We have reached the tenth and final episode in this series of the Coffee Break Spanish Magazine and we're rounding off the season by talking about one of the most cultivated cereals in the world - corn! Through the text featured in this episode, we find out where the term 'corn' comes from and its importance in Latin America. Of course, Mark and Anabel pick up on the important language points along the way. Alongside the range of nouns, verbs and adverbs, we hear some interesting phrases such as...
Aug 23, 2022•22 min•Season 10Ep. 10
In the penultimate episode in this series of the Coffee Break Spanish Magazine, we're taking a virtual trip to one of the oldest cities in Europe - Cádiz. Marina shares an interesting text about the history of this city in the south of Spain before Mark and Anabel discuss some useful language points. Some of the key grammar points discussed include: the difference between qué and cuál , the imperfect tense, and the gerund. Don't miss the end of the episode when Marina joi...
Aug 09, 2022•27 min•Season 10Ep. 9
In this episode of the Coffee Break Spanish Magazine we're talking about grape harvesting in Argentina! We learn how to create adverbs ending in - mente , and familiarise ourselves with the structure: continuar + gerund. We also hear a variety of verbs including alabar and constar de, before Mark and Marina discuss la Guinda del pastel. There will be a total of 10 episodes of Season 2 of the Coffee Break Spanish Magazine. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, transcripts...
Jul 26, 2022•24 min•Season 10Ep. 8
Welcome to another episode of the Coffee Break Spanish Magazine! This time, we discuss a text about a canoeing festival which takes place in Asturias every year. While hearing about the festival throughout the text, Mark and Anabel, discuss the grammar points which appear and explain the key vocabulary. We learn about the difference between saber and conocer ; the verb interesar , and the meaning of - azo , in words like planazo , bombazo and cochazo . Marina joins Mark at the very end of the ep...
Jul 12, 2022•27 min•Season 10Ep. 7
In this episode of the Coffee Break Spanish Magazine, Mark and Anabel discuss a text about the life and work of a very famous novelist who was born in Chile - Isabel Allende. While learning more about Isabel Allende throughout the text, we discuss some interesting language points including regular and irregular participles and the difference between ser and estar. As always, Marina joins Mark at the end of the episode and this time, we learn the meaning behind an interesting Spanish expression. ...
Jun 28, 2022•26 min•Season 10Ep. 6
Welcome back to the Coffee Break Spanish Magazine! In this episode, Mark and Anabel go through a text about human towers or castells in Catalan. We break down the range of vocabulary and grammar points featured in the text, including the words: tanto… que…, tras and cualquier. Take note of some Catalan words throughout the text and be sure to listen until the end as Marina joins Mark to discuss the phrase: hacer piña. There will be a total of 10 episodes of Season 2 of the Coffee Break Spanish M...
Jun 14, 2022•27 min•Season 10Ep. 5
We’re taking a virtual trip to Latin America as we’re visiting the Amazon jungle in this episode of the Coffee Break Spanish Magazine! Join Mark and Anabel and learn some interesting facts about this amazing place while listening out for the use of the negative imperative ; adjectives like indígena and frondoso ; and verbs such as convertirse and suponer . As always, Marina joins Mark at the end of the episode and this time, they’re discussing...
May 31, 2022•30 min•Season 10Ep. 4
Our Coffee Break Spanish Magazine hosts, Mark and Anabel, are back for another episode! This time we hear a text about a Basque celebration which takes place in Bilbao. Throughout the text, we come across some interesting language points, including the expression por todo lo alto ; the verbs asomarse and quemar ; and the structure of hay que . Marina joins Mark at the end of the episode to discuss the phrase: pasarlo bomba , pasarla chévere , ser la leche/la bomba . In each episode of this ...
May 17, 2022•33 min•Season 10Ep. 3
Welcome to another episode of the Coffee Break Spanish Magazine! This time Mark and Anabel go through a text about bachata, a popular type of Latin music, and discuss its origin and influences. Along the way, we provide explanations about a range of grammar and vocabulary points including: how to use se trata de and trata de to mean 'it’s about'; using the prefix des- in words like desamor and deshacer; and using the passive se . To finish, Marina joins Mark to discuss our cherry on top: da...
May 03, 2022•29 min•Season 10Ep. 2
Welcome to Season 4 of the Coffee Break Spanish Magazine! We're joining our hosts, Mark, Anabel, Marina and Sebastián, as they present cultural topics and grammar study in an enjoyable way, allowing you to build your vocabulary and increase your range of expression. In this first episode of the series, Mark and Anabel discuss a text about the life and work of the famous Spanish film director, Pedro Almodóvar, and explain the interesting grammar and vocabulary points along the way. Mark and Marin...
