Cafetalk Tutor's Column

When and why did you decide to become a teacher?

Photo: A lesson in my old classroom I have been an English teacher for 15 years, but before that I...

The Turkish tense that shows you how you know

Have you ever seen people online calling Turkish “-miş” the “gossip tense”? It went viral for a rea...

New Lessons for 2026: Dive into Culture, Conversations, and Ancient Wonders

We’re a few weeks into 2026, and I’m excited to share with you some fresh additions to my lesson l...

Why did I decide to be a teacher? When did I decide?

Initially, tutoring was a hobby. Gradually, I started to replace my other activities with tutoring....

When and Why I Became a Teacher

I became a teacher in 2021, working at a daycare centre with young children. That experience change...

Why am I a Teacher?

I could say that my teachign story starts in university. I could say that my desire to teach began ...

Daily English Upgrade #006: Mini-Conversation — Small talk opener + 2 follow-ups

Small talk gets easier when you stop trying to be “perfect” and use a simple flow. Opener: How’s yo...

Idioms - useful and fun!

Hello everyone!I often find idioms are a useful way of quickly checking how fluent in English someo...

Elevate your Japanese skills!!

Hello to all Japanese learners! I’m Chii, a professional Japanese writing correction specialist. To...

Veronika the Cow and What Farm Life Taught Me

Recently, in a discussion lesson, we touched on the story of Veronika, a cow who made headlines for...

Daily English Upgrade #005: Better Questions — “What’s your take on…?”

  Want smoother conversations? Ask better questions. Instead of: “Do you like it?” Try: What’s your...

I jumped back up in the tutor rankings!

Thank you to all of the students and the Cafetalk team for helping me move up the tutor rankings in...

Winter weather words

Photo: winter weather in TorontoIt’s noon in Toronto and I’m sipping tea and looking out the window...

What Donald Trump Can Teach You About English

A question I recieve often from students, has often been all too easy to answer: "Is my English goo...

Going to the movies = Going to the "School of Rock"

I was so happy when I saw the weekly topic because I am someone who is a little bit obsessed with m...

Daily English Upgrade #004: Tone Control — “Send it today” → “Could you send it today?”

Same message — very different feeling. Direct (can sound too strong): Send it today. Neutral / pol...

The Book(s) That Changed My Life

Once again, I’ve seen this week’s topic and decided I would break the rules. What can I say?  I’m a...

Daily English Upgrade #003: JP Trap Fix — “I’m agree” → “I agree”

Quick fix that instantly makes you sound more natural: √ I agree. (Correct)X I’m agree. (Incorrect)...

The first propulsive--offensive action in this world

Propulsive thought: How ideas become the first offensive actionHow a profound idea, born from deep ...

A Turkish Phrase You Can’t Translate Directly: “Kolay Gelsin”

Hello! I’m Emine, a native Turkish speaker and a Turkish tutor. Today, I’d like to introduce you to...

Question about writing a decent proper English article.

Question: Why I no longer write English learning articles here? Answer: Because I have come to real...

Daily English Upgrade #002: Micro-Pattern — “The main reason is…”

  This pattern helps you sound clear and organized: Pattern:The main reason is + (noun / clause). ...

English Idioms Challenge - Week 1

Hey all! Starting a weekly English learning challenge: to try & use this idiom in your next les...

Daily English Upgrade #001: Say It Better — “I think so”

Quick upgrade for today. “I think so” is correct, but it can sound a little flat. Try these instead...

'A silent voice' echoed through my life

One of the movies that has deeply influenced me is A Silent Voice. It is an anime film about school...

Learn English with Naeemah

I know that learning English can be a challenge at times, and sometimes what we all need is a teach...

I'm back!

Photo: The view from my wife's room at St. Michael's Hospital in downtown Toronto, where we spent m...

New Business English lesson: Talking about your job and company

“What company do you work for?”   “What’s your job?”   If you meet someone in a business situation,...

A Movie to remember

My favorite movie that influenced me is definitely “Mean Girls” (2004). This movie takes me back to...

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

この本が好きな理由は、文章がそれほど難しくなく、親しみやすいキャラクターのおかげで英語で読むことが楽しいからです。 この本から学んだことは、英語の読書は勉強のように感じる必要はなく、楽しく没入できる...