Thinking in English

‘Ahead of the pack,’ ‘smooth sailing,’ ‘corner the market.’ English is full of idioms like these three I just mentioned. In order to be able to work, study, or live in a native English speaking environment, understanding and comprehending idioms is a vital skill! For that reason, this episode will introduce you to some common idioms that are especially useful for business situations. However, they will also be beneficial to anyone who wants to study abroad, understand English TV shows or movies, or even just enjoys studying languages! TRANSCRIPT!! - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/11/29/incredibly-useful-english-idioms-ideal-for-business-english-ielts-study-abroad-and-more-english-vocabulary-lesson/ Contact Us!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - thinkinginenglishpod@gmail.com Vocabulary To accelerate (v) - to move more quickly, or to make something happen faster or sooner He accelerated rapidly to pass a car! Glitch (n) - a small problem or fault that prevents something from being successful or working as well as it should The system has been plagued with glitches ever since its launch! Initiative (n) - a new plan or process to achieve something or solve a problem The government launched their new education initiative last week! To blink (v) - when you blink, you close and then open your eyes quickly once or several times, and when an eye blinks, it does this You’ve got something in your eye - try blinking a few times! Standard (n) - a level of quality This essay is not of an acceptable standard - do it again! Manufacturer (n) - a company that produces goods in large numbers Japan is a major manufacturer of vehicles! Towering (adj) - very high or very great The baseball player hit a towering home run! Howling (adj) - (of wind) blowing hard and making a lot of noise The hurricane’s howling winds just missed the island! Gale (n) - a very strong wind Hundreds of old trees were blown down in the gales! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, we are going to look at the idea of free education. Should university be free? This question has been debated for many years. The costs have been rising every year, and more and more graduates are struggling with large amounts of debt. In particular, poorer students are normally those who need to borrow the most money. Should they be punished for wanting to educate themselves?  Should taxpayers pay for the education of other people? All of these questions will be addressed in today’s episode of thinking in English! Full Transcript: https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/11/26/should-university-be-free-english-vocabulary-lesson/ Contact Us!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - thinkinginenglishpod@gmail.com Vocabulary Proportion (n) - the number or amount of something when compared to the whole Children make up a large proportion of the world’s population! Tuition (n) - teaching, especially when given to a small group or one person, such as in a college or university All students receive tuition in maths! To saddle with (Phrasal v) - to give someone a responsibility or problem that they do not want and thus will cause them a lot of work or difficulty The company is saddled with debt! Crippling (adj) - causing serious injuries or harm The bomb attack dealt a crippling blow to tourism in the country! Default (n) - a failure to do something, such as pay a debt, that you legally have to do Any default on your mortgage payments may mean you will lose your house! Burden (n) - something difficult or unpleasant that you have to deal with or worry about Buying a house is often a large financial burden on young people! Notably (adv) - important and deserving attention Other sports have had work stoppages, most notably baseball! Vocational (adj) - providing skills and education that prepare you for a job The school offers vocational programs in welding, electrical work, and construction Amenity (n) - something, such as a swimming pool or shopping centre, that is intended to make life more pleasant or comfortable for the people of a town, hotel, or other place The council is spending money on many new public amenities! Comprehension Questions Q. How much debt does the average UK graduate have? A. £40,000 Q. Name 3 things I mentioned that the GI bill paid for. A. 3 of the following - 22,000 dentists, 67,000 doctors, 91,000 scientists, 238,000 teachers, 240,000 accountants, 450,000 engineers, three Supreme Court Justices, three presidents , many congressmen, at least one Secretary of State, 14 Nobel Prize winners, at least 24 Pulitzer Prize winners, many entertainers Q. True or false. Bernie Sanders is an opponent of free education. A. False --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To celebrate the 25th episode of Thinking in English, today I've made a slightly different episode! I decided it's time to introduce myself to all of the listeners, let you know my background, and talk about why I started Thinking in English!! Transcript! - http://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/11/24/25-who-am-i-my-self-introduction-and-why-i-started-thinking-in-english-english-vocabulary-lesson/ Contact Us!