With Coffee Break Italian you can learn Italian where and when it suits you. In Season 1, you'll join teacher Mark, learner Katie and native speaker Francesca in our 15-minute lessons, and build your confidence in the language, learning Italian from scratch. Take your learning further with Season 2 in which Mark and Francesca are joined by learner Isla.
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In this episode of the Coffee Break Magazine we're heading to the north of Italy to the town of Ivrea, known for its peculiar way of celebrating Carnevale. Our listener's question in this episode comes from Zack and concerns the tricky word mica which seems to pepper the conversation of native speakers, but is difficult to use as a learner. There will be a total of 10 episodes in Season 1 of the Coffee Break Italian Magazine. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, transcripts, vocabulary li...
... e tanta voglia di futuro . The city of Matera in the Basilicata region of Italy celebrates an incredibly rich heritage, with the word famous Sassi, cave dwellings carved into the mountainside, and looks to the future with the redevelopment of these caves into museums and hotels. In 2019, together with the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv, Matera has been named European Capital of Culture. In this episode of the Coffee Break Italian Magazine Francesca tells us more about Matera, and there's a questi...
It's time for a new episode of the Coffee Break Italian Magazine and in this episode Francesca and Mark talk about their summer breaks and where they travelled to. The text for this episode focuses on the traditional Italian dance, la Tarantella , and there's an interesting question from listener Gianna on the difference between restare and rimanere . There will be a total of 10 episodes in Season 1 of the Coffee Break Italian Magazine. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, transcripts, vo...
We're heading to the kitchen for this episode and learning about the popular pasta dish, le orecchiette. Mark and Francesca also discuss their recent trip to Milan and Stresa to film some content for the forthcoming Coffee Break Italian To Go video series. There's also an explanation of how to translate "some" into Italian, based on a listener's question. After this episode we're taking a break and we'll be back with the next episode of the Coffee Break Italian Magazine in August. There will be ...
In this episode Francesca and Mark discuss one of Italy's most famous authors, Italo Calvino. Calvino's work can be read on many levels, and as a result of the type of language used, his books are very accessible for learners of Italian. In our Q&A segment, Francesca explains the difference between stare and essere . There will be a total of 10 episodes in Season 1 of the Coffee Break Italian Magazine. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, transcripts, vocabulary lists and exercises, y...
In episode 3 of the Coffee Break Italian Magazine we're heading to the north of Italy to find out more about the Walser Community. In addition we'll be looking at the best way to move from using Lei to using tu when you're getting to know someone. There will be a total of 10 episodes in Season 1 of the Coffee Break Italian Magazine. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, transcripts, vocabulary lists and exercises, you can access the premium version of the Magazine on the Coffee Break Acade...
In this episode we're heading south to the region of Puglia and, more specifically, to the area known as Il Gargano. Known for its crystalline waters and golden beaches, there is much to see and do in Il Gargano. Find out more in the episode. Francesca and Mark also have some advice on how to learn vocabulary, based on Tricia's question. The episode concludes with a scioglilingua - a tongue twister - which will help you practise the 'gl' sound in Italian. There will be a total of 10 episodes in ...
Welcome to the first episode of Coffee Break Italian Magazine, a new series for intermediate learners. This episode delves into Italian culture with a text about Rome's famous "La Bocca della Verità," complete with detailed vocabulary and grammar explanations, including the imperfect subjunctive. A listener question uncovers the many versatile uses of "Prego," from "you're welcome" to invitations. Finally, the "cherry on the cake" segment introduces a popular Italian saying about telling lies, inspired by Pinocchio.
And so our series, and our soap opera, reach their conclusion and we're delighted to bring you episode 40 of Coffee Break Italian Season 2. In this episode you'll enjoy the finale of La Mia Estate and, as ever, Mark and Francesca are on hand to help you understand everything. We hope you've enjoyed this second season of Coffee Break 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 o...
In the previous instalment of La Mia Estate which featured in episode 38 of Coffee Break Italian, we left our characters at a dramatic point. In episode 39, it's time to see if the night of Ferragosto will help to thaw relations and if the stars finally align for Riccardo and Maria - and for Giorgio and Mia! As usual Francesca and Mark are on hand to discuss the language contained in the episode. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from l...
In this episode of Coffee Break Italian, the big day has arrived, La Notte di San Lorenzo . Mia, Anna and Giorgio are full of expectations for the romance of the evening ahead and hope that it will be the perfect opportunity for Maria and Riccardo to get together. Not only that, but Mark and Francesca are joined by a very special guest in the introduction to this episode... This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, bonus audi...
In the latest lesson of Coffee Break Italian, it's the day of preparation for the famous Notte di San Lorenzo , and it's all hands on deck at the campsite. This episode provides further practice of direct object pronouns, and we'll also learn the verb servire which is used in a similar way to piacere . As usual, Francesca and Mark are 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 recordi...
In the latest lesson of Coffee Break Italian we're listening to episode 6 of our soap opera, La Mia Estate . Riccardo and Maria seem to be getting on well, much to the surprise of Mia, Anna and Giorgio, and Riccardo has some exciting news regarding his search for a house. The episode provides an opportunity to look further into imperatives and there is more practice of the pronouns ci and ne , and how they affect different verbs. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episode...
It's time for a new episode of Coffee Break Italian, and the latest episode of our soap opera, La Mia Estate . In this instalment Riccardo and Maria are on their way to Vipiteno, but they end up missing the train. Is this a recipe for disaster, or is it the perfect opportunity for them to get to know each other a little better? As ever, the episode is rich in complex grammar and useful vocabulary, and Mark and Francesca discuss everything to help you build your language skills. This season of Co...
