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 devoir and falloir , in response to listener Steve’s question. There will be a total of 10 episodes in Season 1 of the Coffee Break French Magazine. If you'd like to benefit from l...
Jun 24, 2019•31 min•Season 6Ep. 4
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 translate "to look like" and "to feel like" into French. This series is aimed at learners who have completed at least Seasons 1 and 2 of Coffee Break French. There will be a total of 10 episodes in S...
Jun 10, 2019•27 min•Season 6Ep. 3
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 each episode of this 10-lesson season for intermediate learners, you can build your vocabulary, increase your understanding of grammar and learn to use the French language in a more natural way. This series is aimed at learners who have completed at least Seasons 1 and 2 of Coffee Break French. There will be a total of 10 episodes in Seaso...
May 27, 2019•32 min•Season 6Ep. 2
The Coffee Break French team is back with a new series, the Coffee Break French Magazine. In each episode of this 10-lesson season for intermediate learners, you can build your vocabulary, increase your understanding of grammar and learn to use the French language in a more natural way. This series is aimed at learners who have completed at leats Seasons 1 and 2 of Coffee Break French. There will be a total of 10 episodes in Season 1 of the Coffee Break French Magazine. If you'd like to benefit ...
May 13, 2019•26 min•Season 6Ep. 1
In this final episode of our first season of En Route avec Coffee Break French, Mark is back in Menton, talking to some of the locals. We'll find out more about the type of people who visit Menton from the hotel manager, we'll learn about Menton's connection to the artist Jean Cocteau, and we'll discover how the local dialect is being maintained. As usual, this episode is presented in a combination of French and English, and the aim of the episode is to help you learn more about the area and abo...
May 16, 2018•20 min•Season 5Ep. 10
In this episode of En Route avec Coffee Break French, Mark heads to the Principality of Monaco where he attends the Changing of the Guard, meets Riviera blogger Kevin Hin , and experiences the ePrix, a version of the Grand Prix for electronic racing cars. As usual, you'll be learning about the area while improving your French through the interviews and language study provided in the lesson. This season of En Route avec Coffee Break French features 10 audio episodes, all of which will be included...
Apr 26, 2018•18 min•Season 5Ep. 9
Welcome to our "frogs and dogs" episode of En Route avec Coffee Break French. In this episode Mark starts in the village of Sospel which straddles the Bévéra river and is a popular destination for walkers and cyclists. He then travels on to the village of Gorbio and has a coffee break with photographer Jilly Bennett whose passion is for photographing the life - and dogs - of the village. As usual, the episode is full of fascinating insights into the local area, and plenty of French to help you p...
Apr 09, 2018•19 min•Season 5Ep. 8
Our destination for episode 7 of En Route avec Coffee Break French is "Nice the beautiful", as the city is referred to in the unofficial anthem which is in the local dialect, Niçard. In this episode Mark visits Nice, takes a ride on a vélotaxi and has a Coffee Break with a friend from Scotland who now lives and works in the area. This season of En Route avec Coffee Break French features 10 audio episodes, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the podcast to e...
Mar 16, 2018•19 min•Season 5Ep. 7
In this episode we're investigating an interesting aspect of life in this part of France: what it's like to live and work in a border town. Mark travels north to the town of Breil-sur-Roya, and to do so he has to cross the border between France and Italy a number of times. Through the conversations featured in this extended audio episode you'll learn about life in les villes frontalières . This season of En Route avec Coffee Break French features 10 audio episodes, all of which will be included ...
Mar 13, 2018•20 min•Season 5Ep. 6
In this episode Mark is travelling from Nice to Monaco, along one of Europe's most impressive roads, la Moyenne Corniche. Clinging to the cliffs with sheer drops to the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean on one side, this road travels through Villefranche-sur-Mer, Èze, Cap d'Ail, Beausoleil and on to Monaco. As you join Mark en route, you'll listen to a series of informative conversations he has with people visiting the region and working there. This season of En Route avec Coffee Break Frenc...
