In this episode of Coffee Break Italian Season 3 we are learning about passive structures! You may have heard of this grammar point being mentioned in previous Coffee Break Italian series but in this episode we are finally analysing it in detail. You will then hear many examples in the context of a dialogue about a neighbourhood party. Be sure to listen out for our ancora una cosina: tra il dire e il fare c’è di mezzo il mare!
Month: December 2022
CBG 3.27 | The Subjunctive – wishes and dreams | Könnte ich doch besser tanzen
We are back with a new episode of Coffee Break German Season 3! In this episode we are introducing the subjunctive, a big milestone for German learners! Specifically we are learning how to express wishes and dreams with the subjunctive. We hear some examples of it in the context of a diary entry and as always, listen out for some interesting vocabulary mentioned throughout the episode.
Capítulo 2 – Tengamos la fiesta en paz
Welcome to the second chapter of La penúltima voluntad, our podcast series for advanced learners of Spanish. In this chapter, we hear the conversation between Marta and Carlos. Throughout this dialogue, in which Carols justifies his behaviour, we learn about their relationship and get to know Carlos’ character and personality. Take note of the idiomatic expression: tanto monta, monta tanto and listen out for several triggers of the subjunctive, such as ni que and pedir que.
Il était une fois – Épisode 3
C’est parti pour un spécial « Fêtes de fin d’année ! »
Il était une fois… un petit village pendant les fêtes de fin d’année.
Pour ce troisième épisode de la série, Pierre-Benoît et Max sont vraiment d’humeur festive. Cette fois-ci, c’est au tour de Pierre-Benoît de choisir neuf mots ainsi qu’une expression idiomatique que Max doit ensuite inclure dans son histoire, sauf qu’à cette occasion, tous ces mots ont également un caractère festif ! Découvrez donc toute cette nouvelle liste de vocabulaire ainsi que les aventures des jumeaux Jules et Julie, les personnages que Max a créés pour vous, dans cet épisode spécial « Fêtes de fin d’année ! »
Holiday season special!
Once upon a time… there was a little village during the festive season.
Pierre-Benoît and Max are in the festive spirit for the third episode of our series. As usual, Pierre-Benoît has chosen nine words and one idiomatic expression which Max must incorporate into his original short story, but this time there is a festive theme to all of the chosen words! Listen to build your festive vocabulary and to hear about the adventures of the protagonists of Max’s story – the twins, Jules and Julie – during the festive season.
CBE 4.05 | Extra | City or Countryside?
In this extra episode, we listen to a conversation between Josie and James, who is from England, about if they prefer living in the city or the countryside.
CBE 4.05 | The Outback | Language focus: negative adjective prefixes
In this episode, we hear from Matthew in Australia. He tells us about living in the outback, and we focus on negative adjective prefixes.
Il était une fois – Épisode 2
Il était une fois… un petit lapin.
Le moment est venu de découvrir le deuxième épisode de notre toute nouvelle série de podcasts pour les étudiants d’un niveau avancé en français. Cette semaine, les rôles sont inversés et c’est au tour de Max de choisir neuf mots mystères et une expression idiomatique pour Pierre-Benoît. Pierre-Benoît va relever le défi d’écrire une courte histoire avec un temps limité puisqu’il ne disposera que du temps dont Max aura besoin pour expliquer toutes les définitions.
Écoutez pour savoir ce qui va se passer dans l’histoire de Pierre-Benoît, Le petit lapin et le gros taureau, tout en tendant l’oreille pour découvrir du vocabulaire nouveau ainsi que des structures intéressantes en français. Cela constitue un excellent entraînement à la compréhension orale.
The moment has arrived for the second episode of our brand-new audio and video podcast series for advanced learners of French. This week, the roles have been reversed and it is now Max’s turn to choose nine mystery words and one idiomatic expression for Pierre-Benoît. Pierre-Benoît will then be taking on the challenge of writing a short story in the time it takes Max to explain the meanings of his words and phrase.
Listen to find out what happens in Pierre-Benoît’s story of the little rabbit and the big bull, all while hearing new vocabulary, interesting structures and practising your listening comprehension.
CBE 4.04 | Extra | What Are You Scared Of?
In the extra episode, we listen to a conversation between Mark and Francesca, who is from Italy, about things which scare them!
