Join Mark and Andrea to review all of the key points covered throughout episodes 21 to 29. From the passive, to ordinal numbers, the subjunctive and more, this episode is essential to cement your understanding of these tricky grammar points!
Coffee Break Languages
Il était une fois – Épisode 8
Cet épisode, le huitième, est le dernier disponible gratuitement en podcast.
Pierre-Benoît vous y raconte l’histoire d’Aurélien, agent immobilier, et ses stratagèmes loufoques pour faire échouer un partenariat. Comme de coutume, Max vous fournit les définitions des mots qu’il a choisis pour que Pierre-Benoît écrive son histoire ainsi que, bien sûr, l’explication de l’expression idiomatique.
Pour découvrir le dossier complet de ressources, qui inclut la version vidéo avec sous-titres en français, mais aussi les notes de développement linguistique, une liste de vocabulaire de l’épisode du jour et d’autres ressources, cliquez ici. C’est ici également que vous trouverez les deux derniers épisodes de notre cours Il était une fois.
Once upon a time… there was Aurélien the estate agent.
This episode number 8 is the final one available as part of the free podcast.
Pierre-Benoît tells the story of Aurélien, a real estate agent, and his quirky ploys to sabotage a partnership. As always, Max provides you with the different definitions of the words he has chosen for Pierre-Benoît to write his story, as well as, of course, the explanation of the idiomatic expression.
To discover the complete notes pack, which includes the video version of this episode with subtitles, but also the linguistic development notes, a list of the vocabulary used in today’s episode and more resources, click here. This is also where you will find the two remaining episodes of our course Il était une fois.
Capítulo 5 – El comienzo del juego
Welcome to the newest chapter of La penúltima voluntad! In this episode Marta decides to go to the museum and remembers all the places she used visit on her way there. She reminisces on some happy memories with Carlos, but the day takes a turn when she makes a discovery in the museum. Listen out for some interesting vocabulary such as: augurio, rodeo and percatarse de.
CBE 4.10 | Extra | A waterfall coincidence
In the extra episode, we listen to a conversation between Thomas and Mark about visiting Niagara Falls.
CBI 3.29 | Pronominal and phraseological verbs | Te la stai cavando alla grande!
In this new episode of Coffee Break Italian Season 3 we are learning about pronominal and phraseological verbs! We then go on to listen to a dialogue between an anxious exchange student and their reassuring professor. As always, listen out for verbs like farcela and mettercela tutta and our cosina: qui pro quo.
CBG 3.29 | Subjunctive 2 – hypothesis | Das wäre super!
In this episode of Coffee Break German Mark and Andrea are continuing to focus on the subjunctive, more specifically they are discussing how to make hypothetical statements, like conditionals and wishes. We’ll learn to use the subjunctive with wenn/falls, with inversion, and take a look at the subjunctive in the past to express impossible conditionals and wishes. As usual, we hear some examples in context by listening to a dialogue of a family debating their next holiday!
CBE 4.10 | Niagara Falls | Language focus: phrasal verbs with ‘go’
In this episode, we hear from Ryan in Canada. He talks to us about Niagara Falls, and we focus on phrasal verbs and expressions with the word ‘go’.
Il était une fois – Épisode 7
Il était une fois… Marie et le magasin de perruques.
Dans l’épisode 7, découvrez les aventures (et mésaventures !) de Marie dans le magasin de perruques où elle travaille. Max, qui nous raconte l’histoire, doit utiliser l’ensemble des mots choisis par son acolyte Pierre-Benoît, ainsi que l’expression idiomatique, comme d’habitude. Suite aux explications de Pierre-Benoît des différents sens de chaque mot, Max se lance dans la narration.
Pour découvrir les définitions de chaque mot, ainsi que cette histoire où Marie doit gérer un client voleur, écoutez la version gratuite du podcast, qui vous permettra de tester vos compétences de compréhension orale et découvrir ou redécouvrir des structures grammaticales parfois complexes et du vocabulaire très riche.
Once upon a time… there was Marie and the wig shop.
In episode 7, discover the adventures (and misadventures!) of Marie in the wig shop where she works. As usual, Max, who is narrating today’s story, has to include all the words chosen by his co-host Pierre-Benoît, as well as the idiomatic expression. Following Pierre-Benoît’s explanations of the definitions of each word, Max gets into the storytelling part of the episode.
To discover all the definitions, along with the story in which Marie has to deal with a wig thief, listen to the free podcast version of the episode, which will allow you to test your oral comprehension skills and discover or rediscover some tricky grammar structures and rich vocabulary.
CBE 4.09 | Extra | Have you seen the Lord of the Rings?
In the extra episode, we listen to a conversation between Maurizio and Josie about the Lord of the Rings films.
CBE 4.09 | New Zealand’s landscapes | Language focus: extreme adjectives
In this episode, we meet Zoe from New Zealand. She talks to us about the landscape of the country, and we focus on extreme adjectives.
Il était une fois – Épisode 6
Il était une fois… Marcel le marin.
Dans l’épisode de cette semaine, l’épisode 6, suivez les aventures de Marcel le marin dans l’histoire racontée par Pierre-Benoît, qui doit utiliser les neuf mots et l’expression idiomatique sélectionnés par Max.
