrogation (Noun): The process of questioning someone intensely.
• Contort (Verb): To twist or bend something out of its normal shape.
• Fair trial (Noun): A legal process that is impartial and just.

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Imagine if China had been the first country to industrialise and modernise. 

How different would the world look? What culture would be dominant? How would history have changed? Would technology and industry still be recognisable? 

In order to talk about this, and similar topics focused on unreal situations in the past, we need to understand and know how to use the third conditional grammar. 

TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2024/10/21/if-china-had-been-the-first-industrial-country-the-third-conditional-english-grammar-lesson/

My Links

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Listen to Simple English News Daily - https://open.spotify.com/show/4QctJjCUuHefLzeZWDoXqc?si=a87d593d939643dd

SEND7 Podcast - https://www.send7.org/

This episode is going to take a detailed look at culture shock. We’ll define both “culture shock” and “reverse culture shock” and then discuss the various stages you go through while experiencing culture shock.

And at the end of the episode, I’ll share some of my experiences and give you advice on how to deal with culture shock!

Transcript - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2024/09/16/313-how-to-negotiate-in-english-english-vocabulary-lesson/

My Links

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TEST YOUR ENGLISH LEVEL - https://thinkinginenglish.link/placement-level-test/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Thinking in English Bonus Podcast - https://www.patreon.com/collection/10513⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NEW YOUTUBE Channel!!! - https://www.youtube.com/@thinkinginenglishpodcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/)  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blog - https://www.thinkinginenglish.blog⁠

Vocabulary

• Puzzled (Adjective): Feeling confused because something is difficult to understand.
• Overwhelming (Adjective): Very intense or difficult to deal with, often causing feelings of being unable to cope.
• Frustrated (Adjective): Feeling annoyed or upset because you cannot achieve or understand something.
• Disoriented (Adjective): Feeling confused and unsure about your surroundings or situation.
• Open-minded (Adjective): Willing to consider new ideas, experiences, and perspectives.
• Norm (Noun): A standard, pattern, or typical behaviour that is considered normal within a group or society.
• Adaptable (Adjective): Able to adjust or change in response to new situations or environments.

⁠ Borough by Blue Dot Sessions⁠

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Losing the ability to understand and use a language is known as language attrition. It is an incredibly common process, effecting most language learners at some point in their life, and can be really frustrating.

Today, I’m going to define and explain language attrition and then will give you all some advice on how to avoid it happening to your English ability!

Transcript - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2024/10/07/315-what-is-language-attrition-losing-your-ability-to-speak-english-english-vocabulary-lesson/

My Links

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thinkinginenglish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TEST YOUR ENGLISH LEVEL - https://thinkinginenglish.link/placement-level-test/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Thinking in English Bonus Podcast - https://www.patreon.com/collection/10513⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠NEW YOUTUBE Channel!!! - https://www.youtube.com/@thinkinginenglishpodcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blog - https://www.thinkinginenglish.blog⁠  ⁠⁠⁠

Vocabulary

• Attrition (noun): The gradual reduction or weakening of something, in this context, the loss of language ability over time.
• Second Language (noun): A language that a person learns in addition to their native language.
• Proficiency (noun): A high level of skill or ability in a particular subject or activity.
• Retention (noun): The ability to keep or remember knowledge, information, or skills.
• Decline (noun): A gradual decrease or loss of strength, quality, or importance.
• Code-switching (noun): The practice of alternating between two or more languages within a conversation or sentence.

⁠ Borough by Blue Dot Sessions⁠

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