So far we've been learning how to talk in the past by using the Perfect Tense with avere . In this lesson we'll be learning about a specific group of verbs which use essere in the Perfect Tense. There's something in particular we need to remember about these verbs, and all will become clear once you've listened to this lesson. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, bonus audio recordings and video versions of the lessons f...
Oct 23, 2017•26 min•Season 2Ep. 18
In this episode of Coffee Break Italian, we're continuing to learn about the Perfect Tense, this time focusing on verbs which have irregular past participles. You'll learn to form past participles for irregular verbs and you'll also learn about the groupings of irregular verbs which form their past participles in similar ways. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, bonus audio recordings and video versions of the lessons f...
Oct 11, 2017•28 min•Season 2Ep. 17
It's time to think about the past. We've already seen examples of the Perfect Tense, one of the main Italian tenses used to talk about what happened in the past, but so far we've not learned exactly how to use it. In this lesson you'll be learning to form the past participle of -are, -ere and -ire verbs and how you combine these with the verb "avere" to form the Perfect Tense. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, bonus a...
Sep 12, 2017•28 min•Season 2Ep. 16
In this lesson we're continuing our study of "ne" and introducing a new pronoun, "ci". Both of these words are small, but exceptionally useful, and you'll learn how to use them in many situations. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, bonus audio recordings and video versions of the lessons featuring 'synchronised video flashcards' to help you understand how the words and phrases are written, you can access the premium ve...
Aug 28, 2017•34 min•Season 2Ep. 15
In this lesson we'll be looking at the partitive article - the technical name for how to translate "some" in Italian. We're using the context of buying food so you'll learn how to ask for some cheese, "del formaggio", some cream, "della panna", and lots more. This topic also enables us to look at the word "ne", and we'll see how easy it is to use this tiny, but powerful, word. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, bonus a...
Aug 14, 2017•32 min•Season 2Ep. 14
In this lesson you'll learn to use the demonstrative adjectives questo and quello, meaning "this" and "that". You'll also learn to use the demonstrative pronoun forms, meaning "this one" and "that one". There are a few things you need to remember, particularly with quello, because the forms change slightly depending on whether you're using the adjective or pronoun forms. You'll build on what you know already with this lesson, and there's further practise with the help of translations and a dialo...
Aug 03, 2017•34 min•Season 2Ep. 13
Paying compliments is a key part of Italian culture and society, and in this lesson of Coffee Break Italian you'll learn to compliment native speakers on their beautiful clothes, their delicious ragù, and their delightful children using the tricky adjectives bello and buono. You'll discover a trick which will help you to know exactly which form of these adjectives to choose for any noun, and Francesca explains the very Italian concept of la bella figura in the Caffè Culturale. This season of Cof...
Jul 17, 2017•35 min•Season 2Ep. 12
In this episode of Coffee Break Italian you'll be learning about Italian adjectives and how they agree in gender and number with the noun they describe. You'll learn about Four-Ending, Two-Ending and Invariable adjectives, and how to change the adjectives so that they "agree" with the noun. Join Mark as he goes clothes shopping in Milano (!) and build your vocabulary in the process. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes, published every two weeks. Lessons 21-40 will...
Jul 03, 2017•27 min•Season 2Ep. 11
In this lesson you'll learn to conjugate and use three very common -ire verbs which are irregular: venire (to come), uscire (to go out) and dire (to say/tell). Pay particular attention to the spelling changes which happen in these verbs! This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, bonus audio recordings and video versions of the lessons featuring 'synchronised video flashcards' to help you understand how the words and phrases a...
Jun 12, 2017•27 min•Season 2Ep. 10
In this lesson we'll be taking a look at four common irregular verbs which end in -ere: bere (to drink), tenere (to hold/keep), sapere (to know) and conoscere (also to know). You'll also learn the difference between the two verbs which can be translated as "to know" and when to use them. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, bonus audio recordings and video versions of the lessons featuring 'synchronised video flashcards'...