Feb 05, 2018•19 min•Season 5Ep. 5
It's market day in Menton and Mark brings you a fantastic episode, full of new vocabulary, featuring interviews with various stall holders in the covered market in Menton. You'll hear about fish, spices, olives, fruit and vegetables and much more. This season of En Route avec Coffee Break French features 10 audio episodes, 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 transcripts, bonus audio recordings...
Jan 17, 2018•17 min•Season 5Ep. 4
In this episode Mark visits the hilltop village of Sainte-Agnès, the highest coastal town in Europe. He talks to locals and visitors to the village. As with all episodes of En Route, this will give you the perfect opportunity to practise your French and find out about another beautiful part of the Côte d'Azur. This season of En Route avec Coffee Break French features 10 audio episodes, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the podcast to enjoy each episode. I...
Jan 06, 2018•17 min•Season 5Ep. 3
Mark has arrived in Menton and in this episode he sets out to rediscover the town after 25 years. In the course of this episode he talks to a number of native speakers of French including Eric, who works at the reception of the Office du Tourisme in Menton. In addition to building your understanding, this episode also introduces two useful phrases: être frais et dispos and c'est pas évident . This season of En Route avec Coffee Break French features 10 audio episodes, all of which will be includ...
Dec 13, 2017•20 min•Season 5Ep. 2
In episode 1, Mark sets off en route for the south of France and arrives in Nice. On the way he explains the objectives of this new series, and also takes the opportunity to talk to the French-speaking cabin crew on his flight to Nice. As the episode comes to an end Mark is heading to his final destination for this episode, the town of Menton where he lived 25 years ago. This season of En Route avec Coffee Break French features 10 audio episodes, all of which will be included in the ...
Nov 29, 2017•15 min•Season 5Ep. 1
Join Mark and the Coffee Break French team "en route" in the south of France. In this season preview, Mark introduces the new show and you'll hear excerpts from some of the many interviews we've carried out in the area between Nice and Menton on the beautiful Côte d'Azur. We'll be talking to people who live or work in the area, and to people who are visiting the area. These conversations feature authentic French, with a whole range of different accents and speeds of delivery, so it's the perfect...
Nov 15, 2017•16 min•Season 5Ep. 1
In this special edition of Coffee Break French, Mark announces the new series in which you can join the Coffee Break French team, "en route". Listen to a sneak preview of some of the many interviews with native speakers and learn more about the forthcoming series. This episode is the first of two special announcements from Coffee Break French. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jun 15, 2017•13 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Nine years ago today we published the first episode of Coffee Break Spanish. Since then we’ve gone on to publish courses in 27 languages, and we’ve delivered over 160 million language lessons to learners around the world. Some of the team have spent this weekend in London at the Language Show where we’ve been meeting thousands of language lovers, among them many members of the Coffee Break learning community. To celebrate our 9th birthday we’ve put together a special sho...
Oct 18, 2015•17 min
In the final episode of the series we join Matthieu who is replying to Gabrielle’s email – for the last time! As ever Mark and Pierre-Benoît are on hand to discuss the episode and it’s finally time to tackle the tricky issue of c’est vs il est among many other language points. If you’re interested in finding out more about what happens next in the Coffee Break French series, please click here . This season of Coffee Break French features a total of 40 lessons, all of which w...
Jul 27, 2015•31 min•Season 4Ep. 40
In the penultimate episode of the series we join Pierre-Benoît and Mark as they discuss Gabrielle’s email to Matthieu. The text gives us the opportunity to look at the complicated pronouns lequel, laquelle, lesquels and lesquelles , negative infinitives, the expression faire des folies and lots more. This season of Coffee Break French 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 15, 2015•29 min•Season 4Ep. 39
In this episode of Coffee Break French, Pierre-Benoît and Mark discuss Sylvie’s most recent email to her mother Monique. The text gives us the opportunity to talk about a number of interesting grammar points and idiomatic expressions including further examples of the gerund, s’apercevoir de quelque chose, insister pour and the expression brûler les étapes . This season of Coffee Break French features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed t...