Apr 19, 2022•38 min•Season 10Ep. 1
In this special episode, Mark provides an update on all things Coffee Break Spanish including the return of the Coffee Break Spanish Magazine in late April 2022; the launch of the Coffee Break books , available from June in your local bookshop and from online retailers; and the Coffee Break Spanish Club , where you can get your daily dose of Spanish activities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Apr 04, 2022•10 min
We've reached the end of our Coffee Break Spanish Travel Diaries Season 2! Our last stop is the capital of Chile - Santiago - where there's lots to see and do. We join Ainhoa, Luisa and Esteban as they round off their trip with a visit to some must-see attractions including Pablo Neruda’s house. After tasting local drinks of pisco and mote they agree this has been the trip of a lifetime! ¿Podrías estar más de acuerdo? Our premium version of the course includes lesson notes with additional exampl...
Jun 24, 2021•23 min•Season 9Ep. 10
In the penultimate episode of the series, Ainhoa, Luisa and Esteban arrive in Chile and make the most of the last few days of their trip visiting the coastal city of La Serena, tasting local specialities and visiting the peaceful Japanese Gardens. Discover what the city has to offer through Ainhoa's diary entry and find out when the word aunque triggers the subjunctive. Our premium version includes lesson notes with additional examples and explanations of the language in each lesson, and a ...
Jun 17, 2021•31 min•Season 9Ep. 9
In Episode 8 of the Coffee Break Spanish Travel Diaries Season 2, we're in Sucre, the constitutional capital of Bolivia, also known as La ciudad blanca for its white buildings. Join Coffee Break Spanish hosts Mark and Marina as they explain some of the language used in this episode, including the useful phrases contar con and tomar rumbo. Our premium version includes lesson notes with additional examples and explanations of the language in each lesson, and a pronunciation practice video to help ...
Jun 10, 2021•22 min•Season 9Ep. 8
Ainhoa, Luisa and Esteban have arrived in Cochabamba, the gastronomic capital of Bolivia! The trio are kept busy with lots of sightseeing as they visit the Plaza 14 de Septiembre and the Paseo de la Independencia. Join Mark and Marina as they discuss the language featured in this episode and listen out for the use of the verb saber and the conditional tense. Our premium version includes lesson notes with additional examples and explanations of the language in each lesson, and a pronunciation pra...
Jun 03, 2021•28 min•Season 9Ep. 7
We're joining Ainhoa, Luisa and Esteban in La Paz for Episode 6 of the Coffee Break Spanish Travel Diaries Season 2. While exploring the city and tasting local cuisine, hosts Mark and Marina delve into the language featured in this week's diary entry and discuss the preterite continuous tense. Our premium version includes lesson notes with additional examples and explanations of the language in each lesson, and a pronunciation practice video to help you improve your speaking. Click here to acces...
May 27, 2021•30 min•Season 9Ep. 6
In this episode of the Coffee Break Spanish Travel Diaries Season 2, we join Ainhoa, Luisa and Esteban on the next stop of their trip - Lago Titicaca, one of South America's largest lakes. As the trio explore Taquile Island, our hosts, Mark and Marina, delve into the language used in Ainhoa's diary entry, pointing out examples of the preterite and imperfect tense along the way. Our premium version includes lesson notes with additional examples and explanations of the language in each lesson, and...
May 20, 2021•21 min•Season 9Ep. 5
It's time for another episode of the Coffee Break Spanish Travel Diaries, Season 2! After a long journey, Ainhoa, Luisa and Esteban finally make it to Machu Picchu and take in the breathtaking scenery around them. As always, our hosts Mark and Marina are on hand to break down the language featured in Ainhoa's latest diary entry. This time, we learn more about the difference between para ahorrar and ahorrarse, as well as the preterite tense of subir and hacer . Our premium version includes l...
May 13, 2021•28 min•Season 9Ep. 4
Welcome back to another episode from Season 2 of the Coffee Break Spanish Travel Diaries! This time, we're visiting Sacsayhuamán for a guided tour to learn about the Incas before heading back to the city centre of Cuzco for more sightseeing, souvenir shopping and beer tasting. Join Mark and Marina as they discuss the interesting grammar points featured in this week's diary entry, including verbs in the imperfect tense. Our premium version includes lesson notes with additional examples and ...
May 06, 2021•26 min•Season 9Ep. 3
In this second episode from Season 2 of the Coffee Break Spanish Travel Diaries, we're discovering what the city of Cuzco has to offer. We visit the famous piedra de 12 ángulos before stopping off at the Mercado de San Pedro for a food tour. Along the way, we hear many interesting grammar points, including examples of the imperfect and preterite tense. Join hosts Mark and Marina as they explore the language featured in the latest travel diary entry. Our premium version includes lesson notes with...
