Thinking in English

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!

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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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Artificial intelligence is everywhere right now. We use it to write emails, generate images, recommend videos, and even help study English. Some people believe AI will completely change the world, just like the internet did. Others are more sceptical and worry that the excitement has gone too far.

Every day on the news, we hear about new AI startups worth billions of dollars, governments investing huge amounts of money, and tech companies racing to become the next AI leader. There is a lot of optimism, but also a lot of hype.

Some people are starting to question whether we are we seeing real, long-term growth, or are we living through an AI bubble?

In today’s episode of Thinking in English, we’ll explore what an economic bubble really is, look at famous bubbles from history, and ask whether artificial intelligence is following the same pattern or whether this time is different. At the same time, we’ll learn some useful English vocabulary!

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TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2026/02/09/374-is-there-an-ai-bubble-english-vocabulary-lesson/

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Today we’re going to explore a topic that I notice again and again whenever I work with bilingual people, speak with people who are studying a second language, and actually notice inside my own family: code switching.

You’ve probably done it yourself. You start a sentence in English, suddenly use a word from your native language, then switch back again. This is a form of code switching and is extremely common. Code switching happens all around the world, in every culture, anywhere multilingual people communicate.

So, what exactly is code switching? Why do bilingual and multilingual speakers mix languages like this? Is it a sign that your English is improving? Or could it be something that slows down your progress?

In this episode, we’re going to break it down clearly and practically. We’ll look at what code switching is, why people do it, and most importantly how to manage code switching as a language learner!

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TRANSCRIPT - https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2026/02/02/373-what-is-code-switching-a-guide-for-english-learners-english-vocabulary-lesson/

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