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - thinkinginenglishpod@gmail.com Vocabulary List Milestone (n) - an important event in the development or history of something or in someone’s life We’ve been married now for 20 years, a real milestone Stereotypical (adj) - with the qualities that people usually expect of a particular type of person or thing, although this idea may be wrong Managers need to leave behind their stereotypical ideas about women Institution (n) - a large and important organization, such as a university or bank This institution is over 800 years old! To fascinate (v) - to interest someone a lot Science has always fascinated me! To comprehend (v) - to understand something completely He doesn’t seem to comprehend the scale of the problem! Colonial (adj) - relating to a colony or colonisation Various parts of Africa have suffered under colonial rule! Dissertation (n) - a long piece of writing on a particular subject, especially one that is done in order to receive a degree at college or university Ann did her dissertation on Karl Marx Immense (adj) - extremely large in size or degree They spent an immense amount of time getting the room ready for their guests! Indigenous (adj) - naturally existing in a place or country rather than arriving from another place The indigenous people of Australia have suffered for many years! To scupper (v) - to cause something such as a plan or an opportunity to fail Arriving late for the interview scuppered my chances of getting the job! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode I want to look at the future of transport! Virgin Hyperloop trialled their new technology earlier this month, raising a number of questions about how we will move around in the future. Will cars no longer be needed? How will we travel? Is hyperloop the solution? These questions, and more, will be answered on today’s episode of Thinking in English!! Transcript Available!!! - http://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/11/22/24-virgin-hyperloop-and-the-future-of-transportation-english-vocabulary-lesson/ Contact Us!!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - thinkinginenglishpod@gmail.com Vocabulary list urban (adj) - relating to towns and cities Over 82% of Texans live in urban areas congested (adj) - to be crowded or blocked; congested road have too much traffic and it is difficult to move Congested roads are normal on holiday weekends To trial (v) - to test something in a formal way to discover how effective or suitable it is We will trial the new drug in several hospitals Pod (n) - a detachable or self-contained unit on an aircraft, spacecraft, vehicle, or vessel, having a particular function The spacecraft has an escape pod for two people vacuum (n) - a space without any gas or other matter in it, or a space from which most of the air or gas has been removed Edison knew that he had to create a vacuum inside the lightbulb levitation (n) - the act of rising or floating, or making someone rise or float, in the air without any physical support Some superheroes have the power of levitation To exceed (v) - To be greater than a number or amount, or to go past an allowed limit The final cost should not exceed $5000 hypothetical (adj) - imagined or suggested but not necessarily real or true Estimated return is based on a hypothetical $1000 investment To project (v) - to calculate an amount or number expected in the future from information already known Government spending is projected to rise by three percent next year Comprehension Questions Q. What speed did this month's hyperloop test reach? A. 107 mph or 172 kmph Q. How long will it take you to travel from Abu Dhabi to Dubai using hyperloop? A. 12 minutes Q. Who first suggested the idea of hyperloop? A. Elon Musk --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode we will look at the recent announcement that the UK will ban all new fossil fuel powered vehicles by 2030! As part of the UK’s “green industrial revolution”, people will be encouraged to move to electric cars instead of petrol or diesel powered ones. What else is part of the “green new deal”?  Does it go far enough? We’ll look at these questions and more in this episode of Thinking in English! Transcript!! - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/11/19/uk-bans-new-fossil-fuel-vehicles-by-2030/ Contact Us!!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - thinkinginenglishpod@gmail.com Vocabulary List fossil fuel (n) - fuels, such as gas, coal, and oil, that were formed underground from plant and animal remains millions of years ago Many governments around the world are trying to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy sources hybrid (n) - something that is a mixture of two very different things. So, a hybrid vehicle is a vehicle with an engine that used both petrol and another type of energy, usually electricity Most car manufactures now offer hybrids pole position (n) - the leading or best possible position The supermarket chain is aiming to gain pole position in chosen markets famine (n) - a situation in which there is not enough food for a great number of people, causing illness and death Another crop failure could result in widespread famine Drought (n) - a long period when there is little or no rain This year a severe drought has ruined the crops Emissions (n) - an amount of a substance that is produced and sent out into the air that is harmful to the environment, especially carbon dioxide There are many health risks caused by vehicle emissions Greenhouse gas (n) - one of several gases, especially carbon dioxide, that prevent heat from the earth escaping into space, causing the