The Past Historic (in French passé simple) is a special tense used mostly in written French to relate narrative events in the past. In this episode of Walk, Talk and Learn, Mark spots an example of the Past Historic on a film poster, and he explains the full conjugation of the Past Historic of regular
In the latest episode of the Coffee Break French Magazine, we’re heading to the “crossroads of Europe”, the city of Strasbourg in the heart of Alsace. Find out about the traditions, the food, the history and the culture of this beautiful part of the world. There’s also a discussion about how to express necessity using
You may be familiar with ne … plus meaning “no longer”, and ne … que meaning “only”, but what about ne … plus que? Do you know what this means? It’s a really useful phrase and in this episode of Walk, Talk and Learn, you’l learn to use it in a variety of situations. Make sure
In this episode of the Coffee Break French Magazine we’re taking a trip to the movies to see one of the all time classics of French cinema, Jean Cocteau’s La Belle et la Bête. You’ll learn more about the film and about the work of Cocteau, and there’s an interesting listener’s question about how to
In Episode 2 of Season 1 of the Coffee Break French Magazine, we discuss the French author and aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, author of Le Petit Prince. In the Q&A section, Mark discusses the difference between the imperfect and perfect tenses in response to Keith’s question. In each episode of this 10-lesson season for intermediate
The Coffee Break French team is back with a new series, the Coffee Break French Magazine. In each episode of this 10-lesson season for intermediate learners, you can build your vocabulary, increase your understanding of grammar and learn to use the French language in a more natural way. This series is aimed at learners who
Coffee Break French host Pierre-Benoît invites Mark to join him for a guided tour of his home town, Pornic, in the Loire Atlantique area of France. Put your French to the test with this video, all in French. We’ve provided subtitles in both French and English to help you understand everything. Mark and Pierre-Benoît visit
There’s a really easy way to make a suggestion in French using “si” + the imperfect tense. You’ll learn how to do just that in this episode of Walk, Talk and Learn. Mark explains an advert from the Italian Tourist Board in Paris which reads “et si vous redécouvriez l’Italie?”
We’re delighted to announce that the Coffee Break French Masterclass will open its doors once again on 1st September 2018, ready to begin the new 6-month course which runs until 28 February 2019. Registration will begin on 1st August 2018. Spaces on the course are limited, so in order to get on our notification list,
Is it merci de … or merci pour…? How do you thank someone for something in French? Join Mark from Coffee Break in this Walk, Talk and Learn French video and learn exactly when to use merci de and when to use merci pour. This video was based on the phrase Roland Garros vous remercie
Are you not sure when to use the subjunctive in French? Join Mark from Coffee Break in this “Walk, Talk and Learn French” video and learn about using the subjunctive after the subjunctive trigger pour que, meaning “so that”. This video was filmed at the 2018 Roland Garros tennis tournament and is based on the
In this final episode of our first season of En Route avec Coffee Break French, Mark is back in Menton, talking to some of the locals. We’ll find out more about the type of people who visit Menton from the hotel manager, we’ll learn about Menton’s connection to the artist Jean Cocteau, and we’ll discover
In this episode of En Route avec Coffee Break French, Mark heads to the Principality of Monaco where he attends the Changing of the Guard, meets Riviera blogger Kevin Hin, and experiences the ePrix, a version of the Grand Prix for electronic racing cars. As usual, you’ll be learning about the area while improving your
Welcome to our “frogs and dogs” episode of En Route avec Coffee Break French. In this episode Mark starts in the village of Sospel which straddles the Bévéra river and is a popular destination for walkers and cyclists. He then travels on to the village of Gorbio and has a coffee break with photographer Jilly
Our destination for episode 7 of En Route avec Coffee Break French is “Nice the beautiful”, as the city is referred to in the unofficial anthem which is in the local dialect, Niçard. In this episode Mark visits Nice, takes a ride on a vélotaxi and has a Coffee Break with a friend from Scotland
In this episode we’re investigating an interesting aspect of life in this part of France: what it’s like to live and work in a border town. Mark travels north to the town of Breil-sur-Roya, and to do so he has to cross the border between France and Italy a number of times. Through the conversations
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
It’s market day in Menton and Mark brings you a fantastic episode, full of new vocabulary, featuring interviews with various stall holders in the covered market in Menton. You’ll hear about fish, spices, olives, fruit and vegetables and much more. Listen to the lesson The audio lesson is free, as are all the main audio
In this episode Mark visits the hilltop village of Sainte-Agnès, the highest coastal town in Europe. He talks to locals and visitors to the village. As with all episodes of En Route, this will give you the perfect opportunity to practise your French and find out about another beautiful part of the Côte d’Azur. Listen
Mark has arrived in Menton and in this episode he sets out to rediscover the town after 25 years. In the course of this episode he talks to a number of native speakers of French including Eric, who works at the reception of the Office du Tourisme in Menton. In addition to building your understanding,
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