Join the Coffee Break Spanish Magazine team and improve your Spanish listening skills. In this edition: Alba asks her interviewees, ¿cuál es el mejor regalo que has recibido jamás? ; Laura teaches us the phrases de tal palo, tal astillo, meaning “like father, like son” or “a chip off the old block”; and JP and Nahyeli answer listener Heather’s question about the difference between ahora and ahorita , which is particularly important in Mexican Spanish when there is a signi...
Nov 01, 2012•17 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Welcome to episode 8 of the Coffee Break Spanish Magazine. Join the team and improve your Spanish! In this edition: Alba asks her interviewees, si te tocara la lotería, ¿qué harías con el dinero? Like last week you’ll hear a range of accents featured in the answers, with a sprinkling of imperfect subjunctives and conditionals for good measure!; Laura teaches us the phrases tirar la casa por la ventana, meaning “to splash out” or to spend a lot of money; and JP and Nahyeli...
Oct 31, 2012•23 min•Season 1Ep. 8
The latest edition of the Coffee Break Spanish Magazine is now available. Join the team and improve your Spanish! In this edition: Alba asks her interviewees, ¿ayer hiciste algo especial? Answers cover a range of topics – and accents!; Laura teaches us what hablar por los codos means; and JP and Nahyeli discuss medical Spanish in response to a listener’s question. This season of Coffee Break Spanish Magazine features a total of 10 lessons, all of which are included in the podcast fee...
Oct 30, 2012•17 min•Season 1Ep. 7
This week’s Coffee Break Spanish Magazine episode is now available. Join the team and improve your Spanish! In this edition: Alba has an interesting question for some women on the streets of Barcelona. She asks ¿qué puedes aprender de un hombre si hablas con su madre? – what can you learn about a man if you speak to his mother?; Learn to avoid difficult questions with Laura’s frase idiomática, hacerse el sueco ; and JP and Nahyeli help listener Ana answer the door in Spa...
Oct 29, 2012•15 min•Season 1Ep. 6
The Coffee Break Spanish team is back with a new episode of the Magazine. In this edition: Alba asks passers-by in the streets of Barcelona, ¿De qué pasarías horas hablando? ; Laura teaches us the expression se me ha ido el santo al cielo , meaning “I completely lost track of the time”; and JP and Nahyeli answer listener Emily’s question about using the subjunctive when talking about the recent past. This season of Coffee Break Spanish Magazine features a total of 10 lessons, all of ...
Oct 28, 2012•16 min•Season 1Ep. 5
This week’s episode of the Coffee Break Spanish is a slightly spooky Hallowe’en episode. In this edition: Alba asks the macabre question ¿Cuál es tu peor pesadilla? ; Laura introduces the expression me he levantado con el pie izquierdo , meaning “to get out of the wrong side of the bed”; and JP and Nahyeli help listener Kelly understand the differences between the verbs querer and amar ? This season of Coffee Break Spanish Magazine features a total of 10 lessons, al...
Oct 27, 2012•14 min•Season 1Ep. 4
This is the third episode of our Coffee Break Spanish Magazine. In this edition: JP and Nayheli answer listener Beth’s question about how to translate “every other…” into Spanish; Laura explains the expression tener una mosca detrás de la oreja , meaning “to be suspicious about something” and in our interviews, Alba asks ¿En qué pasas demasiado tiempo? This season of Coffee Break Spanish Magazine features a total of 10 lessons, all of which are included in the podcast feed. If you’d like to bene...
Oct 26, 2012•16 min•Season 1Ep. 3
This is the second episode of our Coffee Break Spanish Magazine. In this edition: Laura introduces us to the expression por si las moscas ; JP and Nahyeli answer Steve’s question about using the verb fingir , meaning “to pretend” and in our interviews, Alba asks ¿Qué es para ti un buen profesor? This season of Coffee Break Spanish Magazine features a total of 10 lessons, all of which are included in the podcast feed. If you’d like to benefit from video versions, lesson notes and bonus audio mate...
Oct 15, 2012•16 min•Season 1Ep. 2
It’s here! We’re delighted to present the first edition of the Coffee Break Spanish Magazine. In this edition: Alba asks the question ¿Cómo pasabas el verano cuando eras niño? – “How did you spend your summers as a child?”; Laura introduces us to the expression de perillas ; and in our Q&A Spanish section JP and Nahyeli answer Molly’s question concerning gender of nouns. This season of Coffee Break Spanish Magazine features a total of 10 lessons, all of which are included in the podcast feed...