CBI 3.26 | Hypothetical clauses | Sognare non costa niente
In this episode of Coffee Break Italian Season 3 we are focusing on all of the possible ways to form a hypothetical clause (or ‘if’ clause) in Italian. We listen to a dialogue between two friends Michele and Giada, who are discussing the prospect of Michele losing his job and how a lottery win would ease his troubles. Listen out for our ancora una cosina: chi non risica, non rosica!
CBG 3.26 | Connectors | Entweder das Eine oder das Andere
In this episode of Coffee Break German Season 3 we are focusing on another range of connectors such as: entweder… oder, sowohl…. als auch, sowie, sondern, weder…..noch. In this episode’s dialogue, we hear characters Sabine and Thomas as they discuss living somewhere new. Listen out for some vocabulary used throughout the dialogue like: auf dem Land (n), Vorort (m) and Verkehrsverbindung (f).
New podcasts, new courses, a new platform and a new app!
Coffee Break Swedish Travel Diaries
Coffee Break Chinese Characters
Il était une fois
Our new French audio and video course for advanced learners takes the form of a game show. Max and Pierre-Benoît challenge each other to write a story against the clock, and the course provides a transcript, video with subtitles and language development resources. Watch the demo video here.
Coffee Break Spanish Season 5 – La penúltima voluntad
Advanced learners can start following the story of Marta who has just been asked to attend the reading of her father’s will. In the 20 chapters of the story you’ll build your confidence in advanced Spanish. Click here for more information.
Coffee Break Gaelic
We’ll be launching a new course in Gaelic in 2023. Learn the basics of Scottish Gaelic with Susanna and Mark. This course will feature 40 lessons and will follow the structure of our previous Coffee Break courses. Find out more here.
Coffee Break Portuguese
Another new member of the Coffee Break family is our new course in Portuguese. You’ll learn to communicate with Portuguese speakers from around the world in our course, starting January 2023. Get a sneak preview and find out more here.
Coffee Break TV
We hope you’re as excited as we are about these announcements and that you’ll have all the more opportunity to build your language skills on your Coffee Break!
CBE 4.04 | The CN Tower Edgewalk | Language focus: ‘have to’ and ‘don’t have to’
In this episode, we hear from Ryan in Canada. He tells us about an interesting experience in Toronto, and we focus on verbs ‘have to’ and ‘don’t have to’.
Capítulo 1 – Un susto de muerte
Marta de los Llanos receives a phone call from the family lawyer asking her to attend the reading of her father’s will. But no one had even told her that her father had passed away! Marta travels to the capital to go to her parents’ house and see her mother, Pilar. There, she discovers what her father has left her, but she is shocked to see what she finds in his office.
This is the first chapter of La penúltima voluntad, our new podcast series for advanced learners of Spanish. In each of the 20 episodes, which will be published fortnightly, we’ll listen to a new chapter of the novel and Coffee Break Spanish hosts Mark and Anabel will discuss the latest developments in our story. Throughout the series you will be able to build your vocabulary, develop your understanding of grammar and put your comprehension skills to the test, while following an engaging story.
Il était une fois épisode 1
Il était une fois… Jérôme, un vendeur de chaussettes.
Dans ce premier épisode de notre nouvelle série, Pierre-Benoît a choisi neuf mots mystères et une expression idiomatique pour Max. Pendant que Pierre-Benoît nous explique la définition de chacun des mots choisis, Max doit écrire une histoire courte sans oublier d’utiliser tout le vocabulaire.
Écoutez le podcast gratuit de l’épisode pour vous permettre de pratiquer votre compréhension orale, d’entendre les explications des 10 mots choisis par Pierre-Benoît pour Max et finalement d’apprécier tout ce que Max raconte à propos de Jérôme, le vendeur de chaussettes.
In the first episode of our brand-new series, Pierre-Benoît has chosen nine mystery words and one idiomatic expression for Max. In the time it takes Pierre-Benoît to talk us through the meanings of his chosen words and phrase, Max must come up with a short story including all 10 of them.
Listen to the free podcast episode to practise your listening comprehension, hear Pierre-Benoît’s explanations of today’s 10 words and phrase, and enjoy Max’s story about Jérôme, the sock vender.
CBE 4.03 | Extra | Visiting Vesuvius
In the extra episode, we listen to a conversation between Josie and Maurizio about visiting Mount Vesuvius.
