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Month: February 2018

Meet the team: Francesca

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Francesca imageCiao, I’m Francesca and I’m one of the Coffee Break Italian podcast co-hosts. I joined Radio Lingua in 2014 when I witnessed the birth of Coffee Break Italian and since then I have been involved in so many other exciting projects! I have also been teaching Italian for more than a decade at university in beautiful Scotland. I’m so lucky to have jobs I’m very passionate about!

What is your role in Coffee Break?

My role is varied as I am not only the Italian voice you hear in the podcast, but I also deal with the design of course outlines and content. In other words, I’m responsible for deciding which grammar points, vocabulary and communicative aspects are included in each episode of Coffee Break Italian. I also contribute to the creation of all Italian content for CBTV and, when possible, join the Coffee Break team at events where we get to know our listeners in person.

Francesca and Pierre-Benoît at the Language Show in London

What experience have you had speaking and learning other languages?

I started learning English in Italy when I was about 11 and it was love at first sight! I think it provided me with a different way of looking at the world, so I decided that I would never abandon it! When it came to choosing my secondary school, I opted for Liceo Linguistico where, amongst other subjects and English, I learned French, German and Latin. I then studied English and Russian at the University of Trieste, where I specialised in Translation and Interpreting. As part of my degree I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to spend some time abroad: I did my Erasmus year near London and I took part in an exchange programme at the Moscow State Linguistic University. I must say that my love for foreign languages includes my own beautiful native Italian which I have been teaching for years after obtaining a Masters in Teaching Italian as a Foreign Language (DITALS) from the University of Siena. I taught Italian in Kyiv for a year and I have been teaching Italian in Scotland since 2009. I never tire of learning new things about languages and I try to keep actively using the languages I know, including the recently added Spanish and my dialect, Piedmontese!

Francesca in Ukraine
Francesca in Ukraine

What are your favourite memories of working with Coffee Break?

I have so many nice memories with the lovely people at Coffee Break Languages, but two in particular are very dear to me. The first one dates back to April 2016 when Mark, Katie and I were at Lake Maggiore filming and recording the last ten episodes of Season 1 of Coffee Break Italian. One day we decided to visit Pettinengo, the mountain village where I grew up and where all my family still live. We went around interviewing the locals (the pharmacist, the barista, the owner of the only grocery shop), chatting with familiar faces and visiting my parents. It was very emotional being back home and listening to the tales from the past that everyone had to tell. Despite being away from Pettinengo for so long, on that occasion I felt I belonged there and I could never thank Mark enough for giving me such a privileged way to rediscover my roots! The other special memory is in 2017 when Coffee Break Italian won the British Podcast Award for the category ‘Smartest podcast’! Mark and I attended the event in London and I still remember those never ending seconds prior to the announcement being made! Che emozione!

Interviewing native speakers on the shores of Lake Orta

Where would your ideal coffee break be, and with whom?

My ideal coffee break is very simple but very special to me. It’s sitting under the wisteria tree on the terrace back at home in Italy chatting with family and friends in the long summer evenings.

What’s your best language-learning tip?

Language learning must be a pleasure and it only happens when you are enjoying it and you are highly motivated. My tip is try not to be afraid of making mistakes and accept them as part of the learning process. Once you have overcome that barrier, things will get easier. Grab every single opportunity to speak and do something with that language. Don’t leave it in the grammar book! Learning by doing is the best way to put all those hours of study into practice.

Francesca and Mark winning the British Podcast Award for Coffee Break Italian

Quick-fire round

  • Favourite language: English
  • Favourite word/phrases in that language: I have a full list of words and phrases which I love in English. Here are three of my favourite ones:
    • Bob’s your uncle!
    • Whatever!
    • Glaikit (in Scottish!)
  • Favourite film: Pane e Tulipani
  • Favourite TV show: any cooking programme!
  • Favourite book: La casa de los espíritus by Isabel Allende
  • Favourite singer: Belle and Sebastian
  • Favourite destination: I don’t have a favourite destination, but that magic of abandoning mainland to reach Venice by train is unbeatable

Do you have a message for the Coffee Break community?

If you are reading this page it’s because, like me, you are also a language enthusiast. It’s great to see that the world is not monolingual and hopefully more multilingual people will contribute to making this planet a better place where we can all learn from one another and understand each other better!