Jun 28, 2015•24 min•Season 4Ep. 38
It’s time for another episode of Coffee Break French, and in this episode Mark and Pierre-Benoît discuss the latest email from Monique to her daughter Sylvie. A number of interesting examples of French appear in this episode, including the expressions de mon temps, en faire lourd and further examples of the imperfect tense. This season of Coffee Break French features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the podcast...
Jun 13, 2015•29 min•Season 4Ep. 37
In this latest episode of Coffee Break French, Mark and Pierre-Benoît discuss Matthieu’s latest email reply to Gabrielle. As usual there are a number of interesting language points to be discussed including further examples of the subjunctive with triggers we have seen before, and a brand new situation when the subjunctive is used after a superlative. This season of Coffee Break French features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the ...
May 30, 2015•27 min•Season 4Ep. 36
In this episode of Coffee Break French, Mark and Pierre-Benoît discuss the latest email from Gabrielle to Matthieu and look in particular at a number of interesting language points contained in the lesson. Expressions in this episode include the expressions ce n’est pas ton fort, prendre peur and rendre des comptes à quelqu’un . This season of Coffee Break French features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the podcast to ...
May 18, 2015•25 min•Season 4Ep. 35
Mark and Pierre-Benoît are back with another episode of our advanced French course. In this episode we’re focusing on the latest email from Sylvie in which she updates her mother on her date with Matthieu. As usual the episode is rich in interesting grammar points and idiomatic expressions and our two hosts are on hand to discuss the language used and to help listeners understand the content. Expressions in this episode include il devait y avoir, être désolé de + infinitive and t...
May 01, 2015•29 min•Season 4Ep. 34
It’s time for another episode in our series for advanced French learners. In this lesson we read the latest email from Monique to her daughter Sylvie. Monique is desperate to hear how Sylvie got on on her date with Matthieu, and as usual Pierre-Benoît and Mark are on hand to discuss the language points contained in the text. In this episode, expressions featured include tourner en rond, la curiosité est un vilain défaut, and lots more. This season of Coffee Break French features a ...
Apr 04, 2015•23 min•Season 4Ep. 33
It’s time for another episode in our series for advanced French learners. In this lesson Mark and Pierre-Benoît are discussing the latest email from Matthieu to Gabrielle. There are many interesting expressions and useful grammar points covered including agreement of preceding direct objects, rien que de + infinitive, en avoir l’eau à la bouche , and much more. This season of Coffee Break French features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay s...
Mar 20, 2015•24 min•Season 4Ep. 32
Join Mark and Pierre-Benoît for another lesson of our advanced French course. In this episode they’re discussing Gabrielle’s revelations in her most recent email to Matthieu. As usual there are plenty of interesting grammar points and idiomatic expressions to study including the expressions prendre ses clics et ses clacs and aller en éclaireur. This season of Coffee Break French features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subsc...
Mar 06, 2015•23 min•Season 4Ep. 31
It’s time for another episode of Coffee Break French and this week Mark and Pierre-Benoît are discussing the latest email from Sylvie to her mother, Monique. There are lots of interesting language points to talk about including the expressions être pot de colle, faire poireauter quelqu’un and the wonderful word dorénavant. This season of Coffee Break French features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed t...
Feb 20, 2015•20 min•Season 4Ep. 30
Join Mark and Pierre-Benoît for another episode of Coffee Break French in which they discuss Monique’s latest email to her daughter Sylvie following Sylvie’s visit to Epinal. As usual the text is rich in complex grammatical points and interesting vocabulary and idiomatic expressions including piquer du nez, faire un tabac and how to use the subjunctive with jusqu’à ce que . This season of Coffee Break French features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed....
Jan 25, 2015•21 min•Season 4Ep. 29
Mark and Pierre-Benoît are back with another episode of Coffee Break French, this time working through Matthieu’s latest email to Gabrielle. As usual the email is rich in complex grammatical structures and idiomatic expressions, and through further examples and clear explanations, our two hosts will help you understand everything. Points covered in this episode include using the subjunctive after avoir peur que and craindre que , and lots more. In the opening section, Mark also mentions his...
Jan 11, 2015•26 min•Season 4Ep. 28
