In this lesson of Coffee Break Swedish we take a trip into town and follow Mark as he is on the lookout for a few different items. We learn some new words and phrases, take a look at adjectives, and also introduce the past tense. Låt oss börja!
Chapitre 35 – James sentit son sang bouillir dans ses veines
Following the turn of events in our previous chapter, we see the aftermath, as the police arrive and start taking statements from witnesses and from James. However, they soon discover that the drama isn’t over yet! Some interesting expressions to look out for include: l’ironie du sort and la fin des haricots as well as a range of crime novel vocabulary.
CBG 3.07 | The infinitive with zu | Ich habe gehofft, früher hier zu sein
In Lesson 7 of Coffee Break German Season 3, we are looking at the infinitive structure with zu but without um. Throughout the lesson we identify some verbs and expressions that require this structure. We also hear some useful vocabulary, including: sammeln aufbauen and vorhaben.
CBI 3.07 | Indirect object pronouns | Due compleanni davvero speciali
Throughout this lesson of Coffee Break Italian, Mark and Francesca teach us about indirect object pronouns and we follow a dialogue of three friends discussing what present to get for two of their friends’ birthdays. Listen out for some useful vocabulary including the words: cravatta and indimenticabile.
Chapitre 34 – Les choses se précipitaient
Welcome back to our crime drama series for advanced learners of French! Put your listening comprehension skills to the test with this fast-moving, action-packed chapter in which we join Roger, James and Guillaume in the car that they are test driving. Some interesting expressions to listen out for along the way include: hors de ses gonds and perdre le nord.
CBSw 1.34 | Ska ni äta frukost?
This lesson of Coffee Break Swedish is all about breakfast. We follow Mark and Catriona during their first morning at the hotel in Örebro and look at both familiar and new vocabulary. We also introduce some Swedish slang. Låt oss börja!
CBG 3.06 | The genitive case | Wessen Socken sind das?
Welcome back to Coffee Break German Season 3! Join Mark and Andrea in Lesson 6 as they introduce the genitive case which conveys belonging and possession. In our story this week, we follow flatmates Jana and Karin as they tidy their apartment and discuss whose belongings are lying around! Listen out for examples of the genitive throughout the dialogue.
CBI 3.06 | Superlative adjectives | Aiuto! Cosa mi metto?
We’re back with a brand new Coffee Break Italian lesson! Join Mark and Francesca in this episode as they continue discussing the topic of adjectives. While the focus of Lesson 5 was on comparative adjectives, this time we are learning about superlative adjectives, both in their relative and absolute forms. We also hear a dialogue between two friends which features relative comparatives and absolute comparatives.
CBSw 1.33 | Ha det trevligt här hos oss!
This lesson is all about checking into a hotel! We follow Mark and his wife Catriona on their travels in Sweden and encounter some familiar phrases and some completely new ones. Strap yourself in and get ready for some more conversations with native speakers. Låt oss börja!
Chapitre 33 – Il n’y avait plus un instant à perdre !
It’s time for Chapter 33 of La Vérité éclate toujours! In this instalment we hear the next stage of James and Guillaume’s Plan B which doesn’t unfold as smoothly as they’d hoped. Listen out for some nice expressions at the very beginning of the chapter: la goutte d’eau qui fait déborder le vase and la coupe est pleine.
CBG 3.05 | Irregular verbs in the imperfect tense | Ich aß täglich ein Eis
Following on from the previous lesson of Coffee Break German Season 3, Mark and Andrea continue to look at the imperfect tense, this time, focusing on irregular verbs. The imperfect tense is used when writing or telling a story in the past so we take a look at a letter where we see many irregular imperfect verbs in context. We also hear some interesting vocabulary including the word Sprachlernaufenthalt.
CBI 3.05 | Comparative adjectives | Le vacanze… che fatica!
The latest lesson from Coffee Break Italian Season 3 is all about comparative adjectives. Join Mark and Francesca to learn about regular and irregular comparatives and the use of che and di when introducing comparisons. We also hear some useful phrases including all’ultimo minuto and spendere un occhio della testa.
Chapitre 32 – La Namérie est à moi !
Welcome to the latest instalment of La Vérité éclate toujours ! In this dialogue chapter, we hear Roger’s voice for the first time during a conversation with James and Guillaume. Listen carefully for the following colloquial expressions: en prendre plein les mirettes and travailler pour des clopinettes as well as some useful idiomatic expressions.
CBSw 1.32 | Jag vill åka till Örebro
In this lesson of Coffee Break Swedish we continue our adventures in Sweden and Mark is challenged to find out how to travel from the airport to Örebro. We hear a conversation between him and the person at the information desk while introducing some new vocabulary and constructions. Låt oss börja!
CBG 3.04 | The imperfect tense | Wir arbeiteten pausenlos
Lesson 4 of Coffee Break German Season 3 is all about the imperfect tense. Throughout the lesson Mark and Andrea focus on the conjugation of regular verbs and then listen to a diary entry where we hear examples of the tense in context.
CBI 3.04 | The future perfect and review of adjectives | Ti sentirai come a casa!
Mark and Francesca are talking about the futuro anteriore (future perfect) in Lesson 4 of Coffee Break Italian Season 3. We also revise all of the adjectives covered in the season so far and hear a dialogue following on from what we heard in Lesson 3.
CBSw 1.31 | Välkomna till Sverige!
We are back after a short break and over the course of the next ten lessons we will be taking our Swedish to the next level and really putting what we have learned into practice. We will follow Mark and his wife Catriona as they take a virtual trip to Sweden, allowing Mark to put his Swedish skills to the test in conversations with native speakers. In Lesson 31, we start at the very beginning of the trip – at the airport. Låt oss börja!
Chapitre 31 – Il était d’un naturel époustouflant
Welcome to the first chapter of the fourth and final part of La Vérité éclate toujours, our crime drama series for advanced French learners. In this episode, James and Guillaume attend their meeting with Roger Martin who is as unpleasant and rude as they expected, but James manages to stay in the character of David Munro and play along. Throughout the chapter, we come across many interesting expressions including cirer les pompes de quelqu’un and en connaître un rayon. We also see a range of subjunctive triggers such as s’étonner que and falloir que.
There’s also an online course version of La Vérité éclate toujours which provides access to a range of additional materials including the text of each chapter, annotated notes, language study podcasts, vocabulary lists, video versions of each episode and our atelier linguistique which helps you to take the language you’ve covered in each chapter further. This course is available on the Coffee Break Academy.
CBG 3.03 | Using the pronouns welche and diese | Mit welchem Schiff fahren wir?
In Lesson 3 from Coffee Break German Season 3, Mark and Andrea discuss the use of pronouns welche and diese before listening to a dialogue in which a tour guide shows a group of tourists around the city of Zurich. Be sure to take note of the use of the pronouns welche/welcher/welches and diese/dieser/dieses throughout the conversation.
If you’d like to take advantage of bonus materials, lesson notes and a translation challenge, you can access the full Coffee Break German Season 3 course on the Coffee Break Academy.
CBI 3.03 | Simple future | Ci trasferiamo in Australia!
Join hosts Mark and Francesca in Lesson 3 of Coffee Break Italian Season 3 as they discuss the simple future. We talk about the structure of the tense and how it is formed and used in Italian. We also hear a dialogue between a father and daughter who are discussing aspects about their lives in the near future. Be sure to listen carefully for several verbs in the future tense!
If you’d like to take advantage of bonus materials, lesson notes and a translation challenge, you can access the full Coffee Break Italian Season 3 course on the Coffee Break Academy.
