In episode 5 we launch our very own Spanish soap opera, Verano Español , which tells the story of Spanish dad, Antonio, Scottish mum Iona, and bilingual daughter Laura, and their adventures one summer in Spain. Each episode will provide you with listening practice, language study and information about the Spanish-speaking world. Please note that lesson 05 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 305 of Coffee Break Spanish. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make ...
Jun 21, 2011•25 min•Season 3Ep. 5
In this fourth episode of Coffee Break Spanish Season 3, Mark has just returned from a week in London and he discusses the advantages and disadvantages of living in a village, town or city with Alba. We also meet Laura from Verano Español , our forthcoming soap opera. In José’s intermedio he introduces two phrases which use the verb ponerse . Grammar points covered include the pluperfect tense, using the subjunctive and the use of the nosotros form of the present subjunctive to translate “let’s ...
Jun 17, 2011•25 min•Season 3Ep. 4
This lesson was originally released in October, so in lesson 3 of Show Time Spanish, Alba tells Mark about a Halloween party she attended. They discuss the traditions of Halloween. In the intermedio José provides two alternative ways to say that you’re tired. Grammar points include reflexive verbs in different tenses, the subjunctive after quizás . Not the most seasonal of lessons, but lots of interesting Spanish! Please note that lesson 3 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 303 of Coffee...
Jun 14, 2011•25 min•Season 3Ep. 3
In our second episode of this series, Mark and Alba talk about languages and their own language skills. In the intermedio , José provides two phrases which can be used to tell someone that they are annoying you. Language points include progressive tenses using estar + gerund, and a particular use of the future tense. Please note that lesson 2 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 302 of Coffee Break Spanish. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more s...
Jun 10, 2011•22 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Welcome to this first episode of Coffee Break Spanish Season 3! In this first episode of the series you’ll get to know our two main presenters, Mark and Alba, and you’ll also be meeting José who will help you to take your Spanish al siguiente nivel , “to the next level”. Please note that lesson 1 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 301 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 ...
Jun 07, 2011•21 min•Season 3Ep. 1
It’s the end of an era: the final episode of Coffee Break Spanish Season 2. It’s time for las despedidas , the goodbyes. Andrew will be returning to England and bidding farewell to María-José, and Mark and Kara will also be saying hasta luego to the listeners of Coffee Break Spanish. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy this final episode of our show. Please note that lesson 40 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 240 of Coffee Break Spanish. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as ...
May 02, 2011•19 min•Season 2Ep. 40
It’s the penultimate episode of this season of Coffee Break Spanish and we continue to follow the adventures of María-José and Andrew as they come to the end of their time together in Spain. This week Andrew is signing up for his course in the ayuntamiento and needs to ask for some directions. We’ll here more examples of the subjunctive in use. Please note that lesson 39 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 239 of Coffee Break Spanish. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lesso...
Apr 25, 2011•19 min•Season 2Ep. 39
This week María-José and Andrew discuss their plans for the following week when Andrew’s friend arrives in Spain and María-José will be attending a conference in Madrid. In this episode we introduce the concept of the subjunctive, something which often confuses language learners. You’ll learn how to use the subjunctive with cuando when it refers to the future, eg. “when I get back from Madrid…” – cuando vuelva de Madrid . Please note that lesson 38 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 238 ...
Apr 17, 2011•24 min•Season 2Ep. 38
In this episode María-José tells Andrew about her visits to the Canary Islands. She uses lots of examples of the imperfect tense to describe what she used to do when she went there several times when she was younger. Please note that lesson 37 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 237 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 w...
Apr 05, 2011•24 min•Season 2Ep. 37
We’re returning to another episode featuring María-José and Andrew this week in which María-José will ask the question ¿Qué estás haciendo? , 'What are you doing?'. We’re focusing on the present continuous tense. Please note that lesson 36 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 236 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 which...
Mar 04, 2011•19 min•Season 2Ep. 36
We’re continuing our soap opera featuring María-José and Andrew and in this week’s episode Andrew needs some help with an assignment for his Spanish class. We’ll also be looking at the imperative – the command form – in this lesson. Please note that lesson 35 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 235 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 l...
Feb 26, 2011•24 min•Season 2Ep. 35
In lesson 34 we’re continuing our ‘soap opera’. This week María-José is taking her friend to a restaurant, so we’ll be revisiting the language we learned previously in the course. We’ll also take the opportunity to look at the conditional tense or ‘mood’. Please note that lesson 34 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 234 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 f...
Feb 15, 2011•19 min•Season 2Ep. 34
In lesson 33 we continue to follow the story of Andrew and his Spanish friend María-José. In this episode we’ll be introducing the future tense and looking at how verbs are conjugated in the future. Once again, you’ll develop your knowledge and listening skills by listening to this conversation where language is used in context. Please note that lesson 33 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 233 of Coffee Break Spanish. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make ...
Feb 11, 2011•20 min•Season 2Ep. 33
Lesson 32 continues the story of Andrew and María-José and their blossoming friendship! María-José has been on vacation in France. The main topic of discussion in this lesson is the weather, using a variety of tenses. Once again, you’ll develop your knowledge and listening skills by listening to this conversation where language is used in context. Please note that lesson 32 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 232 of Coffee Break Spanish. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as le...
