September 2020

A special thank you to Coffee Break podcast listeners on International Podcast Day

September 30, 2020 by radiolingua

Every 30th September, the podcasting world comes together to celebrate podcasting on International Podcast Day. We’re celebrating today by saying thank you to the Coffee Break community in this special podcast episode. International Podcast Day aims to raise awareness about podcasts and gives podcast creators and listeners a chance to celebrate the medium and the podcast industry.

But podcasting has been around for a lot longer than that! Back in 2004, broadcaster Adam Curry asked developer Dave Winer to develop an audioblogging system and without going into the technical side of things, or indeed who specifically “invented” podcasting, it was Curry and Winer who got the ball rolling. The word “podcast” however, was first mentioned in a newspaper article in the Guardian by technology reporter Ben Hammersley. It was declared Word of the Year by the New Oxford American Dictionary in 2005.

Of course, at this stage Coffee Break hadn’t yet launched, but Coffee Break host Mark was running an education project at the time called Partners in Excellence or “PiE”. This saw the start of his interest in and involement with podcasting, and The PiEcast was used to bring a community of learners together and help them develop their language skills. Mark quickly realised that podcasting was the perfect medium for publishing language lessons, and for sharing his passion for languages with a wider audience.

Coffee Break Spanish was launched in October 2006. As the very first Spanish podcast for beginners on iTunes, it quickly gathered an audience and learners around the world started learning with us. Since then we’ve gone on to produce Coffee Break French, German, Italian, Chinese, Swedish and English and we have plans to develop more Coffee Break languages in the future. We’ve also created shorter podcast series called One Minute Languages covering over 30 languages from Arabic to Zulu.

We’ve published well over 1,000 episodes across the different languages and our podcasts have been downloaded over 290 million times, and we currently deliver over 2 million free language lessons every month to a community of Coffee Break learners.

So that’s why today, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you, our podcast listeners, our Coffee Break community. Without you there wouldn’t be any Coffee Break! Thank you for choosing to listen to our shows, to learn with us and to share your 15 or 20 minute coffee break with me and my cohosts on each episode of the show.

Now just before we finish, a couple of important points: if you’d like to hear about the latest episodes and series from Coffee Break, make sure you join Mark on Sunday 4th October at 4pm UK time / 11am Eastern / 8am Pacific for a live broadcast on YouTube and our Facebook pages. You can go straight to our YT channel – Coffee Break Languages – and click the “Set Reminder” button.

And, if you’d like to help us celebrate International Podcast Day, why not simply tell a language-loving friend about what you’ve learned with our podcasts and help us grow the Coffee Break community even further?

Merci beaucoup – vielen, vielen Dank, muchísimas gracias, grazie molte, xiè xie nimen, tack så jättemycket and thank you! There’s lots more coming from Coffee Break and we hope you continue to enjoy learning with us. Happy International Podcast Day!

Wetter gut, alles gut – Coffee Break German Travel Diaries Episode 5

September 29, 2020September 25, 2020 by Coffee Break Languages

We’re halfway through our journey along the Deutsche Alpenstraße and this week, we’re joining Karin and her family as they climb to the top of the mountain, Der Herzogstand and enjoy the cable car on the way back down before lunch. As hosts Mark and Andrea discuss Karin’s travel diary entry, they identify and review a number of verbs, including separable verbs, reflexive verbs and modal verbs.

Travel Diaries will be published in one season of ten episodes weekly from 28th August. If you’d like to access lesson notes and a video version which features pauses after each sentence to allow you to practise your pronunciation, check out the full course on the Coffee Break Academy.

At Coffee Break German we provide content for beginners, intermediate and advanced learners, along with regular mini lessons on social media. Visit coffeebreakgerman.com for all the information you need to build your confidence in German, whatever your level.

