Thinking in English

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Today, I want to talk about a bias that affects how we think about success. It’s called survivorship bias, and it might be the reason you’re feeling discouraged, unmotivated, or frustrated with your English.

We’ll look at what survivorship bias really is, explore some famous examples from history and business, and then dive into how it appears in the world of language learning.

Most importantly, I’ll give you practical advice to avoid this trap and keep moving forward with confidence.

Borough by Blue Dot Sessions

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What is the world's oldest country?

This question is not as easy to answer as you might think. We need to discuss what a country actually is, the differences between empires, civilisations, and countries, and then find a place that fits this definition.

In this episode I want to introduce you all to a country that I think could be considered the oldest in the world. You might disagree with me, but I think it is an interesting story in any case!

Along the way, we will learn some useful vocabulary.

Borough by Blue Dot Sessions

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London is one of the most famous cities in the world. It is the capital of the United Kingdom. It is a financial centre. An entertainment centre. A culture centre. An academic and educational centre.

But how much do you know about the city’s history?

Today, we are going to go on an historical journey from the Roman invasion of the island of Britain 2000 years ago to the modern day.

Hopefully you’ll learn some interesting history and pick up some useful vocabulary along the way!

Borough by Blue Dot Sessions

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What happens when you stop studying English? I’m sure many of you have thought about this before. 

Will your English get worse? Will you still be able to have conversations? And what can you do to prevent this from happening?

Today I want to look in more depth at language attrition (the opposite of language learning), and at the same time demonstrate some incredibly useful English conjunctions. 

This episode will focus on subordinating conjunctions (I also have two other episodes on coordinating conjunctions and paired conjunctions). Subordinating conjunctions allow us to connect sentence clauses together.

Let’s practice using these conjunctions and discuss English learning in today’s episode of Thinking in English Grammar!

TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2025/06/23/what-happens-when-you-stop-studying-english-subordinating-conjunction-english-grammar-lesson/

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⁠ Borough by Blue Dot Sessions

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YouTube is now 20 years old!

It was officially launched back in 2005, and over the past two decades it has completely transformed the way we use the internet.

Today, over 2.5 billion people use YouTube every single month. Every minute, over 500 hours of video are uploaded. From funny cat videos to political debates, from educational content to viral dance trends… YouTube has become one of the most powerful platforms in the world.

But what was the internet like before YouTube? How did it grow so fast? What impact has it had on culture, education, and even the way we learn English? And what might happen next?

In today’s episode of Thinking in English, we’ll explore the history and influence of YouTube over the past 20 years. I’ll talk about life before YouTube, the story behind its creation, how it’s changed the world, and its potential future.

And of course, I’ll share some tips and advice for English learners, because YouTube can be one of the best tools to help you improve your language skills… if you know how to use it properly!

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Have you ever heard the phrase, “History is written by the victors?”

It suggests that the people who win wars and lead countries often control how we remember the past. And perhaps no historical figure better represents this idea than Winston Churchill.

To many people, especially in the UK and the West, Churchill is a national hero. He is the man who led Britain through its darkest hour in World War Two. His speeches are iconic, his image is legendary, and his name is often linked to courage, resilience, and freedom.

But not everyone sees him this way.

To others, Churchill was a symbol of empire, colonialism, and racism. A man whose decisions caused suffering for millions. He is a hero to some, a villain to others.

In today’s episode of Thinking in English, we’re going to ask a difficult question: Was Winston Churchill a hero… or a villain? We’ll look at his achievements, examine the darker parts of his legacy, and explore why his reputation remains so controversial today.

And as always, I’ll encourage you to think critically and form your own opinion, while learning some new vocabulary!

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TRANSCRIPT - ⁠https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2025/05/26/339-pluto-what-is-a-planet-english-vocabulary-lesson/⁠

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Borough by Blue Dot Sessions

Contact [email protected] to advertise on Thinking in English. Thinking in English is part of the ⁠Airwave Media podcast network.

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In many countries, free speech is a fundamental or basic right. According to some people, this right is currently at risk. People are starting to believe that free speech is in danger. 

Today I want to look in more depth at this topic. What is the biggest threat to free speech at the moment? Is it censorship? Or is it misinformation?

In order to talk about free speech, and many other topics, we need to understand and know how to use paired conjunctions.

Paired conjunctions are very useful. They allow us to connect words, phrases, or ideas together, and are always used in pairs.

Let’s practice using paired conjunctions and discuss free speech in today’s episode of Thinking in English Grammar!

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TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2025/06/02/censorship-misinformation-and-the-future-of-free-speech-paired-conjunctions-english-grammar-lesson/

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⁠ Borough by Blue Dot Sessions

Contact ⁠[email protected]⁠ to advertise on Thinking in English.

Thinking in English is part of the ⁠Airwave Media⁠ podcast network.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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How many planets are in our solar system? Is it eight… or nine?

For a long time, children around the world were taught that our solar system had nine planets, including a small, distant one named Pluto. But in 2006, Pluto was reclassified. It was no longer considered a “real” planet, and the official number of planets dropped to just eight.

Why did this happen? Why was Pluto removed from the list of planets? And what exactly is a planet anyway?

In today’s episode of Thinking in English, we’ll look at what a planet actually is, why Pluto used to be a planet but isn’t anymore, and how science changes over time. We’ll also talk about the history of planet discoveries, like Neptune and Uranus, and how our understanding of the solar system has developed.

This episode is also a great chance to learn scientific vocabulary and practice thinking critically in English. We’ll explain important terms like orbit, gravity, dwarf planet, and clearing its orbit. And we’ll discuss some fascinating facts about space, science, and the nature of definitions themselves.

So… is Pluto really a planet? Or not? Let’s find out.

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TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2025/05/26/339-pluto-what-is-a-planet-english-vocabulary-lesson/

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Borough by Blue Dot Sessions

Contact [email protected] to advertise on Thinking in English. Thinking in English is part of the Airwave Media podcast network.

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A few weeks ago, I took a trip to the southern Japanese city of Nagasaki.

Nagasaki is an incredible place with a lot of fascinating history. It was one of the only Christian cities in Japan. It was the only place in Japan open to foreigners for hundreds of years. And an atomic bomb was dropped on the city at the end of the Second World War.

Today, I want to share the story of Nagasaki with all of you listening. Let’s learn some important history while practicing our English comprehension!

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TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2025/05/19/338-history-of-nagasaki-from-christianity-to-atomic-bombs-english-vocabulary-lesson/

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Borough by Blue Dot Sessions

Contact [email protected] to advertise on Thinking in English. Thinking in English is part of the Airwave Media podcast network.

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In this episode of Thinking in English, I want to explore the life, work, and legacy of Isaac Newton.

We’ll look at his most important discoveries, some of the controversies and mysteries that surrounded his life, and ask the big question: is Newton really the greatest scientific mind of all time?

Whether you're interested in history, science, or just want to improve your English while learning something fascinating, I think you will enjoy this episode!

Borough by Blue Dot Sessions

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