greenhouse effect We need a global system for limiting greenhouse gas emissions Subsidy (n) - money given as part of the cost of something, to help or encourage it to happen The company received a substantial government subsidy offshore (adj) - away from or at a distance from the coast The wind was blowing offshore pressing (adj) - urgent or needing to be dealt with immediately The most pressing question is what do we do next? Shadow (adj) - used in the title of important politicians in the main opposition party (= the party not in government): Shadow Foreign Secretary or Shadow Chancellor Comprehension Questions Q. Which country will ban fossil fuel cars 5 years before the UK? A. Norway Q. Road vehicles produce how much of the EU’s carbon dioxide emissions? A. Around 30% Q. Who is the UK’s shadow business secretary? A. Ed Miliband --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode we’ll look at the recently signed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which brings together 15 Asian and Oceanic countries into the largest free trade agreement in the world. We’ll discuss the idea of free trade, look at the details of the agreement, and finally think about some criticisms of RCEP! Transcript - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/11/18/22-the-worlds-largest-trade-deal-what-is-rcep-and-what-is-free-trade-english-vocabulary-lesson/ Contact Us!!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - thinkinginenglishpod@gmail.com Vocabulary List trade (n) - the activity of buying and selling, or exchanging, goods and/or services between people or countries 70 percent of the country’s trade is with Europe gross domestic product (n) - the total value of goods and services produced by a country in one year Apple makes more money than some countries' gross domestic products! Intricacy (n) - complicated details I enjoyed the film, but i couldn’t follow all the intricacies of the plot Imports (n) - goods bought by one country from another They have restrictions on foreign imports Exports (n) - a product that you sell in another country Coffee is one of Brazil’s main exports Tariff (n) - a charge or list of charges either for services or goods entering a country Prices and tariffs change all the time, so it’s difficult to say what you will get for your money Limitations (n) - if someone or something has limitations, they are not as good as they could be Despite his limitations as a manger, he always brings projects to completion on time Component (n) - a part that combines with other parts to from something bigger The factory supplies electrical components for cars Comprehension Questions! Q. How much of the global gross domestic product comes from RCEP members? A. Around 30% Q. What percentage of tariffs will RCEP eliminate? A. Up to 90% Q. Who criticised RCEP as being ‘low ambition’? A. Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode I want to introduce a few phrasal verbs that are suitable for formal English! Phrasal verbs can be confusing; are they formal or informal? How do we use them? When do we use them? Hopefully by the end of this episode you’ll be able to use seven phrasal verbs that are perfect for business, IELTS or TOEFL exams, and other formal situations! Transcript - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/11/15/21-phrasal-verbs-perfect-for-formal-situations-ideal-for-ielts-toefl-business-university-and-much-more-english-vocabulary-lesson/ Contact Us!!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - thinkinginenglishpod@gmail.com Vocabulary List To distinguish (v) - to notice or understand the difference between two things, or to make one person or thing seem different from another It is important to distinguish between business and pleasure To specify (v) - to explain or describe something clearly and exactly He said we should meet but didn’t specify a time indirect (adj) - happening in addition to an intended result, often in a way that is complicated or not obvious Indirect effects of the war include disease and food shortages Boastful (adj) - praising yourself and what you have done He was confident, not boastful jet lag (n) - the feeling of tiredness and confusion that people experience after making a long journey by plane to a place where the time is different from the place they left Every time i fly to the USA, I get really bad jet lag Venture (n) - new activity, usually in business, that involves risk or uncertainty She advised us to look abroad for more lucrative business ventures To reduce (v) - to become or to make something become smaller in size, amount, degree, importance, etc Do nuclear weapons really reduce the risk of war? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode I want to discuss the idea of Universal Basic Income. This is a highly debated and controversial topic, with strong arguments on both sides! Would providing all residents or citizens of a country with small amounts of money on a regular basis improve people's lives? Or is it an Expensive Waste of Money?  Or are there better methods? We’ll address these questions and more in this episode of Thinking in English Transcript! - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/11/12/20-what-is-universal-basic-income-a-good-idea-or-an-expensive-waste-of-money/ Contact Us!!