My name is Andrea and it’s my job to teach Mark German in the second series of Coffee Break German. I knew about Coffee Break for a few years before I joined the Radio Lingua team in 2016. I am a qualified language teacher, translator and interpreter, but I started out in a completely different career when I did a degree in hotel and restaurant management in my early 20s. When I am not recording Coffee Break German, I will probably be at The Language Hub C.I.C., a social enterprise offering language classes to children and adults. In my free time, I enjoy hillwalking, eating good food and spending time with my family.
What is your role in Coffee Break?
I work with Mark on the Coffee Break German lessons. While Mark writes the content of the lessons, I help to come up with the examples for each lesson. Mark really is learning in each episode – I can’t let him see everything beforehand! Together we work out the best way to explain grammar points, rules and any tricky language or pronunciation.
What experience have you had speaking and learning other languages?
At school in Switzerland, I studied French, English and Italian in primary and secondary school. It was easy to practise French and Italian, as Switzerland has a French and an Italian-speaking part, which I visited occasionally. Later, I spent some time in Scotland to learn better English and I spent a few months in Spain to learn Spanish. Having studied at universities in Italy and Scotland, these two languages have become languages I feel quite confident in. I also studied some Farsi (Persian) and some British Sign Language as an attempt to keep my brain active. Both languages posed challenges I had not experienced before. Now, I work with people from all around the world and can keep my language skills active on a daily basis, which is brilliant.
What are your favourite memories of working with Coffee Break?
I love recording Coffee Break with Mark. Although we try to be very efficient, we still manage to fit in a few laughs. And I enjoy our chats over lunch time.
Where would your ideal coffee break be, and with whom?
My ideal coffee break would be on top of a Swiss mountain on a sunny day. I would not even need anybody else to be there. Maybe my mum’s dog Cooper.
What’s your best language-learning tip?
Just talk to people. Don’t worry about sounding silly or making a mistake. Everyone will applaud your efforts. Also, why not watch some DVDs in the language you want to learn? You can get well-known TV series that have been dubbed. As you already know the content, you may find it quite easy to follow, even though you don’t understand every word. Or you could get films and series that are originally in the language you want to learn and then switch on the subtitles.
Quick-fire round
Favourite language
Italian
Favourite word/phrase in the language
Schadenfreude (what else?)
Favourite film / TV show / Book / singer?
I have to admit that I love Star Trek and I have seen all episodes and films!
Favourite destination
Iceland
Do you have a message for the Coffee Break Community?
Thank you for listening to the lessons. I hope you enjoy your language learning experience and will soon have the possibility to put your skills to the test on a holiday or a business trip.
11 thoughts on “Meet the team: Andrea”
Coffee Break German is an excellent podcast for learning German. I have been using it as my main source for learning since Series 1. Each lesson is simple enough to comprehend, but at the same time they are very complex in what they teach. Andrea and Mark do a great job to make a knowledgeable podcast and as always I look forward to hear what comes next.
Great to put a face to your voice Andrea. I love Coffee Break German and have been listening/repeating on my iPhone whilst hiking to work in the Yorkshire Dales each morning. Fresh air and good exercise while learning a language has got to be good for the whole body and mind 🙂 thanks Mark, Andrea, Julia and Thomas – you’re great x
Hallo Vicky! Thank you for your positive feedback about Coffee Break German – it sounds like you have a great learning method there! Vielen dank from the whole CBG team.
I hadn’t spoken or practiced German in 25 years and have really enjoyed getting back into it with Coffee Break German. I am now caught up with all the lessons but need to go back and review as some of them are quite tricky. I love that your personalities shine through in each episode and you all make re-learning German quite fun!
Thank you for your kind words, Diana!
Hi Mark and Andrea,
I love coffeeBreak German. Your show is interesting, always brings new information and fresh perspectives.
Mark I really appreciate your comments/ questions. Most of the time they touch a sensitive point of this complex language. I remember your comments which tag along the explanation that Andrea gives. BTW i like your accent!
I listen to your show every day.
Feel sorry for your sofa Andrea!
Regards from Australia
Brightstar
Using Coffee Break German has been a game changer for me. I have tried to learn german in many different ways over probably 20 years (my relatives are Swiss but we weren’t brought up speaking german!) and wasn’t making much progress until I stumbled across your podcasts and extra downloadable material. I live on a farm in Australia so I can’t access face to face classes. I listen to your podcasts when I am out working on the farm or going for an early morning walk. I hope you have plans for a High Five German course for my kids 🙂
I thought Andrea was old, LOL cause her voice sometimes sounds like a Lady. Anyway, thank you all for your work, almost everything I know about speaking German it’s because of you! Greetings from Chile! ????????
I love Andrea’s voice and gentle laugh. It is so lovely and calming that it encourages me in my learning. With Andrea, German is truly a beautiful language! Danke für alles, dass ihr für uns macht!
Danke, Barbara! We’ll pass that on to Andrea.
I enjoy both Mark and Andrea. Andrea’s voice is very clear and her tempo is most suitable for learning. The rapport between them is great to. I listen to Coffee break German everyday and it’s the first time I am really understanding the language and inspired to get talking more. Danke schön , Lisa .