Cafetalk Tutor's Column

When a Word Sounds Negative: A Quick Look at English Sound Symbolism

In a lesson last night, one of my students and I were discussing whether words themselves can be “g...

Why do people eat chocolate bunnies during Easter?

Photo: Chocolate bunnies at SOMA Chocolatemaker in TorontoAnother Easter holiday has come and gone ...

Hans Christian Andersen’s Complete Fairy Tales: My Favorite Book!

Hans Christian Andersen’s tales are so famous that they’re part of our collective memory; who doesn...

Who is 'Uchi'?（「うち」ってだれ？）

  日本語で「わたし」を言ういろいろな言い方 ある日、町で高校生の女の子の会話が聞こえました。 One day, I heard some high school girls talking in ...

Small Choices...Big Impact

 Taking a moment to reflect on our actions can be one of the most powerful steps toward creating a ...

Why confidence comes after speaking, not before

At some point, when you’re learning a language, this thought usually comes up:   “I’ll speak when I...

Travel Smart, Speak Confidently at Hotels

Have you ever felt nervous speaking English when checking into a hotel? Or unsure what to sa...

“I Can Pronounce the Words… But People Still Don’t Understand Me” Why Pronunciation Practice Alone Doesn’t Lead to Clear Speech

  You can pronounce the words. You’ve practiced the sounds. You’ve repeated sentences. You’ve worke...

Why Vietnamese Final Sounds Are a Nightmare – And How I Help Students Master Them in Just Three Lessons

Inspired by a Japanese student struggling with Vietnamese final sounds, I developed a self-created,...

Speak Better English: Embarrassing Stories #004

Speak Better English: Embarrassing Stories #004 Work / Introductions / Social Norms “I’m a fres...

Business English Lesson: Telephone conversation

image credit: https://pixabay.com/users/corysal-17115153/ Have you ever spoken on the phone in a fo...

Looking Up

For 28 years, I worked as cabin crew, flying across the world. My focus was always on where I was ...

New season, New goals; What are you learning this Spring?

Happy Spring to all my students in Japan. This season is all about fresh starts. While many of you ...

English Idioms Challenge - Week 10

Hey all! Welcome back to a column dedicated to English idioms!    This is the tenth English learnin...

Learning Something New This Spring

Spring is the perfect season for growth, not only in nature, but also in our learning. This year, I...

Learning something new… when you don’t have time

“If you really want it, you’ll find time.” I think we've all heard that sentence. And... I’ve never...

How Cooking Teaches Learning: Vegan Food Science and the Way We Use English

This spring, I’ve been spending the time between my lessons in the kitchen—not only cooking, but le...

The Walking Notebook Method: Powerful Learning for the Spring!

Hello everyone! It’s Crista here.   As the weather warms up and the cherry blossoms bloom, spring a...

How to Get Band 7+ in IELTS Writing Task 2

  First and foremost, many students struggle because they do not understand the question properly.F...

Learning Something New for Spring!

With warmer weather upon us folks in the northern hemisphere, spring can be a great season to refle...

The Colors of the Moon

We tend to think of the Moon as a constant, white, silent, familiar. A fixed companion that hangs a...

Coversational- Open Topic

Feel free to talk about anything , While improving your speaking, understanding, listening and pron...

5 minutes is enough… but not for the reason you think

“Just do 5 minutes a day.”   That is something I have heard a lot.   It sounds simple. Almost too s...

Building Confidence in Speech

One of the most common questions students ask is: “How can I feel more confident when I speak Engli...

Learning something new this spring

Basic Conversational English Learn 10–20 daily phrases Practice short conversations Great for kids ...

Speak Better English: Rise and Shine!

Speak Better English: Rise and Shine! Morning routines • Daily habits • Productivity How you ...

Simple Morning habits for a Better Day.

Simple Morning Habits for a Better Day I used to wake up feeling rushed and overwhelmed. Then I sta...

Start Your Day Right: Simple Morning Habits for a Better Day

How you start your morning can shape the rest of your day. You don’t need a complicated routine to ...

Why Reading News Articles Can Make You A Stronger Speaker

In my experience as a teacher, one of the most effective ways to improve speaking isn’t through iso...

“I Understand… Until Someone Is Listening”: Why Thinking in Real Time Changes the Way You Speak

You understand the idea. You can explain it to yourself. You can even write it clearly. But when so...