Cafetalk 講師專欄

Have you heard of the P.I.E. Theory? It’s NOT what you think - keep reading!

No, not the kind of pie you order at a café. I’m talking about the P.I.E. Theory — a concept that c...

New Business English lesson: Giving your opinion in meetings

Many business meetings are in English.   If you do business with foreign companies it’s likely that...

It's Finally Spring - 日記の練習~!

Long time, no Japanese practice!   I've been sleeping on my Japanese practice, and the effect has b...

「んです」って どうやって使うの？／How Do You Use “-n desu (んです)”?

A：ただいま！ B：おかえり。おなかが すいたんですか。   ・・・これ、実は 少し へんなんです。   どうしてでしょう？ 「んです」は、 つかえるときと、つかえないときが あります。     ...

Weekly Topic Wednesdays: Sharing Your Best Seasonal Memories

Weekly Topic Wednesdays Sharing Your Best Seasonal Memories Conversation • Seasonal Activities ...

Can You Speak Confidently in Business English? Let's Practice

Do you freeze up when your boss or business partner asks you a question in English? Do you know wha...

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 ...

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...

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...

Pop Culture Tuesdays: 'Read the Room'

Pop Culture Tuesday How to 'Read the Room' Social English • Idioms • Pop Culture "Read the ro...

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...

My thoughts on poetry and drawing: Why I create.

People often ask why I keep writing and drawing, even though it has never brought me a single penn...

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...

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...

Mother's Day Celebration

Happy Mother's Day to me and all the amazing mamas in the world!Mother’s Day has always been specia...

Thank You for 10 Lessons on Cafetalk!

I’m happy to share that I’ve officially completed my first 10 lessons on Cafetalk! ??Thank you so m...

Spring plans

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

Why is the Waite Smith Tarot so Popular?

1 Main Reason

Water Cooler Sundays: How to Level up 'My Hobby Is...'

 Sunday Watercooler How to Level up 'My Hobby Is...' Small Talk • Hobbies • Conversation Skills...

【一週兩次・讀台灣】雪霸直播「黃魚鴞」育雛：大幼鳥練習飛行，親鳥忙照顧

【一週兩次・讀台灣】 教科書を飛び出し、台湾の「今」を知り、生きた台湾華語をマスターしませんか？ 毎週2回、最新の台湾ニュースを題材に、台湾特有の文化、時代を映す言い回し、そして興味深い社会現象を...

Many Professionals Already Know Enough English

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

Embarrassing Stories: The 'My Pace' Misunderstanding

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

六個讓華語口說更好的方法｜熱愛研究語言學習的晴老師

大家好，我是晴老師。 今日は、中国語のスピーキング力を伸ばしたい日本人学習者の方へ、私の経験からいくつかアドバイスを共有したいと思います。 這些建議特別適合已經學到中級以上程度，或對華語口說特別有...

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...

Speak Uninterrupted - The Speaking Drill

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

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....

Study Playlists~Does Music Help You Focus?

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

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...

Office Hour Thursdays: Giving Good Feedback

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

Quick tips: up to (number/amount)

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