Cafetalk Tutor's Column

Before Easter comes Holy Week: A look at its surprising traditions

Have you ever seen a festival where thousands of people walk quietly through the streets at midnigh...

Conquering Interview Stress

Let's be honest, job interviews are stressful in any language. In English? That stress can feel mul...

Can You Order Safely in Japan? Learn 3 Must-Know Japanese Phrases 　日本で安心して注文できる？覚えておきたい日本語フレーズ3つ

レストランで使える日本語フレーズ 日本（にほん）でレストランに行（い）くとき、食（た）べられないものやアレルギーがある人（ひと）は、しっかり伝（つた）えることが大切（たいせつ）です。 In Japa...

Talking about books in English: Part 1

One of my goals for 2026 is to read more books, so today I’d like to share some vocabulary for talk...

Let's stay in touch over Easter!

It's nearly time for my favourite annual event - attempting to eat my bodyweight in chocolate!    W...

Study Smart, Live Fully. Help to Finding Your Perfect Balance

Many students think they must choose: study hard or relax and enjoy life. But the truth is, you nee...

TED Talk Video Lesson / TEDトークのビデオのレッスン

https://www.ted.com/talksThe internationally famous TED Talks are speeches given by experts to audi...

April Fools: Harmless Fun or One Joke Too Far?

April Fools’ Day, observed on 1 April,  is one of those holidays people have mixed feelings about. ...

April Fools: Idioms about pranks and tricks

April Fools' Day always reminds me how rich languages are when it comes to humor, deception, and be...

My Favorite Book and Why Students of Business English Should Read It

There are many great books to read by students looking to improve their Business English including:...

Productivity and Fake Productivity : Rethinking how you learn a language

There is a moment many language learners know too well.   You sit down, open your notebook, review ...

April Fools: A tradition of trickery

Every year on April 1st, something delightful happens: the world collectively decides to loosen up....

?? Why Rick Owens Is a Fashion Genius

Fashion is often seen as trends, brands, and clothing—but some designers go far beyond that. One of...

Fear of making mistakes? A different way to look at it

There is a moment most language learners know, even if they don’t always talk about it.   You know,...

English through recipes - Chicken Cacciatore

Hello everyone, I hope you are all well. I'm great! This is a short post to share a recent Italian ...

やばい（yabai) - From Danger to Awesome!

「やばい」は、いつから“最高”になったのか？ "Yabai" is a very mysterious and convenient word. 「やばい」は、とても ふしぎで、べんりな ことばです...

Speak Better English: A Wheel-y Good Fantasy Series!

Speak Better English: A Wheel-y Good Fantasy Series! Reading for pleasure • Useful vocabulary •...

A favourite book - Journey to the River Sea

One of my favourite books as a child and one I still like to re-read as an adult occassionally is "...

「エモい (emoi)」って、どんな意味？

さいきん、「エモい」という ことばを よく ききます。Recently, you often hear the word “emoi” in Japan. SNSや ともだちとの かいわで、よく つ...

When a Word Sounds Negative: A Quick Look at English Sound Symbolism

In a lesson last night, one of my students and I were discussing whether words themselves can be “g...

A Simple and Powerful Book to Improve Your English

My favourite book is Animal Farm by George Orwell. I like this book because it is simple to read bu...

Lessons from Bible Stories: Timeless Wisdom for Everyday Life

  Bible stories are more than ancient tales—they are powerful lessons that still guide us today. Fr...

“Your second life begins when you realize you only have one” / Why this book stayed with me

This week’s topic is about a favorite book.   I don’t really have one “favorite” book. But there is...

April Fool!

Some people celebrate April Fools’ Day by pranking their friends and family on the first day of Apr...

Don't forget about yourself!

A lot of times we are stuck on our routines and focused on our works and problems, that we forget t...

Historic Moon Mission by NASA

NASA’s Artemis II mission, launched yesterday April 1st 2026, marks humanity’s first crewed journey...

Hans Christian Andersen’s Complete Fairy Tales: My Favorite Book!

Hans Christian Andersen’s tales are so famous that they’re part of our collective memory; who doesn...

Why confidence comes after speaking, not before

At some point, when you’re learning a language, this thought usually comes up:   “I’ll speak when I...

Travel Smart, Speak Confidently at Hotels

Have you ever felt nervous speaking English when checking into a hotel? Or unsure what to sa...

Small Choices...Big Impact

 Taking a moment to reflect on our actions can be one of the most powerful steps toward creating a ...