Coffee Break French Magazine

Coffee Break French

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

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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

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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

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CBF Mag 2.07 | La France derrière le regard impressionniste

The topic of this episode of the Coffee Break French Magazine is French painter and founder of impressionist painting, Claude Monet. As we hear about his life and work throughout the text, Mark and Pierre-Benoît focus on the language used before Sophie joins Mark to discuss some interesting quotations by Pissarro. We also hear examples

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CBF Mag 2.06 | Mais d’où viennent les frites ?

Mais d’où viennent les frites ? That is the question Mark and Pierre-Benoît are addressing in this episode of the Coffee Break French Magazine! We hope you’re hungry as we hear a range of useful food-related words and expressions in this episode, such as manger sur le pouce, avoir la frite and ne pas avoir

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CBF Mag 2.05 | L’ancêtre du cinéma français

In this episode of the Coffee Break French Magazine we’re heading to the cinema! After hearing a text about French cinema, Mark and Pierre-Benoît break down the language, focusing on some useful vocabulary for talking about films, such as: réalisateur, le septième art and trucages. Listen out for examples of the subjunctive, the gerund and

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CBF Mag 2.04 | Vingt-quatre heures dans la province du Québec

This week, we’re taking a virtual trip to the French-speaking area of Canada: Québec! Throughout the lesson we share some of the top attractions in this beautiful province of Canada. Along the way, we hear examples of direct object pronouns, the pronoun y and examples of the future tense of the verbs avoir and être. Listen

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CBF Mag 2.03 | La petite robe noire

In this episode of the Coffee Break French Magazine, we hear a text about the very well known French fashion designer…that’s right it’s Coco Chanel! Our hosts, Mark and Pierre-Benoît discuss a range of fashion-related words and phrases as well as examples of the following grammar points: reflexive verbs in the perfect tense; the imperfect

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CBF Mag 2.02 | L’apéro, c’est sacré !

Join Mark and Pierre-Benoît for Episode 2 of our Coffee Break French Magazine Season 2! After introducing the episode, we hear about the French apéritif tradition and analyse the language featured throughout this text. Some interesting expressions to listen out for include: quel(le) que soit (whatever), être le bienvenu (to be welcome) and faire plaisir

French

CBF Mag 2.01 | La ville rose

Welcome to the very first episode of the Coffee Break French Magazine Season 2! Join our hosts Mark and Pierre-Benoît as they introduce the series and take a virtual trip to the city of Toulouse, also known as La ville rose. Throughout the reading text about this beautiful city, Mark and Pierre-Benoît discuss the language

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Coffee Break French News – 4th April 2022

In this special episode, Mark provides an update on all things Coffee Break French including the return of the Coffee Break French Magazine in late April 2022; the launch of the Coffee Break books, available from June in your local bookshop and from online retailers; and the Coffee Break French Club, where you can get

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CBF Mag 1.10 | La Tour Eiffel

It’s the most visited monument in the world and at the time of its construction it was the tallest building in the world. Standing in the heart of the French capital, it is undeniably the global symbol of France. We’re talking, of course, about the Eiffel Tower, and in this episode Mark and Pierre-Benoît talk

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CBF Mag 1.09 | Non, rien de rien …

An extraordinary voice and life story filled with success and tragedy in almost equal measure, the “Little Sparrow” is the focus of this episode of the Coffee Break French Magazine. Edith Piaf is known as one of the most widely known French singers, and you’ll learn more about her life and work in this episode.

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CBF Mag 1.08 | Le Festival de Cannes

Glitz and glamour are the name of the game in this episode of the Coffee Break French Magazine as we head to the south of France for the Cannes Film Festival. In our text we’ll find out more about the interesting origins of this key event in the international cinematic calendar, and we’ll also tackle

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CBF Mag 1.07 | Parlons breton !

We’re heading to north-western France for this episode of the Coffee Break French Magazine to discover more about the Breton language and culture. As ever, you’ll be able to listen to Susie’s text and Mark and Pierre-Benoît are on hand to discuss the text. There’s a question from listener Tomás who wants to know when

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CBF Mag 1.06 | Le Neuvième Art

In this episode of the Coffee Break French Magazine we’re talking “bande dessinées”, comic books. The French-speaking world has produced many famous bande dessinée including Tintin, the Smurfs and Astérix, and they can be a great way to expand your vocabulary and experience.a different reading format. Pierre-Benoît is on hand to explain everything in the

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CBF Mag 1.05 | Destination Québec

In this episode of the Coffee Break French Magazine, we’re heading to the French-speaking area of Quebec in Canada and finding out more about how the French spoken there is different from the French spoken in France. We also look at the very useful expression il s’agit de, and learn about how to use this

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CBF Mag 1.04 | Au Carrefour de l’Europe

In the latest episode of the Coffee Break French Magazine, we’re heading to the “crossroads of Europe”, the city of Strasbourg in the heart of Alsace. Find out about the traditions, the food, the history and the culture of this beautiful part of the world. There’s also a discussion about how to express necessity using

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CBF Mag 1.03 | La Belle et la Bête

In this episode of the Coffee Break French Magazine we’re taking a trip to the movies to see one of the all time classics of French cinema, Jean Cocteau’s La Belle et la Bête. You’ll learn more about the film and about the work of Cocteau, and there’s an interesting listener’s question about how to

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CBF Mag 1.02 | Saint Exupéry

In Episode 2 of Season 1 of the Coffee Break French Magazine, we discuss the French author and aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, author of Le Petit Prince. In the Q&A section, Mark discusses the difference between the imperfect and perfect tenses in response to Keith’s question. In each episode of this 10-lesson season for intermediate