Today we have another episode from Alf’s diary as he learns French in Nice. In this episode Alf talks about his family and about his daily routine. He also admits to being a bit embarrassed about his daily routine when he hears what the other learners have to do. His life is a bit more relaxing, to say the least! Please note that lesson 11 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 311 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more simpl...
Jan 20, 2011•19 min•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast … the episode in which we introduce the subjunctive! We’re returning to Katie’s texts this week and we’ll be hearing more about her search for a job. Please note that lesson 10 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 310 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more simple for our listeners. 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 th...
Dec 31, 2010•19 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast This week we’re returning to Veronica’s texts and we’ll be finding out a bit more about why Veronica decided to learn French. Veronica also tells us a bit more about her daughter Jessica. Please note that lesson 09 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 309 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more simple for our listeners. This season of Coffee Break French features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the po...
Dec 23, 2010•18 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast In this week’s lesson we’re continuing with Katie’s second text. We’ll be taking a closer look at direct object pronouns and some further examples of the future tense as Katie talks about her plans for the coming weekend. Please note that lesson 08 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 308 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more simple for our listeners. This season of Coffee Break French features a total of 40 lessons, all o...
Dec 09, 2010•17 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast This episode is the first of two episodes which are based on Katie’s second text. In this first part we’ll be hearing about an unfortunate event which Katie experienced while she was shopping in Nice. Language points covered include the expressi on se rendre compte in the perfect tense, whether descendre is an être or avoir verb, and many other points. Please note that lesson 07 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 307 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season a...
Dec 04, 2010•15 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode our course, we’re taking a break from our weekly texts from Alf, Katie and Veronica. Last week Alf mentioned that his teacher had been teaching the students about the future tense. We thought it would be useful to go through all aspects of the future tense in this lesson. Please note that lesson 06 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 306 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more simple for our listeners. This ...
Nov 23, 2010•16 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast This week's Coffee Break French episode features Alf once again. We’ll be finding out about his plans for the coming weekend, and this gives us an opportunity to review the future tense of both regular and irregular verbs. In the free version of the podcast we’ll be looking at some of the language points covered in Alf’s text. Please note that lesson 05 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 305 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make thi...
Nov 16, 2010•14 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast In the fourth episode of Coffee Break French Season 3 we meet Australian entrepreneur Veronica who, like Katie and Alf, is studying French in Nice. In the free version of the podcast we’ll be looking at some of the language points covered in Veronica’s text. Please note that lesson 04 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 304 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more simple for our listeners. This season of Coffee Break French ...
Nov 10, 2010•14 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast It’s time for our third episode of Coffee Break French Season 3 and this week we’re getting to know Alf a bit more. In the free version of the podcast we’ll be concentrating on adjective agreements and looking at some of the words and expressions used in Alf’s text. Please note that lesson 03 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 303 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more simple for our listeners. This season of Coffee Break...
Nov 02, 2010•18 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast Our second episode of Coffee Break French Season 3 provides further details on Katie who has been writing her diary about her experience studying French in Nice. In this episode we’ll be looking at more language points which come up in Katie’s diary including direct and indirect object pronouns. Please note that lesson 02 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 302 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more simple for our listener...
Oct 26, 2010•16 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome to the first lesson of Coffee Break French Season 3! In this episode listeners will meet American student Katie, Australian entrepreneur Veronica, and Alf who is a retired teacher from England. Our three characters are studying French at a language school in Nice, and in each episode you’ll hear an extract from their diaries, recounting their adventures on the French Riviera. We’ll pick up on a couple of language points in each lesson to help listeners understand the content. Please note...
Oct 18, 2010•15 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast Oui, c’est vrai! Nous sommes de retour! Coffee Break French is returning for a third season starting next Monday, 18th October. Season 3 will consist of 40 lessons and will give you the opportunity to develop your knowledge of the French language further, increasing your range of expression and building your confidence in a variety of grammatical constructions. In this season we’ll be featuring three new characters who all happen to be learning French in a language school in Nice on the Côte d’A...
Oct 12, 2010•3 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast We’ve arrived at the final episode in our series of Coffee Break French. In lesson 40, we reach the end of the meal in which our friends Christina, David, Sophie and Jean-Jaques have been getting to know each other. As usual, we cover a range of topics and constructions in this conversation and everything is explained in the lesson. Please note that lesson 40 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 80 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to mak...
May 11, 2010•20 min•Ep 40•Transcript available on Metacast After an enjoyable meal our two couples are about to enjoy a coffee and un petit digeo . The conversation continues between David, Christina, Sophie and Jean-Jacques in this penultimate episode of the series. Expressions covered include ça te dirait de faire quelque chose, aussitôt que , and further examples of the future and conditional tenses. Please note that lesson 39 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 79 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lesson...
May 05, 2010•21 min•Ep 39•Transcript available on Metacast In the 38th episode of the course, we continue our radio play featuring David and Christina, who are having dinner with their new friends Sophie and Jean-Jacques. This lesson introduces the pluperfect tense and also looks at a few examples of avoir expressions, including avoir l’habitude , avoir besoin de quelque chose and avoir de la chance . Please note that lesson 38 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 78 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons ...
