Thinking in English

Do you know how to ask great questions?

A few years ago, back in 2022, I released an episode called How to Ask Better Questions in English. And today’s episode is an update to that original one.

The core idea is the same, because it’s still important, but a lot has changed since then. I’ve changed as a podcaster and an educator, and I think English learners’ needs have changed too. In fact, the way we use English in 2026 is very different from how we used it just a few years ago.

We now spend more time in online meetings, working with international teams, and communicating through messages, emails, and AI tools. In this kind of world, the ability to ask good questions matters more than ever.

Most people know how to ask questions, but very few people know how to ask good questions. And learning how to do that can change your English, your conversations, and the opportunities you have.

Today, we will look at different types of question, what makes a good question, and I’ll give you a lot of useful advice!

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TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2026/03/16/379-do-you-know-how-to-ask-great-questions/

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Is it becoming harder to move to a new country?

Everywhere seems to be tightening the rules. Canada, the US, Australia, Europe, Japan, the UK. Countries that once focused on attracting people are now focused on control, limits, and conditions. And these changes are happening fast.

If you’re thinking about moving to the UK, already living in the UK, or interested in how the world and immigration is changing, I think this episode matters to you. Because what’s happening in British immigration policy is part of a much bigger global shift.

Today, we’re going to break down the UK’s new immigration plans. We’ll talk about what’s changing, who will be affected, and why these rules are becoming stricter.

As this is Thinking in English, I’ll avoid legal jargon, explain everything clearly, and highlight the key vocabulary as we go, so you can understand the policy and improve your English at the same time.

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TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2026/03/09/378-moving-to-the-uk-uks-new-immigration-policies-explained-english-vocabulary-lesson/

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Berlin is one of the most iconic cities in the world. Few cities have been destroyed so completely, divided so deeply, and then rebuilt so many times.

Understanding Berlin’s past helps us understand the development of Germany and Europe. The rise of empires, the impact of nationalism, the horrors of totalitarianism, and the tension of the Cold War are all part of this city’s history. Berlin’s story is not just local; it reflects some of the biggest political and social forces of the last 800 years.

In this episode, we’ll follow Berlin’s journey from its medieval beginnings, through its rise as the capital of a powerful empire, into a city torn in two during the Cold War, and finally to its reunification as the capital of a united Germany.

And at the same time, we will learn some important and useful English vocabulary!

Conversation Club - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/patreon/conversation-clubs/⁠

TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2026/03/02/377-history-of-berlin-english-vocabulary-lesson/

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Every time you type a message, unlock your phone, or trust a computer to make a decision, you’re relying on the ideas of someone you may never have heard of and probably never learned about at school.

That person is Alan Turing. He was a British mathematician, logician, and wartime codebreaker, and one of the most important figures in modern science and technology.

Turing helped lay the foundations of modern computing. He played a crucial role in breaking Nazi codes during the Second World War. And he asked questions about machines that still shape how we think about artificial intelligence today. His influence is everywhere, from the security that protects your data to the algorithms behind AI.

In this episode, I want to explore Alan Turing’s life, his scientific achievements, and the legacy he left behind, before connecting his story to my Greatest Scientist of All Time series.

Conversation Club - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2026/02/23/376-who-was-alan-turing-english-vocabulary-lesson/

TRANSCRIPT - ⁠https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2026/02/16/375-do-we-live-in-a-surveillance-society-prepositions-of-place-english-grammar-lesson/⁠

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Last year, I was walking on the street back home in the UK, and I started noticing just how many security cameras there were around me. There were cameras on lampposts, cameras in shops, and cameras at train stations, quietly watching people come and go. Once you start looking for them, you see them everywhere…. on the walls, in buildings, and at entrances.

What’s interesting is that most of the time, we don’t even notice them. We walk in our cities, shop in stores, and commute at stations without really thinking about how much we’re being watched. Surveillance has become such a normal part of life that it fades into the background.

So here’s the question I want you to think about. When you walk in your city, how many cameras do you think are watching you? And do you feel safer because of them? or do they make you feel a little uncomfortable?

In today’s episode, we’re going to explore what it really means to live in a surveillance society. We’ll look at the benefits, at the risks, and at the ethical questions surrounding surveillance. 

At the same time, I’ll help you practise using prepositions of place, in, on, and at, naturally and in real, meaningful context in this episode of Thinking in English Grammar!

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TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2026/02/16/375-do-we-live-in-a-surveillance-society-prepositions-of-place-english-grammar-lesson/

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