It's time for the final lesson in this series of Coffee Break Chinese and Mark is about to leave China. He and Hongyu have a chat about what they've done during the visit and reflect on how much Mark has learned. As ever, Crystal is on hand in the studio to help you understand the conversation in full. This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the podcast to enjoy each episode. If you'd like to b...
Mar 27, 2019•28 min•Season 1Ep. 40
In this penultimate episode of Season 1 of Coffee Break Chinese, Mark meets some members of Hongyu's family at his younger cousin's birthday party. This gives him a great opportunity to put his Mandarin to the test and learn some new vocabulary too. As usual, Crystal is on hand in the studio to help. This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the podcast to enjoy each episode. If you'd like to ben...
Mar 13, 2019•26 min•Season 1Ep. 39
In this lesson, Mark is feeling a bit under the weather during his trip to China. He and Hongyu head to the pharmacy for some advice and some medicine. As usual, Crystal is on hand to help you understand the Chinese language in the recorded conversations. This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the podcast to enjoy each episode. If you'd like to benefit from video versions, lesson notes and bon...
Feb 28, 2019•20 min•Season 1Ep. 38
We have an exciting episode of Coffee Break Chinese for you today, as Mark and Hongyu have finally made it to Chángchéng, the Great Wall of China. In this lesson you'll build your understanding of Chinese by reviewing previously learned vocabulary and acquiring new expressions and structures. As usual, Crystal is on hand in the studio to help. This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the podcast...
Feb 13, 2019•21 min•Season 1Ep. 37
In this lesson Mark and Hongyu are going shopping. In the first shop, Mark wants to buy some postcards, and in the second shop Mark is looking for a new shirt. This lesson gives us the opportunity to review shopping vocabulary and will help you practise the transactional words and phrases covered in previous lessons. As usual, Crystal is in the studio to help you understand everything. This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcas...
Jan 30, 2019•24 min•Season 1Ep. 36
One of the most common experiences for any tourist visiting a foreign country is having to ask for information. In episode 35 of Coffee Break Chinese, Mark and Hongyu go to a tourist information office to ask for for information about a particular tourist attraction in Beijing, practising vocabulary learned in previous lessons. As usual, Crystal is on hand in the studio to help us understand everything. This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be incl...
Jan 17, 2019•22 min•Season 1Ep. 35
In this episode of Coffee Break Chinese we join Hongyu and Mark at breakfast in the hotel where they get talking to another hotel guest and her son. We'll take the opportunity to review vocabulary associated with ordering food and learn about some cultural aspects of eating breakfast in China. Crystal is on hand in the studio to help Mark understand everything. This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscri...
Dec 19, 2018•25 min•Season 1Ep. 34
It's time for another episode of Coffee Break Chinese and in this lesson Mark is checking into his hotel in Beijing, using many of the structures covered in previous lessons. Hongyu is on hand to help Mark in China, and Crystal is in the studio "after the event", discussing the language used in the lesson. This is a great opportunity to review vocabulary and grammar points associated with the topic of checking into a hotel. This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all ...
Nov 21, 2018•21 min•Season 1Ep. 33
In this episode of Coffee Break Chinese, Crystal and Mark continue to follow Mark's progress as he puts his Chinese into practice in China. Mark is making his way into Beijing from the airport and Hongyu helps him prepare for a conversation at the airport information desk. Mark then enquires about the best way to travel into the city - and hopefully manages to get the information he needs! This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the po...
Oct 23, 2018•22 min•Season 1Ep. 32
It's time to put into practice what we've learned so far in the course, and Mark has arrived in China where he meets his friend Hongyu who will be his guide during this stay in Beijing. In this episode Mark arrives at the airport and he and Hongyu talk about what they're looking forward to. This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the podcast to enjoy each episode. If you'd like to benefit from ...
Sep 24, 2018•21 min•Season 1Ep. 31
We've reached a milestone in Coffee Break Chinese with lesson 30 and in this lesson Crystal puts Mark - and our listeners - to the test with a marathon translation test covering all the topics of the course so far. This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the podcast to enjoy each episode. If you'd like to benefit from video versions, lesson notes and bonus audio materials, you can access the pr...
Sep 03, 2018•42 min•Season 1Ep. 30
In this episode you'll learn how to describe people in Chinese. You'll learn various adjectives to describe people physically and talk about hair and eye colour. We'll put this to the test by challenging you to identify some famous people from their descriptions in Chinese, and you'll be able to see how much you've understood of the lesson. This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the podcast to...
Aug 15, 2018•29 min•Season 1Ep. 29
In this episode of Coffee Break Chinese you'll learn to talk about your likes and dislikes. You'll start by continuing on from where we left off in lesson 27, and learn to talk about whether or not you like your job. You'll then learn more ways to say what you like and what you don't like, and this topic is always useful for making conversation with native speakers. This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay su...
Aug 01, 2018•26 min•Season 1Ep. 28
In this episode of Coffee Break Chinese you'll learn to talk more about yourself, specifically by talking about your job, where you work, what you do and where you'd like to work if you didn't have your current job! Crystal provides some interesting information about Chinese work ethic, and you'll be able to practise your Mandarin with the help of a conversation about jobs. This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just...
May 23, 2018•26 min•Season 1Ep. 27
In this episode of Coffee Break Chinese you'll learn to increase your range of expression to deal with conversations when visiting China and explaining why you're there, how long you're there for, and how long you've been learning Chinese. This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the podcast to enjoy each episode. If you'd like to benefit from video versions, lesson notes and bonus audio materia...