Apr 25, 2010•25 min•Ep 38•Transcript available on Metacast In this lesson our radio play continues and Sophie, Jean-Jacques, David and Christina are talking about what they will be doing in the coming days. We’ll therefore be taking a look at the future tense. Please note that lesson 37 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 77 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more simple for our listeners. This season of Coffee Break French features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be inclu...
Mar 25, 2010•25 min•Ep 37•Transcript available on Metacast In this lesson of Coffee Break French, our radio play continues. Sometimes it’s difficult to know when to use tu and when to use vous when speaking to people in French. In this lesson, Jean-Jacques suggests that he and David should tutoyer each other – ie. use the tu form. This lesson includes some useful tips on dealing with tu and vous . We also take a close look at the conditional tense. Please note that lesson 36 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 76 of Coffee Break French. We h...
Mar 10, 2010•26 min•Ep 36•Transcript available on Metacast Our radio play continues in this week's lesson as David and Christina get to know Jean-Jacques and Sophie a bit more. They talk about their children and pets, and about the food they’re going to order. The conversation includes some examples of the conditional tense, the comparative, and the use of the word en . Please note that lesson 35 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 75 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more simple ...
Feb 19, 2010•28 min•Ep 35•Transcript available on Metacast In this week's episode of Coffee Break French David and Christina decide to join Jean-Jacques and Sophie for dinner in the latest instalment of our ‘radio play’. Topics covered include a review of beaucoup de and a very brief introduction to the subjunctive mood. Please note that lesson 34 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 74 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more simple for our listeners. This season of Coffee Break Fre...
Feb 04, 2010•26 min•Ep 34•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of Coffee Break French our conversation between David, Christina and Jean-Jacques continues, and they are joined by Jean-Jacques’ wife, Sophie. Topics covered include the use of ça vous dirait de + infinitive to suggest an activity. We also take a look at negatives in the form of ne … pas and ne … jamais . Please note that lesson 33 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 73 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things mo...
Jan 27, 2010•24 min•Ep 33•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of Coffee Break French we’ll hear the next instalment of the conversation between David, Christina and Jean-Jacques. Please note that lesson 32 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 72 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more simple for our listeners. 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...
Jan 19, 2010•23 min•Ep 32•Transcript available on Metacast One of the main things learners seem to be finding difficult is the idea of making conversation with people. It’s easy enough to order a coffee, or book into a hotel, and saying the words and phrases you’ve learned at the appropriate time is great, but sometimes it’s not enough. What happens when you ask a question and you receive 30 seconds of solid French in return? In the final ten lessons of Coffee Break French we’ve created something which we think will help you develop your range of langua...
Jan 09, 2010•21 min•Ep 31•Transcript available on Metacast In this 30th episode of Coffee Break French, Mark and Anna look at one activity which learners traditionally find difficult in a foreign language: using the telephone. Please note that lesson 30 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 70 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more simple for our listeners. This season of Coffee Break French features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay...
Nov 15, 2009•21 min•Ep 30•Transcript available on Metacast This week’s Coffee Break French deals with hiring a car in a French-speaking area. Like our last episode, this lesson focuses on using the language we’ve been working on recently in a practical context. Please note that lesson 29 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 69 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more simple for our listeners. This season of Coffee Break French features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be incl...
Oct 27, 2009•23 min•Ep 29•Transcript available on Metacast It’s time to put the language we’ve been learning into practice and return to some transactional situations, this time equipped with a thorough understanding of how the language works. In this week’s show Mark and Anna discuss travelling by taxi in French, and use the constructions and expressions learned in recent weeks within this context. Please note that lesson 28 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 68 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-...
Oct 16, 2009•19 min•Ep 28•Transcript available on Metacast In this week's lesson we’re building on the verbal constructions we’ve been learning over the past few weeks and introducing the phrase après avoir fait quelque chose . This lesson also explains what happens when an être verb is used with this construction. Please note that lesson 27 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 67 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more simple for our listeners. This season of Coffee Break French fe...
Sep 30, 2009•21 min•Ep 27•Transcript available on Metacast In this lesson we’re covering two constructions which will help to increase your range of expression: venir de faire quelque chose (to have just done something) and avant de faire quelque chose (before doing something). Please note that lesson 26 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 66 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more simple for our listeners. This season of Coffee Break French features a total of 40 lessons, all of w...
Sep 12, 2009•18 min•Ep 26•Transcript available on Metacast In this lesson you’ll solve the mystery of qui or que . Please note that lesson 25 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 65 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more simple for our listeners. 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 to benefit from video versions, lesson notes and...
Aug 26, 2009•26 min•Ep 25•Transcript available on Metacast In this lesson you’ll find out exactly why Prince Philip changes his wig frequently… or at least when the imperfect tense is used in French! Please note that lesson 24 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 64 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more simple for our listeners. 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 ...
Aug 16, 2009•25 min•Ep 24•Transcript available on Metacast In this lesson we take a further look at the imperfect tense, this time looking at the formation of -re and -ir verbs. We also consider some verbs with slightly different patterns and the only verb with an irregular stem in the imperfect tense: être . Please note that lesson 23 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 63 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more simple for our listeners. This season of Coffee Break French features...
Aug 08, 2009•21 min•Ep 23•Transcript available on Metacast 