Apr 29, 2021•30 min•Season 9Ep. 2
We're back with a second season of the Coffee Break Spanish Travel Diaries for intermediate learners of Spanish. Throughout this 10-episode series, we join Ainhoa, her friend Luisa and her brother Esteban from Spain as they travel through western South America on an adventure after finishing college. In the very first episode of the series, we're in Lima, the capital of Peru, for a jam-packed day of sightseeing and local cuisine. We find out what the trio get up to through Ainhoa's travel diary ...
Apr 22, 2021•29 min•Season 9Ep. 1
We have reached the 10th and final episode in this series of the Coffee Break Spanish Travel Diaries. We hope that you've enjoyed discovering some beautiful locations in the north of Spain from the comfort of your own home. Join Victoria and Abel for the final instalment of the series, as they arrive at the last stop on their trip - Santiago de Compostela , the capital of northwest Spain’s Galicia region. Travel Diaries will be published in one season of ten episodes weekly from 27th August. If ...
Oct 29, 2020•22 min•Season 8Ep. 10
After their car troubles, Victoria and Abel have to make the decision to spend more time in Lugo than planned, seeing symbolic sites, like the Muralla Romana and La Cárcel Antigua - an ancient prison. They round off their visit by enjoying some pulpo a la gallega (Galician octopus). As Mark and Anabel discuss the language used in this week's diary entry, listen out for the versatile verb quedar, and an explanation about using irse or ir de tapeo . Travel Diaries will be published in one season o...
Oct 22, 2020•21 min•Season 8Ep. 9
Join us for the latest episode of the Coffee Break Spanish Travel Diaries podcast in which our protagonists, Victoria and Abel, set off for the city of Lugo, via the beautiful parish of Covadonga. All is going well until disaster strikes for the couple after their car gets a puncture and they are left stranded at the roadside. Will they be rescued by any kind-hearted locals passing by? Listen to the episode to find out and pay close attention to the discussions between Mark and Anabel as they ...
Oct 15, 2020•23 min•Season 8Ep. 8
In this week's episode of the Coffee Break Spanish Travel Diaries, Victoria and Able leave the village of Lastres as they head to the Asturian cities of Gijón and Áviles where they visit the football stadium. As they explore their new surroundings, Mark and Anabel discuss many different aspects of the language used in Victoria's latest diary entry, including the a por grammatical structure used in Spain. We also hear an explanation of some useful vocabulary including the words gustar and ser de ...
Oct 08, 2020•25 min•Season 8Ep. 7
Join Victoria and Abel in Episode 6 of The Coffee Break Spanish Travel Diaries as they embark on the next leg of their trip around the north of Spain. This time, they head off from San Vicente de la Barquera in Cantabria as they make their way to the village of Lastres in Asturias and visit the Bufones de Arenillas geysers and the Playa de Gulpiyuri - an inland beach. Mark and Anabel talk about these places being de ensueño (dreamlike) and discuss the use of the verb madrugar (to get up early) a...
Oct 01, 2020•22 min•Season 8Ep. 6
Every 30th September, the podcasting world comes together to celebrate podcasting on International Podcast Day. We're celebrating today by saying thank you to the Coffee Break community in this special podcast episode. International Podcast Day aims to raise awareness about podcasts and gives podcast creators and listeners a chance to celebrate the medium and the podcast industry. But podcasting has been around for a lot longer than that! Back in 2004, broadcaster Adam Curry asked developer...
Sep 30, 2020•5 min
We've reached the halfway point of our trip around the north of Spain with Victoria and Abel. In Episode 5 we're making the most of our final day in Santander before heading to our next stop in the Cantabria region of northern Spain. It's known for its medieval towers, Renaissance palaces, and the Romanesque Santa Juliana Collegiate Church. Can you guess where we're going? We're visiting Santillana del Mar, often considered as one of the most beautiful towns in Spain. Join hosts Mark and Anabel ...
Sep 24, 2020•19 min•Season 8Ep. 5
It's time for another episode of the Coffee Break Spanish Travel Diaries where we're following Victoria and Abel on their journey around the north of Spain. This week, we're leaving Bilbao behind and heading to the capital city of the Cantabria region of Spain - Santander! Victoria and Abel try some delicious fish at the Mercado de la Esperanza before visiting the Centro Botín , a famous arts centre on the seafront of the city. Listen our for the interesting vocabulary featured in this episode, ...
Sep 17, 2020•24 min•Season 8Ep. 4
The Coffee Break Spanish Travel Diaries continue as this week, Victoria and Abel explore the Basque city of Bilbao, home to a branch of the famous Guggenheim Museum. Despite the stormy weather leaving them calados hasta los huesos, they make the most of their trip and enjoy some delicious local food. ¡Vamos a Bilbao! Travel Diaries will be published in one season of ten episodes weekly from 27th August. If you’d like to access lesson notes and a video version which features pauses after each sen...
Sep 10, 2020•21 min•Season 8Ep. 3
