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.
CBE 4.03 | Halema’uma’u crater | Language focus: adjectives and prepositions
In this episode, we hear from Kate in the USA. She talks about a volcanic crater in Hawaiʻi, and we focus on pairs of adjectives and prepositions.
CBE 4.02 | Extra | A safari park adventure
In the extra episode, we listen to a conversation between Mark and Thomas, who is from Germany, about visiting zoos and safari parks.
CBI 3.25 | Perfect and pluperfect subjunctive | In bocca al lupo per il colloquio!
We are back with another episode of Coffee Break Italian Season 3! In this episode we are focusing specifically on the perfect and pluperfect subjunctive. We then go on to listen to a dialogue based on a job interview: be sure to listen out for some key vocabulary which may come in useful for you when looking for a job in Italy. The episode includes vocabulary like: colloquio, stipendio, fare domanda and stagista.
CBG 3.25 | The Gerund as an Adjective | Ob sengende Hitze oder klirrende Kälte
Welcome to a new episode of Coffee Break German Season 3! In this episode we are introducing the gerund, as well as using the gerund as an adjective. We also learn a bit about Zurich from a travel article and listen out for some vocabulary from the article such as: Hauptstadt (f), Alpenstaat (m) and klirrende Kälte (f).
CBE 4.02 | The Big Five | Language focus: used to
In this episode, we hear from Riaan in South Africa. He tells us about the Big Five, and we focus on the expression used to.
CBE 4.01 | Extra | Have You Ever Worn a Kilt?
In our very first extra episode of Coffee Break English Season 4, Josie talks to Maurizio, who is from Italy, about his experiences wearing a kilt.
CBE 4.01 | The Kilt | Language focus: phrasal verbs with ‘try’
Welcome to a brand new season of Coffee Break English! In this first episode of Season 4, we hear from Gregor in Scotland. He tells us about the kilt, and we focus on phrasal verbs and expressions with the word ‘try’.
CBI 3.24 | Imperfect subjunctive | Casa dolce casa
Welcome back to a new episode of Coffee Break Italian Season 3! In this episode we continue our learning of the subjunctive by focusing on the imperfect subjunctive. We hear some examples of it in context through a dialogue between two friends who are attending a property viewing! Be sure to listen out for key vocabulary such as: magari, casa di campagna and traslocare.
CBG 3.24 | The Past Participle as an Adjective | Nehmen Sie den gekühlten Teig aus dem Kühlschrank
We are back with a new episode of Coffee Break German Season 3! In this episode we are learning about using the past participle as an adjective. You may already know the rules of adjectives in German and this knowledge will help to enhance your understanding of this new topic. We listen to a recipe for delicious biscuits called “Spitzbuben” and hear plenty of baking-themed vocabulary such as: Puderzucker, Teig and frisch gebacken.
CBI 3.23 | Consolidation of present subjunctive | Il cliente ha sempre ragione!
We are back with another episode of Coffee Break Italian Season 3! In this episode we are consolidating our learning of the present subjunctive which was covered in the previous episode. We listen to a dialogue between a client and a bank clerk on the topic of credit cards. Listen out for some useful vocabulary such as; carta di credito, scadere and scoperto.
CBG 3.23 | Ordinal Numbers | Die erste Destination ist Atlanta
We’re back with another episode of Coffee Break German Season 3 and we are revisiting the topic of ordinal numbers! Although this is a topic you may already be familiar with from the beginning of your learning experience, today we are focusing on something new by looking at capitalisation. We will also look at superlatives that are used in the same way as ordinal numbers. We hear a dialogue between two people discussing a holiday and listen out for the vocabulary unbedingt, Flughafenbus (m) and innerhalb von.
CBI 3.22 | Present subjunctive | Il regalo perfetto
Welcome to the latest episode of Coffee Break Italian! In this episode we are focusing on the structure of the present subjunctive and we will look at both regular and irregular forms. We will also listen to its use in context through a shopping dialogue. Listen out for the expression: a caval donato non si guarda in bocca.
CBG 3.22 | Separable Verbs | Wann kommt der nächste bus vorbei?
Welcome to the latest episode of Coffee Break German! In this episode we revisit the topic of separable verbs, but today we focus on them with vorbei, weiter, zurück and weg. We listen to a dialogue between two people lost in a city, who ask a local for directions. Listen out for some key vocabulary including sich verlaufen, Anweisung (f) and Rathaus (n) which may come in useful for you in similar situations!
CBI 3.21 | Introduction to subjunctive | Dai, diamoci da fare!
Welcome back to another episode of Coffee Break Italian! In this episode we are introducing a new topic – the long awaited subjunctive! We then hear a dialogue based on the ups and downs of the workplace. Listen out for some key words and phrases throughout the episode such as: lancio, impegni, avere a cuore and sudare sette camicie.
CBG 3.21 | The Passive | So wird der Whisky gebrannt
Welcome back to another episode of Coffee Break German! In this episode we are learning about the passive which is created with werden and the past participle. We then listen to a dialogue of a tour guide escorting his visitors around a distillery and he explains the process of making whisky! Listen out for some important vocabulary such as: etwas durchführen, Sicherheitshinweis, Notfallalarm and Rückkehr.
CBI Mag 2.10 | Corsa alla Spada e Palio di Camerino: un tuffo nel passato
We have reached the tenth and final episode of the Coffee Break Italian Magazine Season 2! We’re stepping back in time as we’re discussing two Renaissance events which take place in the region of Marche in May. Join Mark and Francesca one last time in this series as they explore masculine words ending in -a and qualche (some) and ogni (each) + singular nouns. That’s not all! We round off the series with a ciliegina sulla torta based on the word spada, the prize for the winner of the race described by Silvia in this episode.