Oct 03, 2012•21 min•Season 1Ep. 1
In this promo episode of the Coffee Break Spanish Magazine, Mark outlines what listeners can expect from each episode of the show. The video episode (normally part of the premium materials) is included below to give you a feel for the new style of show: Subscribe to the CBS Magazine in iTunes | RSS Feed Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Sep 26, 2012•10 min•Season 1Ep. 1
The final episode in the third series of Coffee Break Spanish includes episode eight of our soap Verano Español . Just what will Laura say to Ángel and Fiona after discovering them together? And will Ramón finally have the courage to tell Laura how he feels? Find out in the long-awaited final instalment of the telenovela . Please note that lesson 40 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 340 of Coffee Break Spanish. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things...
Jan 24, 2012•26 min•Season 3Ep. 40
We’re delighted to be joined once more by Alba in this special episode of Coffee Break Spanish. It’s the last ‘normal’ episode in the series: next week we’ll have the eighth and final instalment of Verano Español. We find out what Alba has been doing since before the summer and Mark takes the opportunity to test listeners on some of the phrases learned earlier in the series. Please note that lesson 39 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 339 of Coffee Break Spanish. We have renumbered the ...
Jan 17, 2012•23 min•Season 3Ep. 39
In this episode, Mark is joined by Sofía from Argentina and Ana Isabel from Ecuador. Language points discussed include the difference between si no and sino , using hace with a time phrase, and voseo , the use of vos in Rioplatense Spanish. Please note that lesson 38 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 338 of Coffee Break Spanish. 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 Spanish features a total...
Jan 10, 2012•24 min•Season 3Ep. 38
This week Mark returns with Loreto for the second of our Chilean episodes of Coffee Break Spanish Season 3. In episode 37 we learn a bit more about Chilean culture and Loreto teaches Mark some Chilean expressions. Please note that lesson 37 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 337 of Coffee Break Spanish. 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 Spanish features a total of 40 lessons, all of whic...
Jan 04, 2012•20 min•Season 3Ep. 37
¡Estamos de vuelta! We’re delighted to be back with a new episode of Coffee Break Spanish in which Mark is joined by Loreto, from Chile. In this first of two episodes with Loreto, we learn about the geography and culture of Chile. Please note that lesson 36 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 336 of Coffee Break Spanish. 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 Spanish features a total of 40 les...
Dec 28, 2011•22 min•Season 3Ep. 36
In this week’s show we’re returning to our telenovela, Verano Español. It’s the morning after the night before when Ángel arrived drunk at Iona’s party. Needless to say Laura’s dad isn’t very impressed with Ángel! Laura’s friend Fiona arrives from Scotland and the love triangle threatens to become a square! As usual, in Act II, Mark will help listeners understand the story by working through a series of questions and answers about what happens in this episode. Please note that lesson 35 of Seaso...
Dec 21, 2011•30 min•Season 3Ep. 35
We’re back with another episode of Coffee Break Spanish! We’re staying in Mexico in episode 34 as Mark and Juan discuss some of the interesting aspects of Mexican Spanish. ¡Todo está padrísimo en este episodio! Language points covered include pedir a alguien que + subjunctive, the expression referirse a, and llevarse a cabo . José’s intermedio concentrates on phrases which involve being angry or in a bad mood. Please note that lesson 34 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 334 of Cof...
Dec 13, 2011•22 min•Season 3Ep. 34
In lesson 33, it’s destination Mexico as Mark is joined by Juan from México D.F. Juan introduces Mark to the geography and some of the tourist attractions of Mexico. Language concepts included the use of soler , the difference between amable and amigable , and a reminder of the fact that 'another' is otro/otra in Spanish – and not un otro / una otra… Please note that lesson 33 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 333 of Coffee Break Spanish. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as...
Dec 06, 2011•22 min•Season 3Ep. 33
In lesson 32 we’re still concentrating on Colombian Spanish, and Mark and Carolina discuss the music and literature of Colombia, and typical Colombian expressions including the word paila . In the second act of this episode, Mark discusses impersonal verbs such as apetecer , gustar and faltar . Please note that lesson 32 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 332 of Coffee Break Spanish. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more simple for our li...
Nov 22, 2011•23 min•Season 3Ep. 32
It’s destination Colombia for lesson 31 as Mark is joined by Carolina from Bogotá. Carolina introduces Mark to the geography and traditions of Colombia, and Mark learns a few useful expresiones colombianas . In episodes 31-40 of Coffee Break Spanish, Mark will be joined by various speakers of Spanish from different parts of Latin America, providing learners with a range of experiences and a useful introduction to each country and its traditions and language. Please note that lesson 31 of Season ...