CBG 2.24 | Wovor fürchtest du dich?

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In this episode you’ll learn to use reflexive verbs in German. In addition to being able to talk about “washing yourself” and “scratching yourself” (among other things!), you’ll also learn to talk about looking forward to things, relaxing, deciding, catching a cold, getting annoyed, remembering things and complaining! Reflexive verbs are hugely important and this lesson will equip you with everything you need to know!

Practice makes perfect: 1-on-1 lessons with italki

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Since 2006 we’ve been providing language courses for learners around the world and we believe that Coffee Break provides the perfect solution for learners starting out with a language, or building their comprehension skills to take their learning further. Through Coffee Break French, German, Spanish, Italian and Chinese, you can build a solid understanding of the language and learn to use it in a wide variety of situations. However, one area we can’t help you with directly is with your speaking skills, and that’s why we’ve teamed up with italki, a leading provider of 1-on-1 language teachers and native speakers with whom you can practise what you’ve learned on Coffee Break.

italki offers lessons and practise sessions from the comfort of your own home. You can connect with hundreds of teachers and native speakers of your chosen language and schedule a live 1 on 1 session to put into practice the language you’re learning in your Coffee Break course.

How does it work?

Scheduling an italki lesson couldn’t be easier.

  1. Browse the italki profiles of professional teachers and tutors and select a teacher based on their experience and reviews from other learners. Many teachers and tutors offer a trial session so that you can decide if they’re a good match for you.
  2. Choose a time and date which suits you for your live lesson.
  3. Connect with your chosen teacher at the appointed time via Skype or other video chat software.

Watch the video below for more information on italki.

 

Why do we recommend italki?

Learning a language is about both “receptive skills”, or “input”, where you learn to understand the written and the spoken language. The Coffee Break lessons will help you develop your understanding, your knowledge of grammar and the patterns of the language, and your ability to use the language yourself. It’s also about “productive skills”, or “output”, where you’re “producing” the language by talking and writing it. Through our lessons and particularly our bonus audio materials, we help you to train yourself on knowing the right word or phrase to use at the right time. The missing element is getting the all-important feedback on whether what you are saying is, in fact, right. That’s where a friendly native speaker or teacher comes in, and that’s why we’ve partnered with italki.

A special offer for Coffee Break learners

We’ve also been able to put in place a special offer for Coffee Break learners: when you purchase your first live lesson with a teacher or native speaker on italki, you’ll receive a voucher for $10USD in italki credits. Please note that this offer is only available for new italki users.

Coffee Break language courses provide you with the best language training on the planet, and italki connects you with the best teachers and native speakers to practise what you’ve learned!

CBI 2.23 | Cosa facevi quando ti ho telefonato?

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In this lesson we’re focusing on combining the Perfect and the Imperfect which together allow us to tell stories in the past. You’ll consolidate what you already know about each of the tenses and you’ll recognise certain words and expressions which trigger the Perfect or the Imperfect. Francesca also has some mystery Italian personalities for us to identify in the Caffè Culturale.

Introducing the Coffee Break Reading Club

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Here at Coffee Break Languages, we’ve been very busy putting together a brand new course in response to the Coffee Break community’s requests for more reading content. We’re delighted to launch the Reading Club today in French, German, Italian and Spanish!

The Coffee Break Reading Club has been designed to help intermediate learners build their vocabulary and comprehension skills, while learning about many aspects of culture of the countries and areas where the languages are spoken. There are texts on sporting activities, cultural events, tourist attractions, customs and traditions, and many more topics.

How does it work?

It couldn’t be easier to take part in this new course: we simply send you an email every week for the next year. If you can put aside 10-15 minutes – the perfect coffee break! – once a week, then you’re well on your way to improving your comprehension skills in the language you’re learning.

The basic version of the Reading Club is absolutely free: you can sign up and we’ll send you the weekly texts. If you prefer, there’s also a premium version of the Reading Club. If you’d like vocabulary lists, a comprehension exercise, and the exclusive audio version of the texts where you can listen to a native speaker reading the text at a normal speaking speed and a slower version, then you can access the premium version of the Reading Club.

Interested? Read on!

