Cafetalk Tutor's Column

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Sometimes companies use tricky grammar in their advertising, grammar that makes a product sound won...

Speak Uninterrupted - The Speaking Drill

You may already know enough English to communicate in daily life or at work — but speaking for long...

Music and Studying: Powerful Tool or Hidden Distraction?

Whether you’re a student cramming for exams or a language learner polishing your skills, the questi...

Embarrassing Stories: The 'My Pace' Misunderstanding

Saturday Embarrassing Stories  The 'My Pace' Misunderstanding Wasei-Eigo • Business English • C...

English at the Workplace and Communicating Beyond Technical Knowledge

In many professional environments, success depends not only on technical ability, but also on the a...

Boston's Art in Bloom Show

One of the most anticipated shows at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts is Art in Bloom. The show is spec...

Office Hour Thursdays: Giving Good Feedback

Thursday Office Hours Giving Good Feedback at the Office Business English • Professional Commun...

Weekly Topic: ♫Hit the Right Note!♫

Wednesday Weekly Topic Hit the Right Note Study Habits • Focus and Concentration • Learning Sci...

Study Playlists~Does Music Help You Focus?

Music can make studying feel more enjoyable, but does it really help you focus? For many students, ...

Many Professionals Already Know Enough English

Confidence First: Why Many Professionals Already Know Enough English One thing I have noticed while...

To AI or not to AI - Finding Balance in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

I was approached by a previous student to proofread an assignment that she had to submit.  She was ...

Things That Seem Strange Until You Try Them

Last summer we moved back to Shiga and once again live beside Lake Biwa. Recently I was looking thr...

Does music help you focus

It depends on the person and the kind of music, but for many people, yes—music can help with focus....

Water Cooler Sundays: How to Level up 'My Hobby Is...'

 Sunday Watercooler How to Level up 'My Hobby Is...' Small Talk • Hobbies • Conversation Skills...

Autumn for Me, Spring for You! Something fun i will do this season

Hey everyone!   So here’s a fun little fact: right now, you and I are living in completely differen...

How a fat dictionary and a lot of fear led me to Japan

To tell the truth, when I was at school, English was one of my least favorite subjects. I never kne...

Spring plans

Photo: Allan Gardens (in Toronto) in MayThere are also a couple of things that I’ve already done so...

My thoughts on poetry and drawing: Why I create.

If you would like to talk about beauty, art, philosophy, or poetry, I'm here for you! :)This intro...

A Leopard doesn't change its Spots

This is a little story I wrote to illustrate the idiom 'A Leopard doesn't change its Spots’Senzo wa...

Have you heard of the P.I.E. Theory? It’s NOT what you think - keep reading!

No, not the kind of pie you order at a café. I’m talking about the P.I.E. Theory — a concept that c...

Can You Speak Confidently in Business English? Let's Practice

Do you freeze up when your boss or business partner asks you a question in English? Do you know wha...

Why is the Waite Smith Tarot so Popular?

1 Main Reason

Pop Culture Tuesdays: 'Read the Room'

Pop Culture Tuesday How to 'Read the Room' Social English • Idioms • Pop Culture "Read the ro...

New Business English lesson: Giving your opinion in meetings

Many business meetings are in English.   If you do business with foreign companies it’s likely that...

「んです」って どうやって使うの？／How Do You Use “-n desu (んです)”?

A：ただいま！ B：おかえり。おなかが すいたんですか。   ・・・これ、実は 少し へんなんです。   どうしてでしょう？ 「んです」は、 つかえるときと、つかえないときが あります。     ...

Thank You for 10 Lessons on Cafetalk!

I’m happy to share that I’ve officially completed my first 10 lessons on Cafetalk! ??Thank you so m...

Breathing Moment

Life has a way of getting busy and we end up being overwhelmed by all its bustles and hustles. As I...

Weekly Topic Wednesdays: Sharing Your Best Seasonal Memories

Weekly Topic Wednesdays Sharing Your Best Seasonal Memories Conversation • Seasonal Activities ...

Mother's Day Celebration

Happy Mother's Day to me and all the amazing mamas in the world!Mother’s Day has always been specia...

Office Hours Thursdays: Professional Disagreement

Office Hours THURSDAYS A Guide to Professional Disagreement Business English • Meeting Skills •...