Cafetalk Tutor's Column

Learn English or Portuguese with Confidence!

Hello everyone!  Olá a todos! My name is Hikmat, and I’m an English and Portuguese tutor who enjoys...

BBC Ideas - short BBC documentary videos, with subtitles

https://www.bbc.co.uk/topics/cxw2g82zr01t BBC Ideas is a collection of short documentary videos fro...

Study Playlists: Does Music Help You Focus? A Polyglot & Expert Perspective

Hello everyone! I’m Monica, and as a language teacher with a Master’s degree and over 5 years of t...

Music blocks noise in my head during studying

While studying, I sometimes play music in the background but not too loud that it gets distracting,...

Quick tips: up to (number/amount)

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

Embarrassing Stories: The 'My Pace' Misunderstanding

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

What a "good lesson" actually looks like (for me)

Most people imagine a "good lesson" as something meticulously structured. Like a rigid lesson plan,...

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...

The reason why stress upsets your stomach

Have you ever felt butterflies in your stomach before a big event or noticed how stress can upset y...

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...

My First 10 Lessons?? A Journey Worth Taking

I have just completed my 10th lesson on Cafetalk.It has been an amazing 2weeks as a new tutor! When...

Speak Uninterrupted - The Speaking Drill

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

Weekly Topic: ♫Hit the Right Note!♫

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

Office Hour Thursdays: Giving Good Feedback

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

A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

This is a little story I wrote to illustrate the idiom 'A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing’ As a struggling...

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...

Study Playlists: Does Music Help You Focus?

My brothers were brilliant at school. They always topped their classes, and I often wondered how th...

Many Professionals Already Know Enough English

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

Struggling to Speak English? You are Not Alone!

Many students feel shy or afraid of making mistakes, but thats`s how we learn. Making mistakes is o...

Study Playlists~Does Music Help You Focus?

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

Mindset Mondays: Your English Progress Is Not Invisible

Your English Progress Is Not Invisible Motivation • Mindset • Consistency I'm Not Getting An...

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....

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

Spring plans

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

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...

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...