It’s really easy to access both the free version and the premium version of the Coffee Break Reading Club. Simply click on the links below:

We’re sure that you’ll enjoy building your reading skills with the Coffee Break Reading Club.

¡Es intraducible! Our 10 favourite untranslatable words in Spanish

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Spanish colourful ceramic plates placed side by sideSpanish colourful ceramic plates placed side by side

Have you ever learned a new word in a different language and wondered how on earth you would translate it into English? Have you then started to doubt your translation skills, thinking that you no longer even know your language very well? Well… fear not! There are a lot of untranslatable words in Spanish. 

Often, the reason for a word’s ‘untranslatable-ness’ is rooted in the cultural differences between the speakers of each language, as some cultural concepts which exist in the Spanish-speaking world simply don’t exist in the English-speaking world.

In this article, we’re focusing on untranslatable words in Spanish – words which can’t be translated easily into English, although some of them do have direct equivalents in other languages, such as French or Italian. All of the words on the list are used relatively frequently in conversation, so listen out for them next time you’re practising your Spanish. 

You might even come across some of them in an episode of Coffee Break Spanish! ¿Estamos listos? ¡Vamos!

1) Estrenar

Are you familiar with the feeling when you’ve bought a new outfit and can’t wait to wear it? Well, fashion-conscious Spanish speakers have a single word to perfectly describe the 11-word English equivalent of “to wear a new item of clothing for the first time”: estrenar.

  • Meaning: To wear something for the first time / to use something for the first time.
  • In context: Esta noche voy a estrenar el vestido azul que compré ayer.
  • Translation: I’m going to wear the blue dress I bought yesterday for the first time tonight.

2) Tapear

tapear - to go out for tapas

Everyone who has visited Spain will be familiar with the concept of going out for tapas and this is the theme of one of the untranslatable words in Spanish. While in English we say “to go out for tapas” or simply “to have tapas”, in Spain it’s more common to hear the phrase ir de tapas – literally, “to go of tapas”. 

For example: vamos de tapas con José y Lucía esta noche. However, if this phrase is too much of a mouthful (excuse the pun), the Spanish have a verb to describe the activity of going out to eat tapas: tapear.

  • Meaning: To eat tapas, often with the idea of moving from bar to bar
  • In context: Este bar es uno de los mejores para tapear en Granada.
  • Translation: This bar is one of the best bars to go out for tapas in Granada.

Related topic: 8 ‘Digestable’ Spanish Idioms For Your Delectation

3) Quincena

Although this is one of the untranslatable words in Spanish, it does have a direct equivalent in French (quinzaine) and Portuguese (quinzena), the closest word we have in English is “fortnight” or “two weeks”. 

  • Meaning: A period of 15 days, sometimes used in reference to the working calendar, as people are often paid bi-monthly in Spain. It is commonly used to talk about the first or the second half of a particular month.
  • Context: En la primera quincena de julio llega la feria al pueblo.
  • Translation: The festival comes to town in the first fortnight of July.

4) Friolero/friolento

Are you one of those people who always seems to be shivering while everyone around you is complaining about the heat and opening all the windows in the house? Another two untranslatable words in Spanish are friolero/a and friolento/a, used to describe those who feel the cold more than others.

  • Meaning: Somebody who feels the cold very easily.
  • In context: Javi es muy friolero, prefiere el verano al invierno.
  • Translation: Javi really feels the cold; he prefers summer to winter.

5) Puente

puente - a long weekend

You may have come across the literal meaning of the word puente before (bridge), but puente is also used in another very common context, making the list of untranslatable words in Spanish.

  • Meaning: A special type of long weekend, when a holiday falls on a Thursday or a Tuesday so you only need to take one extra day off work to turn it into a four-day weekend, thus “bridging” the gap from Thursday to Monday, for example.
  • In context: ¿Qué haces el puente de Mayo? Yo me quedo en casa, las vacaciones son para descansar.
  • Translation: What are you doing during the long weekend in May? I’m staying at home, the holidays are for relaxing.

6) Soler

Out of all of the untranslatable words in Spanish on this list, soler is probably the most commonly used in everyday conversational Spanish. To describe habitual actions in English, we tend to use the structure “subject + usually + verb (infinitive)”, but in Spanish, we use the structure “soler (conjugated) + secondary verb (infinitive)”. 