May 29, 2017•32 min•Season 2Ep. 9
In this episode you'll learn to use avere and essere, two of the most important Italian verbs. In addition to the normal uses you'll also learn to use the verbs in a number of idiomatic expressions. By the end of this lesson you'll be a master of "being" and "having" in Italian! This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, bonus audio recordings and video versions of the lessons featuring 'synchronised video flashcards' to help ...
May 17, 2017•31 min•Season 2Ep. 8
This lesson focuses on two very important irregular verbs, andare ("to go") and fare which means "to do" or "to make", but is used in many other expressions. You'll learn to conjugate these verbs and through a series of dialogues between Mark, Francesca and Isla, you'll practise using the verbs, helping you to consolidate what you've learned. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, bonus audio recordings and video versions ...
May 03, 2017•34 min•Season 2Ep. 7
In this lesson you'll consolidate what you already know about regular -are, -ere and -ire verbs and you'll also review reflexive verbs. One of the most common uses of the present tense is in making arrangements, and in the dialogues of the lesson you'll learn to make arrangements, identifying what you're doing, when you're doing it and where you're meeting your Italian-speaking friends. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson note...
Apr 18, 2017•33 min•Season 2Ep. 6
In this lesson you'll master verbs in the 3rd conjugation - those ending in -ire. There are two groups of these verbs: ones which form their endings as you would expect, and another group which introduce -isc- in the middle of certain forms. You'll already be familiar with verbs such as capisco, but this lesson will explain how to conjugate all of these verbs. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, bonus audio recordings a...
Apr 03, 2017•32 min•Season 2Ep. 5
In this lesson you'll master regular verbs in the second conjugation, those ending in -ere. You'll have met a few of these verbs before, but this episode gives you the chance to practise these verbs further and understand when to use them. Also covered are some verbs which involve spelling or pronunciation changes. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, bonus audio recordings and video versions of the lessons featuring 'sy...
Mar 20, 2017•34 min•Season 2Ep. 4
This episode of Coffee Break Italian will help you talk about the things you do on a regular basis, including aspects of your daily routine. Francesca and Mark introduce the concept of reflexive verbs and you'll learn to conjugate these verbs in the present tense. In the practice session Isla is put to the test and asked about her daily routine. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, bonus audio recordings and video versio...
Mar 06, 2017•30 min•Season 2Ep. 3
In lesson 2 of Coffee Break Italian Season 2 you'll further your knowledge of -are verbs within the context of talking about what you do at the weekend. Francesca and Mark introduce more -are verbs including some verbs which have spelling changes, and then talk about what they do at the weekend - in Italian, of course! Isla practises what she has learned by talking about her weekend in Italian, and there are some translation challenges to help you consolidate the new language in the lesson. This...
Feb 20, 2017•33 min•Season 2Ep. 2
In lesson 1 of Coffee Break Italian Season 2 you'll take the first steps in learning to manipulate the language and say what you want to say! Lesson 1 focuses on regular -are verbs, and you'll learn to conjugate these verbs in the present tense. Join teacher Mark, native speaker Francesca and learner Isla in this first episode of our new series. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, bonus audio recordings and video versio...
Feb 06, 2017•27 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Siamo tornati! We're back with a new season of Coffee Break Italian and in this short preview episode Mark and Francesca will be telling you what you can expect to learn in Season 2 which launches 6th February 2017. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, bonus audio recordings and video versions of the lessons featuring 'synchronised video flashcards' to help you understand how the words and phrases are written, you can ac...
Feb 02, 2017•4 min•Season 2Ep. 1
It’s time for the final episode of Coffee Break Italian in this season, and the team is back in the studio reflecting on what they’ve done in Italy. This gives us the opportunity to think about how you talk about the past in Italian. Mark and Francesca also test Katie on what she’s learned in the course so far. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, bonus audio recordings and video versions of the lessons featuring 'synchr...
