Coffee Break French · Free podcast

Coffee Break French Level 4

This is Season 4 of our free French podcast, for upper intermediate learners. The 40 lessons follow a story told in emails, set in Paris, with French at normal speed and plenty of idioms.

Level 4B2–C140 lessonsWith teachers Mark and Pierre-Benoît

Start with Lesson 1Free French lessons by email

Listen onLesson 1 on Apple PodcastsCoffee Break French on Spotify

Part 1 · Lessons 1 to 10

Fresh starts

Sylvie starts again in Paris after a break-up and writes home to Épinal, Matthieu finds the capital lonely and writes to Gabrielle in Rennes, and a rushed morning ends in a collision on the métro.

  1. 1Une maison bien vide sans SylvieMonique tells Sylvie, newly in Paris, how empty home feels
  2. 2Premières semaines à Paris : métro, boulot, dodoSylvie tells her mother about her new job and flat-hunting
  3. 3Une amitié trop précieuse pour être gâchéeGabrielle tells Matthieu to forget their awkward evening together
  4. 4Matthieu tire un trait sur la soiréeMatthieu apologises to Gabrielle and warns her about Thomas
  5. 5Une visite à Paris se prépareMonique asks about the flat and announces a visit in May
  6. 6Enfin les clés de l’appartementSylvie gets her flat and tells her mother about work friends
  7. 7L’ennui à Rennes, le rêve de ParisGabrielle, bored in Rennes, recalls a childhood trip to Paris
  8. 8La vie parisienne n’a rien de palpitantMatthieu tells Gabrielle his Paris life is routine and lonely
  9. 9Les voyages de papaMonique recounts her husband’s work travels and fixes the visit dates
  10. 10Une collision gênante dans le métroSylvie confirms the visit and confesses to bumping into a stranger

Part 2 · Lessons 11 to 20

The stranger on the RER

Gabrielle tries to push Matthieu into dating, Sylvie’s parents visit Paris and Thomas reappears in Rennes, while Matthieu finally works up the courage to speak to the girl on his train.

  1. 11Un site de rencontres pour Matthieu ?Gabrielle urges Matthieu to get out more and try online dating
  2. 12Percuté par la jeune fille du RERMatthieu turns down online dating and describes a collision on the RER
  3. 13Maman croit déjà au destinMonique teases Sylvie about the stranger and describes Nordic walking
  4. 14Un nouveau projet, pas de place pour l’amourSylvie admits the stranger is cute but lands a big project
  5. 15Ne laisse pas passer ta chanceGabrielle urges Matthieu to ask the girl out and describes Saint-Malo
  6. 16Plus facile à dire qu’à faireMatthieu says he’s too busy for romance; describes a film night
  7. 17Guillaume rentre du JaponMonique thanks Sylvie for the Paris weekend; Guillaume is home
  8. 18En route pour ÉpinalSylvie gets time off and plans her train journey to Épinal
  9. 19Gabrielle retombe dans les bras de ThomasGabrielle confesses to Matthieu that she has kissed Thomas again
  10. 20Matthieu prend son courage à deux mainsMatthieu finally talks to the girl on the RER platform

Part 3 · Lessons 21 to 30

A date is set

A family weekend in Épinal brings Patrick back into view, Sylvie and Matthieu learn each other’s names and plan a first date, and Gabrielle decides to move in with Thomas.

  1. 21Toute la famille réunie ce week-endMonique arranges Sylvie’s pick-up and plans a family barbecue
  2. 22L’homme du RER fait le premier pasSylvie tells her mother the RER man finally spoke to her
  3. 23Il y a de l’amour dans l’airGabrielle cheers Matthieu on and describes a treetop day with Thomas
  4. 24Le prénom de la jeune fille du RERMatthieu reveals her name and asks advice on a first-date walk
  5. 25Le programme du week-end à ÉpinalMonique sets out the weekend, including lunch with Patrick’s family
  6. 26Maman joue les entremetteusesSylvie rules out Patrick and reveals her date with Matthieu
  7. 27Un itinéraire romantique et une grande décisionGabrielle plans Matthieu’s date walk and says she’ll move in with Thomas
  8. 28Attention, tu fonces droit dans le murMatthieu warns Gabrielle about Thomas and finalises his date plans
  9. 29Patrick aimerait bien revoir SylvieMonique thanks Sylvie for visiting and passes on Patrick’s interest
  10. 30Patrick, toujours trop d’après-rasageSylvie turns Patrick down and reminds her mother about Saturday’s date

Part 4 · Lessons 31 to 40

Endings and beginnings

Thomas lets Gabrielle down again, Sylvie and Matthieu’s first date in the Quartier latin goes well and a romance begins, and Gabrielle tries her luck with online dating.

  1. 31Gabrielle découvre les messages de LucieGabrielle finds Thomas’s messages to another woman and walks out
  2. 32Un premier rendez-vous réussiMatthieu consoles Gabrielle, then describes his first date with Sylvie
  3. 33Dimanche midi, et toujours pas de nouvellesMonique waits impatiently for news of Sylvie’s first date
  4. 34Le récit d’un premier rendez-vousSylvie tells her mother all about her first date with Matthieu
  5. 35Gabrielle se lance dans les rencontres en ligneGabrielle recommends films in the original and decides to try online dating
  6. 36Doucement mais sûrementMatthieu reports on the cinema date, a Dubai contract and dating advice
  7. 37Guillaume repart au JaponMonique quizzes Sylvie about Matthieu as Guillaume flies back to Japan
  8. 38Tout l’opposé de PierreSylvie describes Matthieu and their second date at the cinema
  9. 39Un profil à relire avant publicationGabrielle sends Matthieu her dating profile and photos for feedback
  10. 40L’amour là où on ne l’attend pasMatthieu approves Gabrielle’s profile and admits he is falling in love

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