Explore the fascinating history of critical thinking, from the Socratic method in ancient Greece to the development of the scientific method. Learn how questioning dogma has fueled human progress for centuries.
Explore the fascinating history of critical thinking, from the Socratic method in ancient Greece to the development of the scientific method. Learn how questioning dogma has fueled human progress for centuries.
Feeling overwhelmed by information? Join the English Plus Podcast for Critical Thinking Week. Learn to spot fallacies, challenge biases, and get a practical toolkit to sharpen your mind.
Explore the debate: Should we read a book on its own, or does an author’s biography add profound meaning? Discover how the lives of Tolkien, Woolf, and Baldwin shaped their timeless works.
Ever wonder where innovation comes from? Explore how asking “Imagine what if” – a practice rooted in literature – has shaped our reality, from technology to social change, and how you can use it to rewrite your own world.
A deep dive into the intersection of AI and literature. We explore if AI can be truly creative, the philosophical questions of authorship, and how AI might augment—not replace—human writers.
Develop a reading habit and improve your English listening! A friendly librarian gives five practical tips. Includes script, vocabulary, and a 10-question quiz for exam prep.
In our final episode, we look at the state of literature in our interconnected world. We explore how themes of migration, diaspora, and hybrid identities have come to the forefront. Featuring authors from Oceania, the Caribbean, and the global diaspora, we discuss how technology and globalization are shaping the future of storytelling and creating a truly “world” literature.
This episode celebrates the immense diversity of African literature, from the ancient oral storytelling traditions of the Griots to the powerful emergence of post-colonial writing. We’ll discuss how authors like Chinua Achebe, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie have used literature to reclaim their history, grapple with the legacy of colonialism, and forge new identities.
We explore the vibrant and revolutionary literature of Latin America in the 20th century. This episode discusses how a generation of writers like Borges, García Márquez, and Allende blended indigenous mythology, political turmoil, and surrealism to create “Magical Realism”—a unique literary style that captured the complex reality of a continent.
This episode focuses on the monumental contribution of 19th-century Russia to world literature. We delve into the minds of masters like Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, and Chekhov, who perfected the psychological novel and used it to explore the depths of human consciousness, morality, suffering, and redemption with unparalleled intensity.
Discover the groundbreaking solutions changing how we fight global poverty. Learn about microfinance, Universal Basic Income (UBI), and mobile money—unconventional tools that empower, not just aid.
Enhance your listening skills for international exams with this advanced listening practice. Hear a report on how climate change impacts farmers and test your comprehension with 10 questions.
We romanticize the starving artist myth, but is it a creative truth or a convenient lie? This article dismantles the idea that hardship fuels great art, exploring how the cognitive tax of true scarcity can kill inspiration. Discover why a safety net, not suffering, might be the true key to unlocking our world’s greatest creative potential.
Why do poor countries stay poor? Explore the systemic reasons, from colonialism’s economic legacy and unfair trade rules to debt traps, and discover how the global economy can perpetuate poverty.
Sharpen your English listening skills for international exams with this advanced practice test. Listen to a powerful speech on child poverty and answer 10 challenging comprehension questions.
How do words like “handout” versus “lifeline” shape our reality? This article explores the subtle grammar of judgment we use when discussing poverty, revealing how our vocabulary can build invisible walls of stigma. Discover how the connection between language and poverty impacts perception and policy, and ask yourself: if we changed our words, could we change our world?