Apr 23, 2018•29 min•Season 1Ep. 26
In this episode you'll learn to deal with emergencies in Chinese. Needless to say, we hope you never have to use this language, but it's useful to know nonetheless! You'll learn to talk about losing wallets, reporting stolen passports and asking for help in various situations. You'll be ready for all eventualities by the time you've listened to this episode! This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed...
Mar 28, 2018•26 min•Season 1Ep. 25
In this lesson you'll learn the words and phrases needed to make phone calls and use the internet in Mandarin Chinese. This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the podcast to enjoy each episode. If you'd like to benefit from video versions, lesson notes and bonus audio materials, you can access the premium version of Coffee Break Chinese in the Coffee Break Academy . Don't forget to follow Coffe...
Mar 21, 2018•24 min•Season 1Ep. 24
In this episode of Coffee Break Chinese we're taking the topic of illnesses and ailments a stage further with a visit to the pharmacy where you'll learn to describe your symptoms and understand the advice given to you by the pharmacist. This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the podcast to enjoy each episode. If you'd like to benefit from video versions, lesson notes and bonus audio materials,...
Mar 01, 2018•28 min•Season 1Ep. 23
When you're travelling things don't always go according to plan and you may have to visit a doctor or pharmacist. In this lesson you'll learn the words for various parts of the body in Chinese, and to explain that you're feeling unwell. By the end of this episode you'll be able to explain to a doctor or pharmacist which part of your body is sore and if you have any other symptoms. This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast fee...
Jan 31, 2018•25 min•Season 1Ep. 22
In this episode you'll learn to talk about the weather in Mandarin. By the end of the lesson you'll be able to use the words and phrases for different meteorological conditions and understand a weather forecast in Chinese. This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the podcast to enjoy each episode. If you'd like to benefit from video versions, lesson notes and bonus audio materials, you can acces...
Jan 17, 2018•28 min•Season 1Ep. 21
This lesson marks the end of the first half of the Coffee Break Chinese Season 1 course, and we're taking the opportunity to review much of the vocabulary and structures learned in the first 20 lessons through a series of conversations in different situations. This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the podcast to enjoy each episode. If you'd like to benefit from video versions, lesson notes an...
Sep 22, 2017•27 min•Season 1Ep. 20
In this lesson of Coffee Break Chinese you'll be learning about train travel in China. You'll learn to book your tickets in advance and request the particular type of ticket and seat you require. There's also a cultural segment about travel in China. This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the podcast to enjoy each episode. If you'd like to benefit from video versions, lesson notes and bonus au...
Sep 04, 2017•29 min•Season 1Ep. 19
In this lesson of Coffee Break Chinese we're looking at the topic of getting around the town. You'll develop your range of vocabulary for asking for directions - and understanding the answers - and you'll learn more vocabulary and structures to help you deal with public transport in China. This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the podcast to enjoy each episode. If you'd like to benefit from ...
Aug 16, 2017•32 min•Season 1Ep. 18
In this episode of Coffee Break Chinese you'll learn to ask questions in the tourist information office or at your hotel. We take the time topic further by looking at more complex times like "half past" and "quarter to", and we also cover opening and closing times. By the end of this lesson you'll be able to ask questions like "what can you do here?" and say what you'd like to visit, and you'll understand the Mandarin responses you may hear in reply. This is the perfect lesson to study before a...
Aug 03, 2017•32 min•Season 1Ep. 17
This episode of Coffee Break Chinese focuses on the topic of shopping. You'll learn to say that you'd like to buy souvenirs, postcards, stamps and lots more. You'll also learn to say that you're just looking. By the end of this lesson you'll be ready to shop for souvenirs and other useful items on your trip to China. If you use our bonus materials, there's also a special conversation in the bonus lesson which will teach you to haggle in Chinese to make sure you get the best price in a Chinese ma...
Jul 19, 2017•27 min•Season 1Ep. 16
In this lesson we'll be putting what we've previously learned about counting in Mandarin into practise by learning the days of the week, the months of the year, and how to tell the time. All of these topics are based around the numbers, so you'll quickly learn this new vocabulary and how to put it to use. This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the podcast to enjoy each episode. If you'd like t...
Jul 06, 2017•29 min•Season 1Ep. 15
One of the great things about learning any language is the fact that you begin to see that many constructions can be reused in different contexts. With the help of some new vocabulary in this lesson for talking about hotel rooms, reservations and room keys, you'll see that you can use the structures you've already learned in this new context. You'll learn to say you have a reservation (or that you don't have a reservation!) and to specify the type of room you would like. By the time you've comp...
Jun 21, 2017•24 min•Season 1Ep. 14
In this lesson you'll put the language learned in previous lessons into practice with a restaurant dialogue and you'll also learn to order beer and wine in Mandarin. You'll need to be very careful when ordering "báijiǔ" which literally means something like "white wine", but is definitely not the "white wine" you would expect! This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the podcast to enjoy each epi...
Jun 07, 2017•26 min•Season 1Ep. 13
It's time to learn how to order food in a Chinese restaurant using Mandarin. You'll learn various words and phrases to help you get a table, ask for a menu in English and if you're struggling with chopsticks you can ask for a knife and fork. You'll also learn to talk about typical food - everything from egg fried rice to chicken chow mein! This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the podcast to ...
May 24, 2017•28 min•Season 1Ep. 12
In this lesson you'll learn to order drinks in a Chinese café or tea house. In addition to building your vocabulary for common drinks in Mandarin, you'll also learn the structures used to ask for things. You'll quickly find how easy it is to reuse these structures in other situations, and before long you'll be ready to order a cup of jasmine tea, a mineral water and lots more! This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. J...
May 10, 2017•26 min•Season 1Ep. 11
