Cafetalk 讲师专栏

5 Effective Ways to Prepare for Your Online Lessons

I've been teaching online for some years, and I've noticed something interesting. The students who...

Self-Motivation Is Hard — But a Positive Mindset Is Power

Let’s be honest: self-motivation is not always easy. There are days when you feel tired, discourage...

“If You Could Master One Skill Overnight, What Would It Be?”

Imagine waking up tomorrow with one new skill mastered. Would it be speaking another language, play...

Prepare yourself before and online class

How to Speak When You Don’t Know the Word

One of the most frustrating moments in English is this: You are speaking. You are confident. You kn...

Why are you studying English?

We often feel anxiety when we are learning something new. When you are a beginner at a new language...

学中文也能很有年味--马年大吉

??马年到！你知道这些“马”成语吗？ 说到马，你会想到什么？速度、冲劲、好运、一路向前。 在中文里，“马”也常出现在祝福语和成语里——短短四个字，气势拉满、寓意满分。 今年是马年，一起把这些高频“马...

【日本の日常 #03】猫の日｜ JP/EN/繁中

2月22日は「猫の日」です。理由はとても日本らしいもの。数字の「2」を「にゃん」と読む語呂合わせから、「にゃん・にゃん・にゃん」で猫の日になりました。日本では、数字の読み方を使った語呂合わせがよく見...

Preparing for an Online Lesson (especially if you're nervous!)

I've had a number of people tell me they get nervous before their first session with a new teacher,...

Canada at the Winter Olympics: The good, the bad, and the ugly

Photo: Canadian men's curling teamThe 2026 Winter Olympic Games have wrapped up, and Team Canada wa...

【台湾旅行 #00】はじまり｜ JP/EN/繁中

3月の終わりごろ、3泊4日で台湾に行くことになりました。   今回の旅行は、主人の勤続20周年のお祝いです。 家族でその節目をお祝いできたらと思い、台湾へ行くことにしました。   今回は台北から入り...

The Real Reason You’re Afraid to Speak English

Many English learners believe they are afraid to speak because their grammar is not perfect. But in...

Tarot: A.I. versus Human

Can AI read tarot accurately? Yes. Somewhat. Is it better than a human? It depends on how deeply y...

Do you have questions? Tutors are here to help!

We can sometimes feel shy when working with a tutor.  However, our tutors are here to help!  They l...

【湘南ライフ #03】700年以上続くメンテナンス｜JP/EN/繫中

鎌倉のシンボルである「鎌倉大仏」。この大仏様がなぜ外にいるのか、ご存知でしょうか？もともとは立派な「大仏殿（建物）」の中に安置されていました。しかし、14世紀と15世紀に相次いだ台風や大津波によって...

Why Singing Is the Best Way to Fix Your Accent

Spring flowers

Walking in my local park recently has been a real pleasure because the spring bulbs are really bloo...

几(jǐ)--how can beginners use 几(jǐ) to ask questions?

你会用“几”来问问题吗？（HSK1 超实用） Can you ask questions with “jǐ (几)”?很多初学者学会了“什么 / 谁 / 哪儿”，但一到问数量、年龄、时间、日期就卡住...

Daily English Upgrade #030: Say It Better — “Thank you” (natural, strong versions)

“Thank you” is great. These upgrades sound warmer and more natural. Simple upgrades: Thanks, I appr...

Speak Better English: Admit You Have No Idea!

Speak Better English: Admit You Have No Idea! Communication / Confidence / Asking Questions "Ye...

Happy Birthday to me!

It's my birthday!   No, not my actual birthday...unfortunately that falls in late December ;-)   It...

Feeling inadequate is not a verdict. It is a phase.

The problem is not the feeling — it’s the conclusion we attach to it. Inadequacy often whispers: “Y...

【東京駅周辺 #04】キャラクターの世界｜JP/EN/繫中

東京駅の地下には、「東京キャラクターストリート」というかわいらしい世界があります。さまざまなキャラクターショップが並ぶのですが、その中でも最近特に人気なのが「ちいかわ」のショップです。注目すべきは、...

Japanese Izakaya Phrases for Beginners: “Toriaezu Nama de” and “Kanpai!”

What does “Toriaezu nama de” mean?   This phrase means:   “For now, draft beer, please.”   Toriaezu...

Questions You Should Never Be Afraid to Ask Your Tutor

After nearly 13 years teaching Business English, I’ve noticed something interesting. The students w...

【日本の日常 #04】声優｜ JP/EN/繁中

日本のアニメは世界中で人気がありますが、日本では「声優」という存在そのものも、とても人気があります。アニメのキャラクターだけでなく、その声を担当する人にも注目が集まります。人気声優はさまざまな作品に...

Study. Know Your Craft. Be Intentional.

Study Study is not just reading — it’s disciplined learning. It means understanding the theory, pr...

中国の春節

中国の春節（旧正月）について中国の春節は、日本の正月のように家族で過ごす大切な祝日です。大晦日には「餃子」を食べたり、「春聯（赤いおめでたい飾り）」を貼って新年を迎えます。子供たちは「紅包（ホンバオ...

Is Two Really Better Than One?

“They say two is better than one.” “No man is an island.” Both statements point to one truth: we ar...

English Idioms Challenge - Week 5

Hey all! This is the sixth weekly English learning challenge: to try & use this idiom in your...