Thinking in English

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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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, grew into one of the largest slave ports in the world, and at one time was the only city in the America’s to be the capital of a European Empire. We’ll explore how the city built its fortunes based on gold and coffee, and the how the city has developed in the modern period.

And we’ll also practice your English listening comprehension and learn some new vocabulary at the same time!

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