In this latest episode of Coffee Break Italian, join Francesca and Mark for the fourth instalment of our Italian soap opera, La Mia Estate. Preparations are underway for a summer concert at the campsite and Mia, Anna and Giorgio are busy putting the final arrangements in place. Even Riccardo and Maria seem to be getting on well, but things don't go quite as smoothly at the concert. In additional to lots of useful Italian expressions and vocabulary, you'll also learn a little about the subjunctiv...
In lesson 33 of Coffee Break Italian Season 2 you'll hear the latest instalment of our Italian soap opera, La Mia Estate . Mia is now fully involved at the campsite, helping Anna and Giorgio, and in this episode Mia's father, Riccardo, gets to know Anna's mother, Maria, a little more. From a grammatical point of view, this episode introduces some examples of various types of pronoun. As usual, Mark and Francesca are on hand to explain everything. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a to...
In lesson 32 of Coffee Break Italian Season 2 you'll listen to the second instalment in our Italian soap opera, La Mia Estate . Mia and her father are now on their way to Italy and in this episode they arrive in Verona where they're met by Mia's friend Anna and her mother, before heading to the campsite in Trento. The episode includes some examples of new grammar points, and Francesca and Mark are there to explain everything. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. I...
We're back with another lesson of Coffee Break Italian, and in lesson 31 we're presenting the first episode of our Italian soap opera, La Mia Estate . You'll meet three of our characters: Mia, her friend Anna, and her overprotective father Riccardo. In each of the ten episodes of La Mia Estate , you'll be hearing Italian in context and you'll be able to build your knowledge and confidence, and Francesca and Mark are on hand to help you understand everything. This season of Coffee Break Italian f...
This episode of Coffee Break Italian is a review episode, covering many of the topics discussed in lessons 1-29. With Francesca, Isla and Mark you'll review the pronouns ci and ne , how to form the perfect, how to choose between the perfect and imperfect, and much more. 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 under...
It's time to take a detailed look at a topic which, on the surface, can seem straightforward, but when you get into it in more detail it can get a bit more complicated. We're talking about adverbs: words which "describe" a verb, or which give more information as how quickly, effectively, badly etc., you're doing whatever it is you're doing! We'll look at the Italian equivalent of adding "-ly" to an adjective, but we'll also consider other types of adverbs, and we'll look at those tricky adverbs ...
In this episode of Coffee Break Italian we're looking at two constructions which will help you increase your range of expression easily and effectively. You'll learn to use prima di + infinitive and dopo + past infinitive with both avere and essere verbs. Once you've mastered these expressions you'll be able to talk about "before doing something" and "after doing something", and understand the nuances of each of these expressions in their Italian translations. This season of Coffee Break Italian...
We're back with the second instalment of our two-part preposition marathon. In this episode you'll learn all you need to know about the prepositions di , da , con , per and tra/fra . Once again, there are some crucial nuances with certain prepositions which can completely change the meaning, so listen carefully in this lesson! As usual, Francesca and Mark provide plenty of examples to help, and Isla puts what she learns to the test with a translation challenge. By the time you've completed this ...
This is the first of our two-part preposition marathon! In this episode you'll learn all you need to know about the prepositions a , in and su . Using prepositions in Italian can be quite tricky, particularly because they don't work the same way as in English. There's also the fact that, when combined with the definite articles, the prepositions take on different forms. Through this lesson about ( su ) prepositions, you'll learn to ( a ) use the prepositions in ( in ) the correct way! This seaso...
In this episode you'll learn everything you need to know about asking questions in Italian. We'll cover come, dove, quando, chi, perché, quale, quali, quanto/a/e/i and, of course, che, che cosa and cosa ! By the time you've completed this lesson you'll be able to satisfy your curiosity in Italian by asking any question. 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 featurin...
Coffee Break Italian is the show which helps you learn Italian. Mark and Francesca are the teachers who teach Isla in Season 2. This is the episode in which we're looking at relative pronouns, and through which you'll master this new grammar point! See what we did there? All will become clear in lesson 24! 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 'synchronise...
In this lesson we're focusing on combining the Perfect and the Imperfect which together allow us to tell stories in the past. You'll consolidate what you already know about each of the tenses and you'll recognise certain words and expressions which trigger the Perfect or the Imperfect. Francesca also has some mystery Italian personalities for us to identify in the Caffè Culturale. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, bon...
We've now learned both the Perfect Tense and the Imperfect Tense in Italian, but when do you use which tense? In this episode of Coffee Break Italian we'll be talking about "thtooms" and "dum-de-dum-de-dums". This is Mark's method of explaining how you can combine the Perfect Tense and the Imperfect Tense in one sentence to talk about what was happening when something else happened. You'll also learn an alternative translation of the Imperfect which involves beaches at sunset! This season of Co...
In this lesson we're focusing on a new tense, the imperfect, which is used for descriptions and to talk about repeated actions in the past. It's a very straightforward tense, and Francesca shares some great news about the Imperfect in this episode! As usual, there are lots of examples and Mark and Francesca will test Isla on her understanding by the end of the lesson. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, bonus audio reco...
In this lesson you'll learn to use four very useful adverbs: mai (ever), già (already), appena (just) and ancora (still/yet) to talk about what you've just done, what you've already done, what you've never done and what you've not yet done. This very useful lesson builds on what you've learned in previous episodes, and it marks the half-way point of our course. This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes, published every two weeks. Lessons 21-40 will be published during 2...
In this episode we're looking at how you say you liked something in the past using the verb piacere . This verb is conjugated with essere and you have to be careful with how you agree the past participle. We'll also be taking a look at how reflexive verbs work in the Perfect Tense in this lesson. Again, pay close attention to the past participles! 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 vers...