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - thinkinginenglishpod@gmail.com Vocabulary List unprecedented (adj) - never having happened or existed in the past Unemployment has reached an unprecedented level To adapt (v) - to change, or to change something, to suit different conditions or uses Sometimes we have to adapt the design to suit the customers requirements unconditionally (adj) - in a way that is complete and not limited in any way He thanked his mother for being unconditionally supportive Automation (n) - the use of machines and computers that can operate without needing human control Automation will reduce the need for a large, highly skilled workforce Detractor (n) - someone who criticizes something or someone, often unfairly His detractors claim that his personality makes him unsuitable for leadership Proponent (n) - a person who speaks publicly in support of a particular idea or plan of action He is one of the leading proponents of capital punishments To attribute (v) - to say or think that something is the result of a particular thing Her success can be attributed to three main factors Implementation (n) - the act of starting to use a plan or system There will be a delay in implementation of the new regulations To exacerbate (v) - to make something that is already bad even worse This attack will exacerbate the already tense relationship between the two communities To empower (v) - to give someone official or legal authority, or the freedom or confidence to do something We empower our sales staff to make decisions without always having to consult their boss Comprehension Questions Q. The Namibian UBI trial gave 1000 people how much money? A. 100 Namibian dollars every month Q. What did research by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Finland, France, Italy, and the UK conclude? A. It “would not prove to be an effective tool for reducing poverty.” Q. Why did the Swiss government oppose UBI? A.They believe it would encourage fewer people to work and exacerbate the labour and skills shortages. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode I want to introduce you to eight incredibly useful business English idioms! These idioms will make you sound like a native speaker in no time! Transcript - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/11/11/19-eight-useful-business-english-idioms/ Contact Us!!! INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - thinkinginenglishpod@gmail.com Vocabulary List crucial (adj) - extremely important or necessary Her work has been crucial to the project’s success To appreciate (v) - to recognize how good someone or something is and to value him, her, or it There’s no point buying him expensive wines - he doesn’t appreciate them Norm (n) - an accepted standard or a way of behaving or doing things that most people agree with Europe has a variety of cultural, political and ethical norms Auditor (n) - someone whose job is to carry out an official examination of the accounts of a business and to produce a report The external auditors come in once a year Engage in small talk (idiom) - to chat with someone about simple topics such as the weather or one’s career If you think that girl is pretty, why don’t you go over and engage in small talk? To arise (v) - to happen If any complications arise, let me know and i’ll help Idioms covered Big picture By the book Get down to business Hands are tied Learn the ropes On the same page See eye to eye Touch base --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, we will look at democracy. What is democracy? What does democracy look like? Is democracy the best type of government? Transcript! - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2020/11/08/18-what-is-democracy-english-vocabulary-lesson/ Contact Us!!!  INSTAGRAM - thinkinginenglishpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginenglishpodcast/) Twitter - @thinkenglishpod Blog - thinkinginenglish.blog Gmail - thinkinginenglishpod@gmail.com VOCABULARY LIST Under the spotlight (idiom) - if someone or something is under the spotlight, they are thoroughly examined, especially by journalists and the public The new tax law has put his earnings under the spotlight ultimate (adj) - most important My managers will make the ultimate decision about who to employ Feasible (adj) - able to made, done, or achieved With some extra resources, the project will be feasible contemporary (adj) - existing or happening now I don’t like contemporary art To govern (v) - to control and direct the public business of a country, city, group of people etc The country is governed by a military regime Assembly (n) - the process of coming together, or the state of being together The constitution protects freedom of assembly To incorporate (v) - to include something as part of something larger This car incorporates several new safety features judicial (adj) - relating to or done by courts or judges or the legal system The supreme court is the judicial branch of the government consolidated (adj) - made stronger and more certain His power was consolidated after his reelection legitimacy (n) - the quality of being legal, reasonable and acceptable The lawyers expressed serious doubts about the legitimacy of military action Comprehension Questions Q.Where did democracy start? A.Ancient Greece Q.Who is one of my favorite philosophers? A.Rousseau Q.Who said “democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others”? A.WInston Churchill --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thinking-english/support Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices