Cafetalk Tutor's Column

The Secret Life of Your Tutor - How My Voice Over Career Improves Your ESL

Giving Your Voice Power: What My Other Job Teaches Me About Tutoring Hello everyone! Thanks for tak...

Behind the Smiles: The Silent Battles We Don’t See.

Every day, countless people wear smiles that hide their pain. They laugh, they work, they listen  y...

Explore the Big Five personality traits

Explore the Big Five personality traits—Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, a...

Thank You for Making My First 10 Lessons Special!

When I started teaching on Cafetalk, I wasn’t sure what to expect — but my first 10 lessons turned...

The R/L Sound Mystery Solved: A Scientific Approach for Japanese Speakers

Introduction Have you ever said "rice" but people heard "lice"? Or maybe you said "light" and...

PHRASAL VERB "to know something / someone inside out"

Hello English-language lovers! For today's column, let's talk about the expression 'to know somethi...

The Power of Shadowing: Transform Your English Pronunciation in 10 Minutes a Day

Introduction What if I told you there's a practice technique that can improve your pronunciation, l...

How Picture Reading Can Boost English Speaking Skills

Picture reading is one of the most effective and engaging ways to help you speak more confidently. ...

FROM DURBAN WITH LOVE: LEARNING ENGLISH THE WARM, SOUTH AFRICAN WAY!

Hello everyone! I'm Selina, your friendly English tutor from sunny South Africa. I believe that lan...

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,...

How to Read & Pronounce Taiwanese (Taigi) in POJ

I just uploaded a new video — Taiwanese Pronunciation in English!  I’ve seen more and more European...

Autumn is a Time of Change - Let's Stay on Track!

Fall (or Autumn) is in the air.  Every day we draw closer to the Holiday Season and, perhaps, farth...

Motivation tends to drop in autumn - how to stay on track

 1. Start Your Day with Purpose Even when it’s dark outside, try to begin your day with something t...

Why Do Dictation?

When I was in school, we did dictation only in elementary school. Sometimes, it'd be part of a wee...

5 Practical Tips to Improve Your English Between Lessons

Whether you're taking Quick Chat sessions or structured lessons, these tips will help you stay acti...

TOEIC Score Breakthrough: The Skills They Don't Test (But You Need for Real English)

Introduction Congratulations! You studied hard and got a 750 on the TOEIC test. That's a grea...

Introducing Me: Your Safe-Space Tutor

Welcome to the A-Team!!! This is your captain, Angie speaking. Thank you for stopping by! Before I ...

What Are Critical Thinking Skills ? Why Do They Matter in English?

Language is not only about words. It is also about how you understand ideas, make connections, and ...

AUTUMN RESET! STAY MOTIVATED AND MOVE FORWARD WITH CONFIDENCE!

As the air becomes cooler and the daylight a little shorter, many learners find their motivation sl...

Beyond 'I'm Fine, Thank You': Responding Naturally in English Conversations

Introduction Let me guess: when someone asks "How are you?", do you always answer "I'm fine, thank ...

My Best Read of the Year: The Book That Sparked a Thousand Conversations!

Hello everyone! I'm Teacher Marinka, and I'm delighted to share my thoughts on this week's topic: T...

In Fine Feather

Blue Jays, Blue Jays sitting in a tree. Blue jays, Blue Jays, how many do you see? Blue Jays, Blue ...

Practice English Through Roleplay: Real-Life Conversations

Want to improve your English speaking skills in everyday situations? ?? Try roleplaying! It’s a fun...

Small Talk Isn't Small: Mastering the Art of English Conversation Starters

Small Talk Isn't Small: Mastering the Art of English Conversation Starters Introduction Imagine thi...

British vs. American English: What Japanese Learners Really Need to Know

Introduction Have you ever been confused about "colour" vs. "color"? Or wondered if you should say ...

The Power of Letting Students Speak!

One of the most important parts of learning English is having time to speak,  to make mistakes, try...

Lost in Translation: Japanese Phrases That Don't Work in English (And What to Say Instead)

Introduction Have you ever said something in English that seemed correct, but native speakers looke...

Stay Motivated with Small Wins 小さな成功でやる気を保とう：ナチュラルな英語のコツ

When we learn a language, we often think we need big progress to feel motivated. But real improveme...

Level Up Your English - Weekend Edition

Weekends feel different, slower mornings, relaxed energy, and a little more freedom to focus on you...

The Scary Truth About a Real Safe Space

It's easy to say "safe space." But, it's harder to face what a real one actual shows you. So, let's...