Après les explications des différentes significations de chaque mot, Pierre-Benoît commence à nous parler de Marcel et de comment il fait face à la tempête au beau milieu de laquelle il se retrouve. Pour découvrir comment il gère cette situation, écoutez l’épisode et profitez de l’histoire, tout en testant vos capacités de compréhension et en découvrant du vocabulaire nouveau et des structures grammaticales intéressantes.
Once upon a time… there was Marcel the sailor.
In this week’s episode, episode 6, follow the adventures of Marcel the sailor in the story narrated by Pierre-Benoît, who has to use the nine words and one idiom selected by Max.
After Max explains the different meanings of each word, Pierre-Benoît starts telling us about Marcel and how he deals with the storm he is caught up in. To find out how he copes with it, listen to the episode and enjoy the story, all while testing your comprehension skills and discovering interesting vocabulary and grammar structures.
Capítulo 4 – Pilar y sus propuestas
It’s time for another chapter of La penúltima voluntad! In this episode, we are introduced to Pilar, from whom Marta tries to find out some information about Carlos. Marta is concerned about her father’s behaviour and worries something may be wrong with Carlos after receiving her inheritance. Listen out for some interesting nouns such as rifirrafe and paradero as well as the Galician word ruliño/a.
CBE 4.08 | Extra | Airport Adventures
In this extra episode, we listen to a conversation between Francesca and Mark about some bad experiences in airports. There are lots of examples of the past perfect and past simple tenses in this conversation, so listen carefully!
CBI 3.28 | The gerund | Insieme per l’ambiente
Welcome back to a new episode of Coffee Break Italian! In this episode Mark and Francesca go through all you need to know about the gerund. We then listen to a dialogue between two colleagues Tiziana and Carlo, who are discussing how a more environmentally friendly lifestyle could have a positive impact on the future of the planet. Listen out for some interesting vocabulary on the topic of the environment such as: sprecare, riciclaggio and ambientalista.
CBG 3.28 | The subjunctive – giving advice | Ich sollte mich nicht so aufregen
Welcome back to another episode of Coffee Break German Season 3! In this episode we are continuing our learning of the subjunctive. We review what we already know and then go on to learn how to make suggestions and give advice in German. Our dialogue for this episode is based on a letter to an agony aunt from a concerned mother, this will give you the opportunity to hear plenty of examples of the subjunctive in context. As always listen out for some interesting vocabulary such as: Rat (m), hart mit and vorschlagen.
CBE 4.08 | The Founding Fathers | Language focus: the past perfect and past simple tenses
In this episode, we hear from Kate in the USA. She talks to us about the Founding Fathers of the United States, and we focus on the past perfect and past simple tenses.
Il était une fois – Épisode 5
Il était une fois… un docteur qui s’appelait Yves.
Cette semaine, c’est au tour de Max de relever le défi d’écrire une histoire. Comme toujours, il doit inclure les neufs mots et l’expression idiomatique que Pierre-Benoît a choisis pour lui. Au fur et à mesure que Max raconte l’histoire d’un imposteur démasqué, vous aurez la chance de vous entraîner à la compréhension orale, d’apprendre du vocabulaire nouveau et d’entendre des points de grammaire intéressants en contexte. Le tout en profitant de l’histoire.
Once upon time… there was a doctor called Yves.
This week, it’s Max’s turn to take on a storytelling challenge. As always, he must include nine specific words and one idiomatic expression that Pierre-Benoît has chosen for him. As Max tells the story of an impostor’s exposure, you’ll get the chance to practise your listening comprehension, learn new vocabulary and hear interesting grammar points in context, all while enjoying the story itself.
CBE 4.07 | Extra | Kings and queens
In this extra episode, we listen to a conversation between James and Josie about interesting kings and queens.
CBE 4.07 | King Henry VIII | Language focus: relative pronouns
In this episode, we hear from Susan in England. She talks to us about King Henry VIII, and we learn about relative pronouns.
Il était une fois – Épisode 4
Il était une fois… un jeune pharaon.
Un pharaon… fidèle… déchiffrer… Quelle sorte d’histoire inventeriez-vous en utilisant ces trois mots ? Ceux-ci font partie des mots mystérieux que Max a choisis pour Pierre-Benoît dans l’épisode d’aujourd’hui. Pierre-Benoît doit les inclure, sans oublier les six autres mots et la toute aussi importante expression idiomatique, dans une histoire et tenter de l’écrire le temps que Max explique la définition de chaque mot.
Alors pour en savoir plus sur l’histoire du jeune pharaon et du lion que Pierre-Benoît a inventée de toutes pièces, écoutez notre podcast tout en pratiquant votre compréhension et découvrez tout le nouveau vocabulaire et les nouvelles structures qui s’y trouvent.
Once upon a time… there was a young pharaoh.
A pharaoh… loyal… decipher… What story would you come up with using these words? These are just three of the mystery words that Max has chosen for Pierre-Benoît today. Pierre-Benoît must include them – along with another six and the all-important idiomatic expression – in a short story, written in the time it takes Max to explain the meaning of each word. How will Pierre-Benoît’s story of the young pharaoh and the lion turn out? Listen to find out, all the while practising your listening comprehension and gaining exposure to new vocabulary and structures.
