Cafetalk Tutor's Column

A Book Character I’ll Never Forget: Uhtred of Bebbanburg

Well, this is a tough one. There are so many! Talk about an embarrassment of riches! Today, though,...

Sound More Natural (Without Losing Your Grammar)

Speaking more like a native English speaker isn't about copying every bit of slang or colloquial co...

What’s Cooking Today? Comforting French

Hello everyone!  As the weather cools down, there is nothing quite like a rich, hearty oven bake t...

Let's Say "Oishisō"! (It Looks Delicious!)

Hello, I'm SASYA. I've lived in Osaka for 35 years. Today, let's talk about delicious-looking food....

Should You Start a Business Alone or With a Co-Founder? (How to Choose Right) [CC] CEO Interview #19

  Should you start a business alone or with a co-founder? How do you complement each other's skills...

Living in Chiang Mai

I am now living in the city of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand. When I first made the move here fro...

Feel JAPAN with Yoko chan #01 | 日本の暮らし ―—— Simple Ingredients, Deep Warmth of Home

There is a dish I start craving when the weather turns cold. The other day, I saw shiny, fresh daik...

Why do people take off their shoes at home in Japan?

Konnichiwa, everyone! I’m Juri, a Japanese tutor (^-^)vToday, I’d like to introduce a part of Japan...

Sherlock Holmes: The Mind That Never Stops Thinking

Some fictional characters stay with us long after we finish reading a book, and Sherlock Holmes is ...

Halloween Memories: Growing Up Trick-or-Treating in Canada

When October arrives, my mind often drifts back to my childhood in Canada and one of the most magic...

Feel JAPAN with Yoko chan #02 | 美しい日本語| ほのめかす — The Art of Saying Without Saying

Have you ever heard the Japanese word Honomekasu (ほのめかす)? It means to hint at something or show wha...

A Book Character I'll Never Forget: Sayuri from Memoirs of a Geisha

I remember when Memoirs of a Geisha came out in the late 90s. It was a massive bestseller. I only r...

Communication is Key: 5 Things Native English Speakers Get Wrong

Anyone who has learnt a foreign language will not need telling how challenging it can be. And most ...

Halloween in the Harz Mountains

This year, I celebrated Halloween in a small German town in the Harz Mountains. Halloween feels esp...

Feel JAPAN with Yoko chan #03 | 日本の暮らし ― 霜降 Soko: The Frost Begins to Fall (二十四節気)

Have you ever heard of Nijushi Sekki (二十四節気), the 24 solar terms? In Japan, we divide the year into...

A Gateway to a Thousand Adventures

As a lifelong reader, this is a tough question. Having read probably over a thousand books since I ...

Let's Look at the Folding Screen Painting at Sumiyoshi Taisha!

Hello, I'm SASYA. I've lived in Osaka for 35 years. Today, let's talk about Sumiyoshi Taisha in Osa...

The Challenge of Beginning Again: Learning While Finding My Way

There is something rather daunting about starting something new, particularly when you don't quite ...

日用品を使って身体を鍛える

カーテン、ラップの芯、菜箸、傘、着物の帯締め……。 一見バレエとは関係のないこれらの日用品が、実は姿勢改善や筋力アップ、肩こり予防の素晴らしいツールになることをご存じですか？ 私はレ...

A Challenge That Taught Me Something Valuable

Hello everyone!   This past weekend, it was raining here in Sendai, so my sons and I decided to vis...

Walking the 88 Temples: What Shikoku Taught Me About Pacing

  When I began the 1,200-kilometer Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage in Japan, I assumed my biggest chal...

Holidays

Wow so many holidays.I love them all; the holidays do not have to represent religion or politics or...

A Daunting Task

Nothing earth-shattering here, and I’m sure many of you have had similar experiences, but I was onc...

Morning Routine

I believe that it’s very important to have a morning routine. Something to get you started and read...

Parole e Caffè: Coccola — The Art of a Gentle Hug

Ciao! Welcome back to "Parole e Caffè". I'm Marina, an Italian teacher with 15 years of experience....

Quick tips: route vs course

Both route and course refer to a way of getting from one place to another, but they are used in sli...