Jan 24, 2011•18 min•Season 2Ep. 32
Welcome back to our Coffee Break Spanish listeners!. In lessons 31-40 you’ll be following a mini soap-opera featuring English student Andrew who is learning Spanish in Spain, and his new friend María-José, who’ll be getting to know him and helping him with his Spanish. This lesson will help you get to grips with hearing real Spanish in context. Please note that lesson 31 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 231 of Coffee Break Spanish. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lesso...
Jan 17, 2011•18 min•Season 2Ep. 31
In lesson 30 of Coffee Break Spanish we’re dealing with one of the trickiest things to do in a foreign language: make telephone calls. When you can’t see the person to whom you are speaking, it makes things that bit more difficult! In this episode you’ll learn the standard phrases used when making phone calls and get some practice by listening to Mark and Kara. Again, this lesson uses previously learned language structures to create phrases in the language. Please note that lesson 30 of Season 2...
Dec 30, 2010•15 min•Season 2Ep. 30
In the long-awaited 29th lesson of Coffee Break Spanish we look at tips to help you pronounce double -r- in Spanish and we build more language in the context of hiring cars in a Spanish-speaking country. Please note that lesson 29 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 229 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 which will be ...
Dec 23, 2010•19 min•Season 2Ep. 29
In lesson 28 we’ll be continuing to create phrases in the language based on the knowledge of grammar we’ve acquired in recent lessons. This week we’re focusing on the context of taking a taxi in a Spanish-speaking country. Please note that lesson 28 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 228 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, al...
Nov 22, 2010•19 min•Season 2Ep. 28
Over the past few months we’ve been focusing on learning the patterns of the language. In lessons 27-30 we’re going to be constructing phrases within various contexts, using the rules we’ve learned in previous lessons. Lesson 27 focuses on using public transport and you’ll learn to create the phrases you need in these situations. Please note that lesson 27 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 227 of Coffee Break Spanish. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make...
Nov 15, 2010•18 min•Season 2Ep. 27
One of the best ways to make progress in a language is to use the language with native speakers and to check your understanding by asking them for feedback. In lesson 26 you’ll put what you’ve been learning recently into practice by asking ¿Lo he dicho bien? and other phrases using the perfect tense. Please note that lesson 26 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 226 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 08, 2010•18 min•Season 2Ep. 26
In lesson 25 of Coffee Break Spanish Season 2 we’re continuing to look at the perfect tense. In this lesson you’ll learn about particular uses of the perfect tense, and about certain words or expressions which act as triggers for the tense. You’ll also learn some verbs which have irregular past participles. Please note that lesson 25 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 225 of Coffee Break Spanish. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more simple for...
Nov 01, 2010•19 min•Season 2Ep. 25
Lesson 24 introduces a new tense: the perfect tense. This tense is used to talk about what you 'have done' and is very simple to use. Please note that lesson 24 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 224 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 which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the podcast to e...
Oct 11, 2010•18 min•Season 2Ep. 24
Over lessons 21-23 we’ve been looking at por and para . In lesson 23 it’s time to look at the various uses of por , including a number of situations when por doesn’t mean “for”. Please note that lesson 23 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 223 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 which will be included in the podcast fe...
Oct 08, 2010•16 min•Season 2Ep. 23
In lesson 22 we’re continuing to discuss por and para : this time we’re focusing on the use of para when expressing purpose, e.g. "this gift is for you” – este regalo es para ti . We’ll also learn the verb regalar , and talk briefly about the personal a . Please note that lesson 22 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 222 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 f...
Oct 04, 2010•16 min•Season 2Ep. 22
Lessons 21-23 will look at the thorny issue of por and para : by the end of these three lessons you’ll be confident in knowing exactly when to use which word! In lesson 61 we’ll introduce both words and consider various situations when the words can both be translated as 'for'. Please note that lesson 21 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 221 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...
Sep 01, 2010•18 min•Season 2Ep. 21
In this week’s episode we reach episode 20 and Mark will be testing Kara on everything she’s learned so far about verbs and adjectives in the past few lessons of the course. Please note that lesson 20 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 220 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 which will be included in the podcast feed. ...
Aug 16, 2010•23 min•Season 2Ep. 20
This week we’re continuing to look at the imperfect tense. We’ll go through the conjugation of -ar, -er and -ir verbs and talk about how the imperfect tense is used to describe things in the past. Please note that lesson 19 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 219 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 which will be include...
Aug 06, 2010•19 min•Season 2Ep. 19
In this week’s lesson we introduce the imperfect tense and consider in what situations this tense is used. We’ll also learn the conjugation of -ar verbs in the imperfect tense. Please note that lesson 18 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 218 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 which will be included in the podcast fee...
Jul 27, 2010•17 min•Season 2Ep. 18
It’s time to put into practice what you’ve been learning about the preterite tense. In this week’s episode Mark challenges Kara to an identity quiz using lots of preterite tenses to describe the lives of the mystery personalities. Please note that lesson 17 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 217 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...
Jul 20, 2010•20 min•Season 2Ep. 17
More preterite tenses this week: it’s now time to look at reflexive verbs and verbs which have spelling changes ('radical-changing verbs') in the preterite tense. Please note that lesson 16 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 216 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 which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay s...
Jul 12, 2010•25 min•Season 2Ep. 16