Jul 11, 2016•30 min•Season 1Ep. 40
In this week’s episode, we’re joined by a special guest: la mamma di Francesca! Katie is drafted in to help make the tiramisù and Mark is on hand to explain everything. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, bonus audio recordings and video versions of the lessons featuring 'synchronised video flashcards' to help you understand how the words and phrases are written, you can access the premium version of Coffee Break Italia...
Jul 04, 2016•26 min•Season 1Ep. 39
Hopefully you’ll not have to visit the doctor or the pharmacy while you’re in Italy, but in case you do, this lesson will help you prepare! Katie hasn’t been feeling too well and she visits the pharmacy in this lesson. We’ll listen in to the conversation and Mark is on hand to explain everything. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, bonus audio recordings and video versions of the lessons featuring 'synchronised video fl...
Jun 20, 2016•23 min•Season 1Ep. 38
When you’re travelling, one of the most common situations encountered is that you need to ask for information. In this episode of Coffee Break Italian Mark is asking for information in his hotel in Stresa. You’ll review some of the language areas already covered and learn new words and phrases through the conversation. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, bonus audio recordings and video versions of the lessons featuring...
Jun 13, 2016•23 min•Season 1Ep. 37
In this episode Mark is buying “delle cartoline” and Katie and Francesca are shopping for clothes. Join them and practise your language skills and learn new words and phrases associated with shopping. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, bonus audio recordings and video versions of the lessons featuring 'synchronised video flashcards' to help you understand how the words and phrases are written, you can access the premiu...
Jun 06, 2016•23 min•Season 1Ep. 36
Join Mark and Katie as they visit the town of Stresa on Lake Maggiore. In order to find out about the town they head straight to the tourist information office and you can listen in on their conversation, practising language you’ve learned previously in the course and learning new words and phrases. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, bonus audio recordings and video versions of the lessons featuring 'synchronised video...
May 23, 2016•22 min•Season 1Ep. 35
In this latest episode of Coffee Break Italian, Mark and Katie have breakfast in their hotel and get chatting to one of the other guests. This lesson gives you the chance to build your vocabulary, practise the words and phrases you already know and experience a regional Italian accent. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, bonus audio recordings and video versions of the lessons featuring 'synchronised video flashcards' t...
May 16, 2016•22 min•Season 1Ep. 34
Having arrived in Italy and found her way to the town of Orta, Katie checks into the hotel and in this episode we listen in on the conversation she has with the receptionist. There’s a little problem, but this is quickly solved with the use of some of the language previously learned in our course. This episode also features a chat between Mark, Katie and Francesca about how things are going at the end of the first day of our trip: an excellent opportunity to review some further expressions. This...
May 09, 2016•23 min•Season 1Ep. 33
In this episode Katie takes up the sfida (challenge) set by Francesca and speaks to a lady in the information office at the airport to ask about transport options to Stresa. This conversation will give you the chance to review much of the vocabulary you have learned in previous episodes. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, bonus audio recordings and video versions of the lessons featuring 'synchronised video flashcards'...
May 02, 2016•20 min•Season 1Ep. 32
We’re back with another episode of Coffee Break Italian, and it’s time to put Katie’s Italian to the test. Mark and Katie have travelled to Italy to meet up with Francesca and together they’ve recorded a series of conversations. In lesson 31 you’ll join the team as they arrive in Italy and prepare for the coming visit, learning a few new phrases along the way. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, bonus audio recordings a...
Apr 25, 2016•14 min•Season 1Ep. 31
In the latest episode of Coffee Break Italian you’ll be learning to talk about clothes and taking your ability to describe people a bit further. Francesca will put your comprehension skills to the test with an identity quiz in which you have to guess the identity of well known people from her Italian descriptions. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, bonus audio recordings and video versions of the lessons featuring 'syn...
Dec 22, 2015•30 min•Season 1Ep. 30
