The Coffee Break Languages Magazines

Coffee Break Italian

CBI Mag 2.10 | Corsa alla Spada e Palio di Camerino: un tuffo nel passato

We have reached the tenth and final episode of the Coffee Break Italian Magazine Season 2! We’re stepping back in time as we’re discussing two Renaissance events which take place in the region of Marche in May. Join Mark and Francesca one last time in this series as they explore masculine words ending in -a and qualche (some) and ogni

Coffee Break German

CBG Mag 2.10 | Til Schweiger

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,

Coffee Break Spanish

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

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

Coffee Break Italian

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

Coffee Break German

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

Coffee Break Spanish

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

Coffee Break French

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

Coffee Break Italian

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:

Coffee Break German

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

Coffee Break Spanish

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.

Coffee Break French

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

Coffee Break Italian

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

Coffee Break German

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

Coffee Break Spanish

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

Coffee Break French

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

Coffee Break Italian

CBI Mag 2.06 | Pandoro o Panettone? Questo è il dilemma!

Pandoro o Panettone? That is the question Mark and Francesca are discussing in this episode of the Coffee Break Italian Magazine! While listening to a text about these traditional Italian Christmas cakes, take note of any new words or phrases you hear, such as tanto che, dibattito infiammato and brevettare. We also learn about the passive structures with venire instead of essere; nonostante +

Coffee Break German

CBG Mag 2.06 | Labskaus

We hope you’re hungry as this episode of the Coffee Break German Magazine is all about a traditional North German dish made of potatoes, beef, pickles and beetroot. This used to be a sailor’s dish but today it’s found all over Northern Europe, and there are lots of different variations. This episode will give you

Coffee Break Spanish

CBS Mag 4.06 | Isabel Allende

In this episode of the Coffee Break Spanish Magazine, Mark and Anabel discuss a text about the life and work of a very famous novelist who was born in Chile – Isabel Allende. While learning more about Isabel Allende throughout the text, we discuss some interesting language points including regular and irregular participles and the

Coffee Break French

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