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PODCAST

Thinking in English

Thomas Wilkinson

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

education language learning

All Episodes

25:13

408. The Bayeux Tapestry (English Vocabulary Lesson)

Thinking in English ·

2026/10/05

Today, we’re going to talk about one of the most famous historical objects in the world: the Bayeux Tapestry.The Bayeux Tapestry is a huge piece of embroidered cloth, about 70 metres long, covered with pictures showing kings, soldiers, ships, horses and battles. It was created almost 1,000 years ago and tells the story of the Norman Conquest of England in the year 1066. The Bayeux Tapestry is in the news right now because it has travelled to Britain. The tapestry normally lives in the French

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29:59

407. Is British Food Really Bad? (English Vocabulary...

Thinking in English ·

2026/09/28

British food has a bit of a reputation.I’m sure that for a lot of you, the words “British food” brings to mind boiled vegetables, overcooked meat, greasy breakfasts, and meals that are, above all, rather bland. British cuisine is often compared unfavourably with the food of countries such as France, Italy, Spain, or Japan. There is a common idea that while other countries have sophisticated culinary traditions, Britain somehow missed out. This stereotype is not completely new. British people

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29:43

406. Where Is the BEST Place to Study English?...

Thinking in English ·

2026/09/21

Where is the best place to study English? Is it better to move to Britain, the US, or another English-speaking country, or can you learn just as effectively at home? Does studying in person produce better results than studying online?Is a private one-to-one class better than a small group or a large class? What about structured lessons that teach grammar and vocabulary compared with conversation-focused classes? In this episode, we’re going to look at the research behind these questions and

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27:05

405. History of Singapore! (English Vocabulary Lesson)

Thinking in English ·

2026/09/14

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

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27:00

401. English Tests: Do They Improve Education?...

Thinking in English ·

2026/08/17

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

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25:05

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

Thinking in English ·

2026/08/10

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,

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32:44

398. Why Does Canada Speak French and English?...

Thinking in English ·

2026/07/27

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

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27:30

392. History of Warsaw (English Vocabulary Lesson)

Thinking in English ·

2026/06/15

Today, we’re going to talk about Warsaw. Warsaw is the capital of Poland and one of Europe’s most resilient cities.If you visit Warsaw today, you’ll find a modern and quickly developing European capital. There are skyscrapers, busy shopping streets, trendy cafés, and a growing economy. But history of city is dramatic and tragic. In this episode, I am going to explore the fascinating history of Warsaw. We’ll look at its rise as Poland’s capital, periods of foreign occupation and division, the

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21:36

391. Why Is the UAE Leaving OPEC? And What Is OPEC...

Thinking in English ·

2026/06/08

The United Arab Emirates has announced that it is leaving OPEC (the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) after almost sixty years as a member. Why does this matter?Well, oil is still one of the most important resources in the world. The price of oil affects how much we pay for petrol, the cost of transporting food, airline tickets, electricity, and much more. When oil prices rise, the economy is also affected. OPEC is one of the most powerful organisations influencing oil prices

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31:38

390. What are the “New” Seven Wonders of the World?...

Thinking in English ·

2026/06/01

Thousands of years ago, Ancient Greek travellers created a list of the most extraordinary sights they encountered: the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. These included places like the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, and the Colossus of Rhodes. Today though, only one still survives: the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. So, in the early 2000s, a huge international campaign called the “New Seven Wonders of the World” aimed to create a modern list of wonders. Some

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28:31

389. What Was the First Book Ever Written? (English...

Thinking in English ·

2026/05/25

Humans have been speaking languages for tens of thousands of years. We told stories around fires, passed down myths from parents to children, and memorised important information about survival and history. But for a very long time, nobody could write anything down.Then, at some point, humans invented writing. Writing allowed people to record laws, preserve stories, collect knowledge, and communicate across generations. Eventually, writing gave us books. Today, I want to explore the history of

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26:05

388. Is the American Dream Dead? (English Vocabulary...

Thinking in English ·

2026/05/18

If you work hard, can you build yourself a better life? For a long time, millions of people believed the answer in the USA was yes. The “American Dream” is the idea that anyone, no matter where they start in life, can achieve success through hard work and determination. You could own a home, have a stable job, raise a family, and earn more than your parents. But today, many people in the US are questioning whether that dream still exists. Housing prices are rising. Student debt is growing. Many

