Cafetalk Tutor's Column

What's on Your Learning List Before 2026 Ends?

As we move through the second hald of the year, it's natural to feel quiet pressure of ticking off ...

Seasons of Mist and Mellow Fruitfulness -Autumn Lessons

Does this poem make you feel all cosy? Do you reach for your woollen sweater and go outside to spla...

The One Thing I Learned This Summer (That Actually Works)

Every summer, we make the same promise: "This time, I'll really get serious about my English."   Th...

Master the Art of Small Talk Before the End of the Year!

Hello everyone! I'm Samantha, a conversaional English tutor here on Cafetalk. Cafetalk's weekly top...

Speaking Fluency? Ace The Test!

One-to-one tuition with a native speaker can help you to elevate your speaking score.We can work to...

Things I Learned This Summer

Hello everyone!   This summer, I tried a pottery class. I thought it would be relaxing.   I imagine...

New Work, Same Me!

Hi all!   I wanted to reach out to my current students to talk about where I'm at with my tutoring ...

IELTS Academic Is Good For Your General Knowledge

IELTS Academic tests your English language skills. Along the way, you are asked to evaluate ideas a...

This Summer: A New Chapter - I Graduated and I’m Back

This summer has been a really special one for me. After taking some time away from Cafetalk to focu...

Are you run off your feet today?

Dear Students,Are you busy today?  Here's a great English idiom to describe your situation!'To be r...

Something I Learned This Summer - even though it was winter for me

This winter, I learned that being a beginner is not a bad thing. Now, that might sound like a fairl...

Something I learned During the Summer: The Secret to Perfect Sushi!

Hello everyone! I'm Samantha, a conversational English tutor here on Cafetalk. Cafetalk's new weekl...

TOEFL Academic- Be Prepared.

Preparation is key. Some of you may find the 'Listen and Repeat' part of the speaking test a little...

How storytelling relates to communication

In my twenty plus years of teaching English, I have spent a lot of time trying to nudge students to...

English Survival Guide - Episode 3: Getting Around

Let’s review prepositions for getting around!   Use “in” for small vehicles (cars, cabs, Ubers) Use...

Reasons why your brain goes blank when you try to speak another language!

Every time you try to speak English (or any new language), does your head suddenly go blank? Or you...

Something I Learned During the Summer: Progress Is Not Always Visible

This summer taught me something that I often tell my English students: progress is not always easy ...

Extreme weather

Photo: a submerged road in Toronto2026 has been another year filled with extreme weather events acr...

Cambridge Speaking Exams -Discussion Topics and Describing Pictures.

Candidates are expected to give their opinions on a wide range of topics in the speaking test. It i...

Hello, Cafetalk!

Hello, I’m Meg. I’ve recently started teaching Japanese on Cafetalk!   Since this is my first artic...

English Survival Guide - Episode 4: At Home

One thing = "There is" Two more more things = "There are" But remember! Native English speakers oft...

"Wa (は)" vs "Ga (が)" — Are they the same?

"Is it Zack-wa or Zack-ga?" Zack comes from Japan. If you are asked to translate this into Japanese...

GMAT, GRE, SAT-Why Take The Challenge?

All three tests are highly respected and may help you gain admission to elite institutions for unde...

Beyond the Textbook: What This Summer Taught Me About Language and Culture

This summer, while working with students from entirely different backgrounds, I gained a vital insi...

ENGLISH SURVIVAL GUIDE - Episode 5: Meeting Someone

Meeting someone new can be nerve wracking - especially in a new language!Vocabulary/expressions fro...

English Language Requirements for Medical Professionals Overseas

Many countries accept IELTS, PTE, or the Cambridge tests. Additionally, they also accept the OET T...

What my students taught me this summer: Silence is worse than a broken sentence

If this summer taught me anything about learning a language, it’s watching the silent battle so man...