Cafetalk Tutor's Column

Daily English Upgrade #019: Business Skill — Deadlines + polite pushback

Saying “not possible” politely is a real skill. Polite pushback: That might be difficult by Friday....

Why Tarot is Not Fortune Telling

Many imagine a crystal ball and an old witch with cards warning you of danger or perhaps describing...

What would you do differently this Valentine?

Redefine Love Valentine’s Day is more than gifts and romantic dinners. What does love truly mean t...

Reading Dickens's David Copperfield

Charles Dickens is one of Britain's best and best-loved authors. Even his name has become an adject...

Daily English Upgrade #018: Better Questions — “What makes you say that?”

This question makes conversations deeper (and it sounds natural). Try: What makes you say that? (cu...

If Not Now, Then When?

How many times have you said, “I’ll start tomorrow”? Tomorrow becomes next week. Next week becomes ...

Daily English Upgrade #020: News Bite — One headline, 3 useful phrases

Pick one “headline” you noticed today (work / tech / society / daily life). You can discuss it natu...

Daily English Upgrade #021: Pronunciation — TH made easy (think/this)

You don’t need “perfect TH.” Just aim for a clearer difference. Quick practice pairs (slow → normal...

Galentine's Day

Have you ever heard of Galentine's day? The trend started on a holiday introduced by American TV sh...

The Most Romantic Thing You Can Do This Year Isn’t a Gift — It’s a Decision.

Valentine’s Day Isn’t About Love — It’s About Choosing Love   Valentine’s Day gets a bad rap for b...

“You Can’t Win with a Defeated Mind.”

Your Thoughts Shape Your Performance When a student thinks, “I’m bad at English” or “I’ll never imp...

Stop Translating in Your Head. Start Speaking Naturally.

Do you understand English… but freeze when it’s your turn to speak? Do meetings, presentations, or ...

A Little Valentine’s Story + New Easy Japanese Graded Reader (JLPT N5–N4)

Hi everyone! A quick Valentine’s story first — my British husband suddenly remembered yesterday and...

Daily English Upgrade #022: Say It Better — “I don’t know” (confident stallers)

Not knowing is normal. The upgrade is sounding calm. Better options: Good question. Let me think fo...

A Winter of Care, Change, and Quiet Strength

Winter can be a season of beauty, but it can also bring unexpected challenges. This winter has been...

English Idioms Challenge - Week 4

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

Daily English Upgrade #023: Micro-Pattern — “If I had to choose, I’d…”

Great for opinions, decisions, and interviews. Pattern: If I had to choose, I’d ____ because ____. ...