Santander y Santillana del Mar – Coffee Break Spanish Travel Diaries Episode 5

September 24, 2020 by Coffee Break Languages

We’ve reached the halfway point of our trip around the north of Spain with Victoria and Abel. In Episode 5 we’re making the most of our final day in Santander before heading to our next stop in the Cantabria region of northern Spain. It’s known for its medieval towers, Renaissance palaces, and the Romanesque Santa Juliana Collegiate Church. Can you guess where we’re going? We’re visiting Santillana del Mar, often considered as one of the most beautiful towns in Spain. Join hosts Mark and Anabel as they discuss the language used in Victoria’s travel diary entry, focusing on interesting vocabulary such as the adverb bien and the phrase en rumbo.

Travel Diaries will be published in one season of ten episodes weekly from 27th August. If you’d like to access lesson notes and a video version which features pauses after each sentence to allow you to practise your pronunciation, check out the full course on the Coffee Break Academy.

At Coffee Break Spanish we provide content for beginners, intermediate and advanced learners, along with regular mini lessons on social media. Visit coffeebreakspanish.com for all the information you need to build your confidence in Spanish, whatever your level.

CBSw 1.16 | Har ni dalahästar

November 17, 2020September 21, 2020 by Coffee Break Languages

In the latest episode of Coffee Break Swedish we’re going shopping! We’ll develop a range of new structures which will help us increase our confidence and mastery of Swedish. We’ll also learn how to use the language in a variety of situations where we need to buy things while in a Swedish-speaking area.

Chapitre 9 – Le moment propice était arrivé

October 8, 2020September 21, 2020 by Coffee Break Languages

It’s time for Chapter 9 of La Vérité éclate toujours and this week, we hear how James reacts when he discovers the identity of Yvette and the reason behind her visit. Will he reveal the secret he’s been keeping to himself? Listen to the episode to find out and pay attention to further examples of the past historic and present subjunctive, as well as the use of the present participle in structures such as tout en + present participle and rien qu’en + present participle. C’est parti !

Welcome to our new podcast for advanced French learners. In each episode of the story, published fortnightly, we’ll be following a chapter of La Vérité éclate toujours, specially written to help you build your knowledge of French and extend your range of expression. In the episodes, teacher Mark and narrator Pierre-Benoît will discuss the story, helping you to improve your listening skills.

There’s also an online course version of La Vérité éclate toujours which provides access to a range of additional materials including the text of each chapter, annotated notes, language study podcasts, vocabulary lists, video versions of each episode and our atelier linguistique which helps you to take the language you’ve covered in each chapter further. This course is available on the Coffee Break Academy.

Der Weg ist das Ziel – Coffee Break German Travel Diaries Episode 4

September 18, 2020 by Coffee Break Languages

In this week’s episode of the Coffee Break German Travel Diaries, Karin and her family approach the Austrian border. They explore the new area and take in the nature around them before having some family fun on the Sommerrodelnbahn (summer toboggan on metal tracks). Listen out for an example of the pluperfect tense as well as the preposition bei. Los geht’s!

Llegamos a Cantabria – Coffee Break Spanish Travel Diaries Episode 4

September 17, 2020 by Coffee Break Languages

It’s time for another episode of the Coffee Break Spanish Travel Diaries where we’re following Victoria and Abel on their journey around the north of Spain. This week, we’re leaving Bilbao behind and heading to the capital city of the Cantabria region of Spain – Santander! Victoria and Abel try some delicious fish at the Mercado de la Esperanza before visiting the Centro Botín, a famous arts centre on the seafront of the city. Listen our for the interesting vocabulary featured in this episode, as well as some useful phrases such as costarle a alguien (to find something difficult).

Behind the scenes with Coffee Break Spanish in Salamanca

September 14, 2020 by radiolingua

Join the Coffee Break Spanish team behind the scenes as they filmed Season 2 of Coffee Break Spanish To Go in the beautiful Spanish city of Salamanca. This video was filmed before lockdown. Coffee Break Spanish teacher Mark studied in Salamanca many years ago, and this was the first time he had returned in over 25 years.

If you’d prefer not to wait for all 10 lessons of Season 2 to be published, you can access downloadable versions of the videos along with audio versions and lesson notes / transcripts in the Coffee Break Academy.

