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Show notes
**You are invited to a party. The invitation says the party starts at 20:00\. What time will you arrive?** Your answer to this question has a lot to do with your culture. Some of you will have said 20:00 exactly, because that is when the part stats. Others will have said 19:45, because it is polite to be early. Others will have said 20:30… or 21:00… or later because it is awkward to arrive too early. Your answer to my question is connected to how your culture understands time: the direction of time; the use time; punctuality; and more. So today I want to look at the cultural meanings of time, highlight some common cultural misunderstandings that will be relevant for any of you living/studying/or working internationally, and do all of this while introducing new English vocabulary and practicing your English listening comprehension. **Conversation Club -** **TRANSCRIPT -** [](https://thinkinginenglish.blog/2026/05/11/387-why-are-some-people-always-late-the-cultural-meaning-of-time-english-vocabulary-lesson/) **AD Free Episode** \- **Patreon** \- **YouTube Channel** \- **INSTAGRAM** \- ) **$10 Free Credits on iTalki (Affiliate Link) -** [](https://www.italki.com/affshare?ref=af17506448) **My Editing Software (50 % Discount Affiliate Link)** \- Borough by Blue Dot Sessions Contact [advertising@airwavemedia.com](mailto:advertising@airwavemedia.com) 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](https://megaphone.fm/adchoices)