Take a look at the example below to get your head around this unusual grammatical structure.

  • Meaning: To usually do something / to do something habitually / to tend to do something
  • In context: Suelo ir de vacaciones en junio.
  • Translation: I usually go to the beach in June.

7) Tocayo/tocaya

This is one of the untranslatable words in Spanish that will come in useful for those of you who have a common first name!

  • Meaning: Somebody who has the same name as you / your ‘name-twin’, or namesake.
  • In context: Me confundes con otra Elena, es mi tocaya.
  • Translation: You’re getting me mixed up with the other Elena, we have the same name.

8) Entrecejo

Ever wondered what that little space in between your eyebrows is called? No? Well, this one is another word of untranslatable words in Spanish, as they have a word to describe it!

  • Meaning: The space between one’s eyebrows.
  • In context: Pablo tiene muchas arrugas en el entrecejo.
  • Translation: Pablo has lots of wrinkles between his eyebrows.

9) Almorzar

El almuerzo is a light snack eaten between breakfast and lunch, and almorzar is its verb form. Some people think of el almuerzo as “lunch”, but when you consider that the main meal in the middle of the day in Spain rarely starts before 2:30 or 3:00, you’ll understand the need for almuerzo.

  • Meaning: Similar to ‘elevenses’ in the U.K.
  • In context: Almuerzo cada día sobre las 11 de la mañana. 
  • Translation: I have a snack every day at about 11am.

10) Sobremesa

sobremesa - after-dinner chit-chat

This may be one of the most well-known untranslatable words in Spanish on our list, as it refers to an inherent aspect of Spanish culture: the act of taking the time to sit around the table after a meal, talking to the people you’ve shared it with and enjoying each other’s company.

  • Meaning: The after-dinner chit-chat people share whilst still sitting at the table. It can also literally mean “tablecloth”.
  • In context: Mientras los padres hacen sobremesa, los niños juegan en el parque de juegos.
  • Translation: While the parents take some time to chat at the table after eating, the children play in the playground.

We hope these Spanish untranslatable words will help you on your way to sounding more comfortable in the conversation! Remember that these words may vary from country to country in the Spanish-speaking world, so it’s always a good idea to read up on a country before visiting, just to ensure you’re saying the right thing!

If you want to keep on improving your Spanish, how about watching some films for Spanish learners? They can help you familiarise yourself with some nuances of pronunciation and even see some of these words used in context! 

¡Hasta la próxima!

CBF-ER 1.05 | Sur la Moyenne Corniche

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In this episode Mark is travelling from Nice to Monaco, along one of Europe’s most impressive roads, la Moyenne Corniche. Clinging to the cliffs with sheer drops to the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean on one side, this road travels through Villefranche-sur-Mer, Èze, Cap d’Ail, Beausoleil and on to Monaco. As you join Mark en route, you’ll listen to a series of informative conversations he has with people visiting the region and working there.

Listen to the lesson

The audio lesson is free, as are all the main audio lessons of En Route avec Coffee Break French. Use the audio player above to listen to the lesson, or subscribe in Apple Podcasts to receive this lesson and all future lessons automatically. If you can’t see the player above, click here to access the lesson.

Accessing the Premium Version

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In the full course of En Route you’ll get access to every episode as it’s released. The premium version includes additional materials which will help you move forward more effectively with your French studies:

  • transcripts: read every word of French included in the conversations;
  • vocabulary lists: in addition to the transcripts, we’ll provide vocabulary lists to help you understand everything that’s said;
  • bonus audio materials: where an edited version of an interview is included in the main lesson, we’ll provide the full recording in the course to allow you to develop your comprehension skills further;
  • exclusive video content: in addition to recording interviews in the south of France, the Coffee Break Team also filmed some video content and this video material is included in the course. Please note that these are not video versions of the interviews.

The En Route course can be accessed on the Coffee Break Academy.

Subscribe links

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | RSS Feed | Purchase full course

CBG 2.23 | Hilfst du deinen Kindern bei ihren Hausaufgaben?

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We’ve already covered the topic of family in Coffee Break German, but in this lesson you’ll learn how to talk about your extended family, and deal with possessive pronouns in the nominative, accusative and dative cases. Is it mein, meine, meinen, meinem or meiner? By the end of this lesson, you’ll know!

