What you’ll be able to do
Level 3 helps you follow conversations with native speakers, and hear how Spanish changes across the Spanish-speaking world.
Follow native speakers
Keep up with native-speaker dialogues on travel, culture, language learning and current affairs.
Get to grips with the subjunctive
Learn the present and imperfect subjunctive, the phrases that trigger them, and how to give your opinion.
Use pronouns and tenses with confidence
Combine object pronouns, and use the pluperfect and the future perfect.
Hear Spanish across Latin America
Explore the culture and the Spanish of Colombia, Mexico, Chile, Argentina and Ecuador.
The people behind the course
Mark and Alba talk in Spanish, and Mark explains in English as they go, with lots of examples. José joins them for the intermedio, with tongue-twisters and jokes.
Every fifth lesson is an episode of Verano Español, our telenovela: Antonio, Iona and their daughter Laura spend the summer in Spain, and you hear the language you’ve been learning used in the story.
Inside every lesson
Each lesson has a main audio episode and an encore, so you can listen first and then put yourself to the test.
What’s included
Pay once and it’s yours for life, on every device you use.
- 40 audio lessons Over 20 hours of audio.
- Full transcripts Every word of the Spanish.
- Lesson notes Grammar and idiomatic expressions explained.
- Encore episodes Translation challenges for every lesson.
- Interactive quizzes Check your progress as you go.
- Downloads Take the audio and notes offline.
- Lifetime access One payment, no subscription.
Listen
The main audio lesson
20 to 25 minutes of dialogue in Spanish between Alba and Mark, with explanations in English and lots of examples.
Read
Transcript and lesson notes
Read every word of the Spanish, with the grammar and idiomatic expressions explained.
Practise
The encore episode
10 to 12 minutes of translation challenges, with Mark talking through the sample translations.
Review
Encore notes
Check your answers against the translation challenges, written out in full.
The 40 lessons
The lessons cover tenses, pronouns and the subjunctive, with a trip across Latin America at the end and an episode of Verano Español every fifth lesson.
Part 1 · Lessons 1 to 10
Tenses and pronouns
Use estar with the gerund, the pluperfect, object pronouns, the future perfect and soler, and hear the first two episodes of Verano Español.
- 1Meet Mark, Alba and José and a tongue twister
- 2Progressive tenses using estar + gerund
- 3Spanish Halloween and reflexive verbs
- 4The pluperfect tense and the subjunctive
- 5Verano Español, episode 1
- 6The pluperfect tense and using double indirect pronouns
- 7The seasons, and combining object pronouns
- 8The future perfect tense and use of soler
- 9Expressions followed by the subjunctive, and por and para
- 10Verano Español, episode 2
Part 2 · Lessons 11 to 20
The subjunctive
Talk about New Year’s resolutions and the language of poetry, learn the present and imperfect subjunctive and give your opinion, with more Verano Español.
- 11New Year’s resolutions and the preterite tense
- 12Register of language used in poetry
- 13Subjunctive triggers and expressing opinions on social media
- 14Imperfect subjunctive
- 15Verano Español, episode 3
- 16Possessive pronouns and uses of the subjunctive
- 17Imperfect subjunctive and phrases to express surprise
- 18Discussing advantages and disadvantages
- 19Lo + adjective, siempre que and para que
- 20Verano Español, episode 4
Part 3 · Lessons 21 to 30
Pronouns, comparisons and food
Combine object pronouns, make comparisons, use the imperative and al with the infinitive, meet quedarse and fijarse, and learn about tapas and tortilla.
- 21Indirect and direct object pronouns
- 22Comparatives
- 23Using the imperative combined with object and reflexive pronouns
- 24Using al + infinitive
- 25Verano Español, episode 5
- 26The verbs quedarse and fijarse
- 27Alternative forms of possessive adjectives
- 28All about tapas
- 29Tortilla española
- 30Verano Español, episode 6
Part 4 · Lessons 31 to 40
Across Latin America
Explore Colombia, Mexico, Chile, Argentina and Ecuador, review the season and hear the end of Verano Español.
- 31Geography and traditions of Colombia
- 32Music and literature of Colombia + impersonal verbs
- 33Tourist attractions of Mexico
- 34Mexican Spanish
- 35Verano Español, episode 7
- 36Geography and culture of Chile
- 37Chilean culture and language
- 38Argentina and Ecuador
- 39Review of the season
- 40Verano Español, episode 8
From learners on the course
“One of the more enjoyable as well as academically beneficial courses I have encountered in my journey to learn Spanish. I especially like listening to the conversations and the discussions afterward.”
“Just wanted to say that I am totally enjoying this course. I have learnt so much and am looking forward to this next half. Wish there was a little more of Verano Español, as it is a lot of fun to listen to. Thank you for all the work you have put into this”
“I was afraid I was choosing the wrong course but this is PERFECT! ¡Muchísimas gracias!”
Questions
What’s the difference between the course and the free podcast?
The free podcast has the main audio lessons. The course adds the full transcripts and lesson notes, the encore translation challenges and quizzes, all without ads.
Is this the same as Show Time Spanish?
Yes. Level 3 was first published as Show Time Spanish. It’s the same course, now called Coffee Break Spanish Level 3 so that it sits alongside the other levels.
Is there video?
No. Level 3 is an audio course, with full transcripts and notes for every lesson.
Is Level 3 right for me?
It’s for intermediate learners, usually after Levels 1 and 2. If you can follow the first free Level 3 episode with a bit of effort, it’s a good fit.
Can I download the materials?
Yes, the audio and lesson notes download to your device for offline study.
How long do I have access?
For life. Pay once and it’s yours, across all of your devices.
Can I try it before I buy?
Yes. You can listen to the main lessons free on the podcast. The course adds all the support that goes with them: full transcripts and lesson notes, the encore translation challenges with their notes, and quizzes.
Find the course that fits you
Coffee Break Spanish has five levels, from absolute beginner to advanced. If this one doesn’t feel right, try the level above or below.
The Level 1 course40 lessons for absolute beginners, with video lessons, notes and exercises
The Level 2 courseMove beyond the basics and learn the grammar you need to go further
The Level 4 courseFollow María and Rory through a summer in Mallorca, in 40 lessons
La penúltima voluntadChallenge yourself with a story written for advanced learners
Coffee Break Spanish · Level 3
Take your Spanish further
Every lesson comes with a full transcript, lesson notes and an encore episode, so you can work through the course at your own pace.
$269One payment, yours for life
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