In the final episode of this season of the Coffee Break German Magazine, we hear a text about the well-known and successful German actor and director, Til Schweiger. As we hear about his life and international career, we review some important grammar points such as the imperfect irregular tense and scheint zu sein. As always, we hear relevant vocabulary along the way, including: Regisseur/-in, Produzent/-in and Drehbuchautor/-in before challenging you to our final tongue twister of the series!
CBS Mag 4.10 | Maíz
We have reached the tenth and final episode in this series of the Coffee Break Spanish Magazine and we’re rounding off the season by talking about one of the most cultivated cereals in the world – corn! Through the text featured in this episode, we find out where the term ‘corn’ comes from and its importance in Latin America. Of course, Mark and Anabel pick up on the important language points along the way. Alongside the range of nouns, verbs and adverbs, we hear some interesting phrases such as tener en común, querer decir and por cierto. That’s not all! We also have the opportunity to practise forming plural phrases in Spanish and learn more about how to use propio/a and mismo/a.
CBF Mag 2.10 | Vive la France : le quatorze juillet à Paris
We have reached the final episode of the Coffee Break French Magazine Season 2 and we’re going out with a bang as we’re discussing one of the most widely celebrated holidays in France – Bastille Day! As we discover how le quatorze juillet is celebrated in Paris, we learn some interesting expressions like grasse matinée, avoir la chance de faire qqch and finir la journée en beauté. Listen out for some reflexive verbs along the way, some examples of direct object pronouns and the use of the perfect tense, the future tense and the imperative. As always, Sophie joins Mark at the end of the episode and this time, they’re discussing dates of other national holidays in the French-speaking world.
CBI Mag 2.09 | La Serenata: una dedica musicale
Welcome back to the Coffee Break Italian Magazine! This time, we’re talking about the origins of a well-known romantic tradition – La Serenata. While listening to a text about this ancient tradition, we learn about the following grammar points: basta che + subjunctive, the ce n’è structure, and how to use il proprio / la propria as an alternative to il suo/ la sua. As always, there’s lots of new vocabulary to take note of along the way, such as chitarra, liuto and promessi sposi. In keeping with the theme of this episode, our ciliegina sulla torta is something musical! Listen until the end to hear this new Italian idiom.
CBG Mag 2.09 | Das Leben der Anderen
We’re discussing a film in this episode of the Coffee Break German Magazine: ‘The Life of Others’ by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. Set in 1984, the film portrays life in the German Democratic Republic, in East Berlin, and follows a couple being spied on by a member of the Stasi. We hear more about the film through the text featured in this episode and Mark and Andrea focus on some of the key grammar points including: the passive, man and je… desto. Be sure to listen out for some new vocabulary, such as the words: bespitzelt, verdeckt and abgehört.
CBI 3.20 | Preterite | Storie di emigrazione
Welcome to the latest episode of Coffee Break Italian! In this episode we will be focusing on the passato remoto (past historic), on it’s formation and it’s use. We will then listen to a story from Carlotta’s grandfather about his family migrating from Italy to New York. Listen out for some key vocabulary such as dopoguerra, traversata and the classic storytelling phrase of c’era una volta + vissero tutti felici e contenti.
CBG 3.20 | Review episode 3.11 to 3.19
We’re halfway through Season 3 of Coffee Break German, so it’s time for a review episode! Join Mark and Andrea as they look back on some of the things we have learned in episodes 11 – 19; from prepositions with the Genitive to the future tense, qualifiers and reflexive verbs with the Dative – this episode is not to be missed!
CBS Mag 4.09 | Siglos de historia en Cádiz
In the penultimate episode in this series of the Coffee Break Spanish Magazine, we’re taking a virtual trip to one of the oldest cities in Europe – Cádiz. Marina shares an interesting text about the history of this city in the south of Spain before Mark and Anabel discuss some useful language points. Some of the key grammar points discussed include: the difference between qué and cuál, the imperfect tense, and the gerund. Don’t miss the end of the episode when Marina joins Mark to share a new expression: ser del año de la pera.
CBF Mag 2.09 | La dernière reine de l’Ancien Régime
In this episode of the Coffee Break French Magazine we hear a text about Marie-Antoinette, the last Queen of France before the French Revolution. Join Mark and Pierre-Benoît as they discuss the language featured in the text and listen out for the following expressions: se rappeler qqch, tenter de faire qqch and faire des reproches à qqn. We also hear examples of indirect object pronouns and preceding direct objects and learn about the use of the imperfect tense and the conditional perfect. Sophie joins Mark at the end of the episode to discuss a short text about the French Republican calendar.
