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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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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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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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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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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