Coffee Break Spanish To Go is based on the popular podcast series and online course Coffee Break Spanish. For access to the free podcasts, please click here.

To purchase our full online courses on the Coffee Break Academy, click here.

Von See zu See – Coffee Break German Travel Diaries Episode 3

September 11, 2020 by Coffee Break Languages

Join Karin, Johannes, Alex, and Janina in this week’s episode of the Coffee Break German Travel Diaries as they continue their journey through the mountains, taking in the spectacular scenery along the way. In Episode 3, we’re exploring the Wendelstein and the Wasserfall Tatzelwurm before relaxing by the Lagerfeuer (campfire) on the banks of the lake bei Sonnenuntergang (at sunset). As we enjoy the journey, Mark and Andrea review the language used in Karin’s travel diary, this time, focusing on methods of transport and prepositions in German.

La lluvia de Bilbao – Coffee Break Spanish Travel Diaries Episode 3

September 10, 2020 by Coffee Break Languages

The Coffee Break Spanish Travel Diaries continue as this week, Victoria and Abel explore the Basque city of Bilbao, home to a branch of the famous Guggenheim Museum. Despite the stormy weather leaving them calados hasta los huesos, they make the most of their trip and enjoy some delicious local food. ¡Vamos a Bilbao!

CBSw 1.15 | Nittonhundrasjuttiofyra

November 17, 2020September 7, 2020 by Coffee Break Languages

In this week’s marathon lesson, Hanna teaches us all of the numbers we need to know (from 11-1000) so that we can confidently pay for things and deal with dates and appointments. Not only that, we’ll also learn the words for days of the week and months of the year so don’t miss this important episode!

Chapitre 8 – Vous êtes la fille de Max !

September 7, 2020 by Coffee Break Languages

It’s time for the next instalment of La Vérité éclate toujours and this week, there’s a huge rebondissement (plot twist) as we discover the identity of the mystery visiter. Chapter 8 is based on a dialogue between James and new character, Yvette, so we hear some everyday, informal French in this week’s episode. Listen out for examples of the imperative and new vocabulary including words like ahuri and hébété. Who is Yvette and why has she come to see James? Tune in to this week’s episode to find out!

Welcome to our new podcast for advanced French learners. In each episode of the story, published fortnightly, we’ll be following a chapter of La Vérité éclate toujours, specially written to help you build your knowledge of French and extend your range of expression. In the episodes, teacher Mark and narrator Pierre-Benoît will discuss the story, helping you to improve your listening skills.

There’s also an online course version of La Vérité éclate toujours which provides access to a range of additional materials including the text of each chapter, annotated notes, language study podcasts, vocabulary lists, video versions of each episode and our atelier linguistique which helps you to take the language you’ve covered in each chapter further. This course is available on the Coffee Break Academy.

Chiemgauer Alpenidylle – Coffee Break German Travel Diaries Episode 2

September 4, 2020September 4, 2020 by Coffee Break Languages

We’re back for the second episode of the Coffee Break German Travel Diaries! This time, we’re accompanying Karin and her family on a hiking trip to explore the breathtaking Chiemgauer Alpen (Chiemgau Alps) before heading back on the road to drive towards the beautiful freshwater lake, Chiemsee. Listen out for lots of new vocabulary including the colloquialism Morgenmensch, and the noun, Vogelgezwitscher.

El pueblo de Guernica – Coffee Break Spanish Travel Diaries Episode 2

September 3, 2020 by Coffee Break Languages

Are you ready for the next stop on Victoria and Abel’s honeymoon adventure in the north of Spain? In this week’s episode, we’re in the town of Guernica doing some sightseeing before making our way to the next stop, Bilbao, to sample some tasty Spanish dishes! Of course, Mark and Anabel discuss the language used in Victoria’s diary entry, including the phrase antes de que and the construction ir a + an infinitive. We also hear some useful pronunciation tips along the way!