Welcome back to Coffee Break German Season 3! In this episode we are introduced to our new story – Ein Zwilling studiert selten allein! In the first instalment twins Marian and Lucie have received their school leaving results and are celebrating with friends. We hope your enjoy this 10 part story that reviews all the language covered in the previous 30 lessons.
CBP 1.01 | Meeting people — How to ask “how are you?” in Portuguese
Welcome to this first episode of Coffee Break Portuguese! Join teacher Rafael and learner Ava to start learning Portuguese right from the beginning. In our first lesson we’ll be learning key words and phrases like “hello”, “goodbye” and “thank you”. We’ll also learn how to ask “how are you?” and some possible ways to answer this. So, if you’re ready, let’s go! Vamos lá!
CBP 1.00 | Introducing Coffee Break Portuguese
In this short introductory episode of Coffee Break Portuguese, teacher Rafael and learner Ava explain what’s to come in this series for beginners in Portuguese. We hear more about the types of topics that will be covered to help us when travelling to a place where Portuguese is spoken. We also get to know more about Rafael, Ava and Catarina and their language-learning backgrounds before learning about the term ‘Cafezinho’ and how this will be incorporated into our lessons.
Capítulo 7 – La preocupación de Jorge
In Chapter 7 of La penúltima voluntad, we join Marta just as she receives a phone call from her husband, Jorge. Throughout the episode, we get to know a bit more about Marta’s personal life while hearing some interesting Argentinian expressions, including: estar hecho percha, copado, bárbaro and bancar.
CBI 3.30 | Modified nouns, adjectives and verbs | I consigli dell’architetto
Welcome back to another episode of Coffee Break Italian Season 3! In this episode we are learning about modified nouns and verbs, for example maritino, casetta and salterellare. Have you heard of these before? We then listen to a dialogue between architect Pizzi and signora De Marinis about renovation work that is underway in her house and you will hear plenty of examples of modified nouns and verbs throughout.
Capítulo 6 – Un recuerdo entrañable
It’s time for the next instalment of La penúltima voluntad! After finding a riddle on the floor in the museum, Marta begins the scavenger hunt organised by her father. But where does the first clue lead to? While listening to this episode, take note of the range of nouns, including: acertijo, pista and comisura. We also hear some interesting expressions such as: caer en la cuenta de algo and cruzar por la cabeza.
CBG 3.30 | Review episode 3.21 – 3.30
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!
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.