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24:17

387. Why Are Some People Always Late? The Cultural...

Thinking in English ·

2026/05/11

You are invited to a party. The invitation says the party starts at 20:00. What time will you arrive?Your answer to this question has a lot to do with your culture. Some of you will have said 20:00 exactly, because that is when the part stats. Others will have said 19:45, because it is polite to be early. Others will have said 20:30… or 21:00… or later because it is awkward to arrive too early. Your answer to my question is connected to how your culture understands time: the direction of

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20:59

386. Who Was Leonardo Da Vinci? (English Vocabulary...

Thinking in English ·

2026/05/04

Leonardo Da Vinci was one of the greatest minds in history. He painted some of the most famous works of art ever: the Mona Lisa, Last Supper, and more. He was also a scientist, an engineer, an anatomist, and an inventor. He is often described as the perfect example of a “Renaissance man.” A Renaissance man is someone who is skilled in many different areas, especially during the time of the Renaissance. The Renaissance was a period of history when art, science, and learning were rapidly developing

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22:25

385. Should We Boycott the 2026 World Cup? (English...

Thinking in English ·

2026/04/27

Four years ago, I made an episode titled “Should we boycott the Qatar World Cup?”As you might remember, the tournament in Qatar was surrounded by criticism. There were concerns about human rights, especially the treatment of migrant workers who helped build the stadiums. There were some calls for fans, players, or countries to refuse to take part. But despite all of that, the World Cup still went ahead. Millions of people watched, and Argentina beat France in the final. Now, four years later, I

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29:03

384. The Scramble for Africa (English Vocabulary Lesson)

Thinking in English ·

2026/04/20

In the 1870s, about ten percent of Africa had been colonised by European countries. But over the next few decades, over ninety percent of the continent was taken, occupied, divided, and partitioned by governments far away in places like London, Berlin, and Paris. We call this period in history the “Scramble for Africa.” In a remarkably short period of time, countries like Britain, France, Germany, and Belgium claimed vast territories for themselves without any input from African people. By 1914,

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21:05

383. What Is Talent? And Do You Need It to Learn...

Thinking in English ·

2026/04/13

“I’m just not good at learning languages.” I’m sure many of you listening right now have thought this before. And I’m sure you’ve thought the opposite about people you have met in the past: “Wow, she’s so talented at English” or “He has a gift for languages.” These kinds of comments are incredibly common. Many people believe that success in language learning depends mostly on talent. Some people are just naturally good at learning English, while others aren’t. But is this true? Is talent real

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24:38

382. Rwanda: Economic Miracle or Authoritarian State?...

Thinking in English ·

2026/04/06

In 1994, the small African country of Rwanda experienced one of the worst genocides in modern history. Over a one-hundred-day period, an estimated 800,000 people were murdered. The genocide shocked the world and left Rwanda devastated.But if you visit Rwanda today, you would probably be surprised at that history. The country is often described as one of Africa’s greatest success stories. Its capital city, Kigali, is known for being clean, organised, and relatively safe. In fact, Rwanda has been

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23:05

381. Easter Island: Mystery, Moai, and the Edge of...

Thinking in English ·

2026/03/30

Imagine living in a place so remote that the nearest inhabited land is over two thousand kilometres away. No neighbours. No easy escape. Just ocean in every direction. And across the island are hundreds of giant stone heads, carved by hand.This place exists… and people have lived there for centuries. This episode will look at Easter Island, or Rapa Nui as it is known locally. Easter Island is in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, one of the most isolated inhabited islands on Earth, and home to

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24:22

380. What is Poverty? (English Vocabulary Lesson)

Thinking in English ·

2026/03/23

What does poverty really mean?When we hear the word poverty, I think many of us imagine extreme situations, like homelessness, starvation, or people living in very poor conditions. But poverty is far more complex, and far more widespread, than we often realise. According to the United Nations, more than 700 million people (around 10 percent of the world’s population) still live in extreme poverty. These people are surviving on less than two dollars a day. And despite decades of progress, this

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