Cafetalk Tutor's Column

Small Talk

Once, years ago, an old classmate of mine was injured in a bad car accident. A mutual friend and I ...

ビジネス英語シリーズ #1

Are you preparing for a job interview in English? Understanding and answering behavioral interview ...

Happy Canada Day!

Photo bysebastiaan stam onUnsplash July 1st is Canada Day, so let me share a few facts about my co...

You absolutely crushed it!

One of the most memorable compliments I have received came after a special time spent with friends....

Singing for the Eagles: A Compliment I'll Never Forget ᵎᵎ( ๑˃̶ ꇴ ˂̶)♪ ⁺｡o

Back in April 2022, I received the best compliment of my life. For those who don’t know, I am a hug...

Delicious!

Hello! I am a Japanese language tutor, Muu.. I'm going to write about this week's topic, "The happi...

「V」起來 / the Usage of "V起來(qǐlái) " / 『「V」起來』の使い方

"V"起來 (V起来) "V"起來 is a unique expression in Mandarin Chinese, where the meaning is determined by th...

Gem of Africa: Livingstone, Zambia. The ultimate holiday destination.

Nestled in the heart of Southern Africa, Livingstone, Zambia is a captivating holiday destination t...

Your Comfort First: Camera-OFF Lessons Available

Hello Students! I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to remind you that it is perfectly fin...

We took this for granted so long...

How many ways do you know to say goodbye?   farewell adieu hooray check you au revoir ciao auf Wied...

IELTS Series #2

In this crucial part of the IELTS exam, you'll encounter four sections, each presenting different a...

Does my brain store harmful ideologies?

Our nostrils are constantly inhaling the dust unconsciously, meanwhile, our minds are collecting fa...

Breaking down kurzgesagt's most controversial video of 2024

  Kurzgesagt —in a nutshell. This YouTube channel focuses on minimalistic animated educational cont...

Quick tips: pregnancy

As one of my students pointed out to me recently, there are many ways to express the idea of being ...

Chiang Mai: The Jewel of Northern Thailand

Thailand, a country renowned for its rich culture, stunning landscapes, and warm hospitality, is a ...

Embracing Change & a Fresh Start

Hello everyone,  (ෆ˙ᵕ˙ෆ)♡ I wanted to share a little story about a recent change I made in my life—...

IELTS Series Video #1

Curious about the IELTS exam structure?   Watch the video for a quick summary of the exam's format:...

The Soft Skill Advantage: Harnessing Emotional Intelligence for Workplace Dominance

In the numbers-driven world of business, it's easy to forget that we're all just humans - with feel...

和製英語 - スキルアップ

image: pxhere (no attribution required)なぜそれが間違いなのか   “Skill”（「スキル」）は名詞であり、動詞ではありません。   例えば、こんな感じです ...

Speak Naturally Using Phrasal Verbs

In my classes, I emphasize the importance of using phrasal verbs to make your speech sound more nat...

La Bise en France - フランスの挨拶

La bise est une tradition française. C'est une façon de dire bonjour et au revoir. On touche la jou...

Bye-Bye, Boring Memos: Business Writing for the Modern Age

Things are changing - and nowhere is that more clear than in business writing. As the workplace evo...

Quick tips: have + time vs. spend + time

To talk about the quality or duration of your experiences, you can use “have + (quality adjective) ...

Day of the Seafarer (船員デー)

Hello. I am a Japanese language tutor, Muu.In Japan, Kyushu region, Shikoku region, and Honshu:the ...

Strategies to improving your Linkedin Profile

LinkedIn is a powerful platform for professionals looking to enhance their online presence, network...

Elevate Your Business English: A Crash Course in Mastering Idioms and Key Terms

Let's be honest - the world of business can sometimes feel like its own secret language. Between th...

Visiting Niagara Falls

This week I visited Niagara Falls for just the second time in my life. The bus ride from Toronto’s ...

Effective Paraphrasing in the IELTS Speaking Tests

Dear students, As you some of you will already know, I am constantly encouraging you to paraphrase ...

Tablet from Scotland

'Tablet' means many things but in Scotland, it is likely to refer to a sweet. It was written down i...

New swan buddy

A few days ago I went for a swim at the "Starnberger See". It's a pretty big and famous lake (See) ...