Is Hungarian a hard language to learn? 5 reasons why learning Hungarian is “csodálatos” (wonderful!)

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Hungarian city landscape

Hungarian is spoken by roughly 14 million people in eastern Europe. It’s the official language, of course, in Hungary, and it’s also spoken in parts of Romania, Slovakia and other bordering countries. But is Hungarian a hard language to learn?

You may have heard that Hungarian is one of the toughest languages to tackle. Let’s explore whether that reputation is deserved—and why it’s still worth your time, as even just a little language can go a long way. 

Is Hungarian a hard language to learn?

If the question is whether Hungarian is a hard language to learn or not, some will say that this can be one of the most challenging languages for English speakers to learn. Unlike many European languages, the language isn’t part of the Indo-European family.

Instead, it belongs to the Uralic languages group, which means its grammar, vocabulary, and structure are very different from the Romance and Germanic languages, with which many learners are more familiar. For instance, Hungarian relies heavily on agglutination – a method of forming words and grammatical structures by adding prefixes, suffixes, and infixes to root words, which can make the language feel a bit overwhelming. 

So, yes, Hungarian is a hard language to learn for English speakers due to its differences in grammar and vocabulary. However, it’s also highly logical, phonetic, and rich in culture, making it an incredibly rewarding challenge.

5 reasons learning Hungarian is csodálatos and worth it!

Now you know why Hungarian is a hard language to learn, or at least considered… But are you ready to find out why this unique language offers a rewarding and wonderful challenge for learners?  

Check it out!

1. Beauty from within

Most people will find the sound of Italian or Spanish very melodious, whether they understand the language or not. Hungarian, even though it sounds nice to begin with, is a language that gets increasingly beautiful the more you learn. 

There are countless puns and twists in the Hungarian language, not only in poetry and idioms but also in everyday speech. Very often, these defy translation and are guaranteed to entertain any language learner.

2. A logical language

Every language has its own system, its own “logic”. When you learn a new language, it’s not just about the words, it’s also about understanding that logic. Learning a language based on a different logic helps you better understand how your own language works. 

Hungarian grammar is very different from English grammar. In Hungarian grammar, words are linked together through the way they sound, which also gives the language a great flow and melody. Although Hungarian is a hard language to learn, the grammar itself is mostly logical and once you manage to get your head around it, it becomes second nature.

3. Overcoming the challenge

If you’re the type of person who likes a challenge and to do something entirely new, learning Hungarian is a wonderful option. The great news is, many aspects of the language are easier than you may think. 

For example, the alphabet is mostly phonetic, which means that once you learn how to pronounce each letter, you’re good to go. There’s even more good news: you only have to learn three tenses (past, present, future) and wait for it … there is no gender!

4. A helping hand with the language

It goes without saying that Hungarians are a very friendly and welcoming people, but if they find out you’re learning their language, they will be even more delighted and eager to help you embark on this adventure. While English is spoken in larger cities, a knowledge of Hungarian, even just a few words, can make a great difference, allowing you to meet people, make friends and learn more Hungarian.

5. A cultural wonder

From Aggtelek’s magnificent limestone caves to the lively shores of Lake Balaton, the largest lake in Central Europe, from the fascinating Hortobágy National Park to one of the most beautiful European cities, Hungary’s capital, Budapest, Hungary has countless wonders to see. However, experiencing Hungary is so much more than the tourist attractions. Hungarian culture is one of the richest and most well-preserved in all of Europe. 

Catching a performance and táncház (lit. dance house) of Hungarian folk dances, as well as trying traditional food like the töltött káposzta or a proper pörkölt (stew), are essentials on a trip to Hungary. But most of all, they are going to make you fall in love with Hungary and leave you with a desire to learn Hungarian.

Speaking of which, now that you know why it’s csodálatos learning Hungarian, if you want to take your first steps in getting to know this wonderful language, One Minute Hungarian is the place to start. While it won’t make you fluent in the language, if you follow each lesson and learn all the words and phrases covered, you will be well on your way to interacting with native Hungarian speakers. 

If you’d like to continue discovering the beauty of other languages, why not check out the article we’ve prepared, featuring a few charming words in Italian? Read now!

 

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