Nov 16, 2011•24 min•Season 3Ep. 31
It’s time to return to our telenovela, Verano Español . In this sixth instalment, we’ll find out the latest about what’s happening in the Laura – Ángel – Ramón love triangle, and we’ll also hear if things are still ok between Antonio and Iona after Antonio’s the plumber’s visit! In Act II, Mark will help listeners understand the story by working through a series of questions and answers about what happens in this episode. Please note that lesson 30 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 330 ...
Nov 08, 2011•28 min•Season 3Ep. 30
In this week’s episode, Alba and Mark are en la cocina , making a Spanish tortilla . The episode is slightly different from our usual episodes as the audio was recorded live in the kitchen rather than in the studio. There’s no “Act II” this week as the conversation follows the entire process of making the tortilla . Please note that lesson 29 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 329 of Coffee Break Spanish. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more s...
Nov 01, 2011•22 min•Season 3Ep. 29
The topic for this week’s episode of Coffee Break Spanish is food, or tapas in particular. Alba has recently had a bad experience in a tapas restaurant in Scotland, compared with her normal experiences of tapas in Spain. Mark and Alba talk about different tapas and their experience of eating Spanish food in Spain and elsewhere. Language points covered include ojalá , the word cobrar and si clauses. In this week’s intermedio , José introduces a couple of phrases which help you disagree with peopl...
Oct 25, 2011•25 min•Season 3Ep. 28
It’s five years since we launched the first lesson of Coffee Break Spanish, and since then we’ve served up millions of language lessons to learners around the world through our podcasts, our enhanced lessons and our ebooks. We’re delighted today to announce five new courses, and we’ll also be letting you know about a few exciting projects which are due to be launched early in 2012. Spanish ¡Empecemos con el español! On the 18th October 2006 we began with Spanish, and we’re doing the same today. ...
Oct 18, 2011•7 min
This week we return to a topic we covered previously – in response to listeners’ requests. It’s time to look at your tricks and tips for language learning. Mark and Alba talk about the suggestion of one of our listeners which involves printing out internet texts and cutting out the words. Listen to the episode for more information and further suggestions! Language topics this week include the alternative forms of the possessive adjectives including mío, tuyo, suyo , and so on. We also look at th...
Oct 18, 2011•24 min•Season 3Ep. 27
This week’s topic is low-cost airlines and the advantages and disadvantages of low-cost travel. Mark and Alba discuss their experiences of flying with low-cost airlines (and indeed with other airlines!) and José introduces two phrases which you can use when you manage to find a real bargain! Language points covered include the use of quedarse , fijarse and no sólo … sino también . Premium members will find a bonus item in this week’s feed – a special bonus episode concentrating on quedar and its...
Oct 11, 2011•24 min•Season 3Ep. 26
This episode of Coffee Break Spanish features the fifth instalment of our telenovela, Verano Español . At the end of the previous episode, Laura discovered that the boy who has been chatting her up on a daily basis in the panadería is none other than Ángel, her next-door neighbour. In episode 5 of the soap, Estela – Ángel’s sister – warns her about Ángel and his aventuras de verano , and Antonio plans his surprise arrival in Spain for Iona’s birthday, only to discover things are not quite what h...
Oct 04, 2011•30 min•Season 3Ep. 25
Following our recent musical episodes, listeners have been asking us for some suggestions of Spanish-language singers and groups. In episode 24 we’ve provided some suggestions, talking about Spanish groups Amaral and Ojos de Brujo , and we’ve also mentioned Colombian Juanes and the renowned Panamanian salsa performer Ruben Blades . Language points include more subjunctive talk, the use of al + infinitive, and in addition to introducing some phrases meaning “to keep up to date”, José sings! Pleas...
Sep 27, 2011•23 min•Season 3Ep. 24
This week Mark and Alba bring you a special musical episode: combining the Eurovision Song Contest with a performance from Mark of Tango by Spanish composer Albéniz. In the intermedio , José introduces the idea of ’embarrassment’ – vergüenza – and gives listeners some examples of how to use this concept in interesting expressions. Language points covered include llevar + time in the negative to talk about what you haven’t done for a while, the imperative in the vosotros form, and what happe...
Sep 20, 2011•31 min•Season 3Ep. 23
In this week’s lesson, Mark and Alba talk about music. Their discussion includes talk of playing musical instruments and how listening to music is changing because of technology. In the intermedio, José provides a couple of interesting phrases which can be used to say that you find something difficult. Language points covered include comparitives such as tan … como and tanto … como, avoiding the subjunctive and a particular use of verbs which differs from English, based on the phrase from the co...
Sep 13, 2011•24 min•Season 3Ep. 22