CBI Mag 2.08 | I Monti Azzurri – I Sibillini
In this episode of the Coffee Break Italian Magazine, we’re talking about the Sibillini Mountains – a mountain chain in central Italy which includes a beautiful natural park. Join Mark and Francesca as they discuss a text highlighting what these impressive mountains have to offer while talking about some key vocabulary and grammar points including: si dice che + present or imperfect subjunctive, and the present subjunctive in the passive form. We finish the episode with our ciliegina sulla torta about a common Italian saying which has something to do with mountains.
CBG Mag 2.08 | Heißluftballonrennen im Januar
The topic of this Coffee Break German Magazine episode is hot air balloons – specifically the annual hot air balloon competitions which take place in the Alps during the month of January. As we learn about these fascinating competitions, we encounter some interesting vocabulary including the words: bunt, egal ob… oder… and lenken. Mark and Andrea also discuss the following grammar points: bei + noun, and the infinitive with zu and ob. Of course, we end the episode with a brand-new tongue twister!
CBI 3.19 | Pluperfect indicative | La mamma è sempre la mamma
The latest episode of Coffee Break Italian we’re introducing a new past tense – the trapassato prossimo, also referred to as the “pluperfect”. Listen out for some handy phrases including: essere a pezzi, a proposito and ci sto! Don’t miss our ancora una cosina at the end of the episode.
CBG 3.19 | Causative Adverbs | Also los nach dem Pieps
Welcome to another episode of Coffee Break German! In Lesson 19 Mark and Andrea discuss adverbs which connect clauses: daher, deswegen, deshalb, darum, also, folglich, demzufolge and somit. We then listen to three separate voicemails in which we hear causative adverbs in context. Listen out for these useful words and phrases: etwas hinterlassen, die Rückrufnummer, unterwegs sein.
CBS Mag 4.08 | Fiesta de la Vendimia en Argentina
In this episode of the Coffee Break Spanish Magazine we’re talking about grape harvesting in Argentina! We learn how to create adverbs ending in -mente, and familiarise ourselves with the structure: continuar + gerund. We also hear a variety of verbs including alabar and constar de before Mark and Marina discuss la Guinda del pastel.
CBF Mag 2.08 | Entre les montres de luxe et le lac Léman
In this episode of the Coffee Break French Magazine, we’re transporting you to the city of Geneva. While hearing about what this wonderful Swiss city has to offer, we cover some interesting grammar points such as the agreement of tel(le) que and the use of être assis(e) à + infinitive. Sophie joins Mark at the end of the episode to discuss some time-related expressions including depuis la nuit des temps and en un rien de temps.
CBI Mag 2.07 | Dante: il padre della lingua italiana
The topic of this Coffee Break Italian Magazine episode is the life and work of Italy’s greatest poet and ‘father’ of the Italian language: Dante Alighieri. We review various grammar points in this episode, including: the historical present, relative superlative adjectives, the passive with venire and si passivante. Be sure to listen until the end of the episode to hear our ciliegina sulla torta.
CBG Mag 2.07 | Großglockner Hochalpenstraße – ein österreichischer Roadtrip
In the latest instalment of the Coffee Break German Magazine, we’re heading on a road trip in the Austrian Alps! Throughout the text featured in this episode, we explore the Großglockner Hochalpenstraße – a scenic mountain road and one of Austria’s main attractions – while taking note of the interesting language points, including: adjectives, the infinitive with zu and sowohl als auch. Listen until the end of the episode to master our tricky tongue twister which will impress your German-speaking friends!
CBI 3.18 | Irregular plurals | Vacanze in Turchia
In this episode of Coffee Break Italian we’re covering the topic of irregular plurals both in terms of nouns and adjectives. In the dialogue featured in this lesson, Elisa meets her friend and tells her about her recent summer holiday in Turkey. She mentions the topics of food, methods of transport and a cycling injury. Listen out for the following words and phrases: filare liscio, ginocchia and guadagnare. To round off the episode we hear a very interesting way to describe the city of Padova in Italy.
CBG 3.18 | Reflexive verbs with the Dative | Das werde ich mir merken
Welcome to another lesson of Coffee Break German! This time, we are introducing reflexive verbs with reflexive pronouns in the dative. We hear these learning points in context during a discussion between characters Tim and Anna. Some words and phrases to listen out for include: sich die Nacht um die Ohren schlagen, sich etwas aus … machen and sich Zeit lassen.
CBS Mag 4.07 | Deporte y diversión en Asturias
Welcome to another episode of the Coffee Break Spanish Magazine! This time, we discuss a text about a canoeing festival which takes place in Asturias every year. While hearing about the festival throughout the text, Mark and Anabel, discuss the grammar points which appear and explain the key vocabulary. We learn about the difference between saber and conocer; the verb interesar, and the meaning of – azo, in words like planazo, bombazo and cochazo. Marina joins Mark at the very end of the episode to discuss this week’s guinda del pastel.
