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•Ep 32•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 31•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 30•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 29•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 28•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 27•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 26•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 25•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 24•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 23•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 22•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of Season 3, Mark and Alba chat about what they were doing during the vacaciones de Semana Santa . Both Mark and Alba have been travelling, and Mark has some buenas noticias . In the intermedio José provides us with some interesting phrases to talk about things in the past, and language points covered include the combination of indirect and direct object pronouns when combined with an imperative, when to use sólo and when to use solo , and the tricky verb cundir . Ple...
Sep 06, 2011•24 min•Ep 21•Transcript available on Metacast Episode 20 features the fourth installment of our telenovela, Verano Español . Find out the latest about the life of Laura and her mother as they spend the summer in Spain en la casa de tía Julia . Will Laura find out a little more about the mystery customer in the panadería ? Please note that lesson 20 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 320 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 ...
Aug 12, 2011•25 min•Ep 20•Transcript available on Metacast In this week’s episode, Mark and Alba discuss some useful techniques for learning languages and share their ideas and advice with listeners. In the intermedio Alba talks about the northern Spanish city of Bilbao, and José introduces a construction which involves lo + adjective. Grammar points covered include the construction siempre que and the use of the subjunctive after para que . Please note that lesson 19 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 319 of Coffee Break Spanish. W...
Aug 09, 2011•28 min•Ep 19•Transcript available on Metacast In episode 18 of Coffee Break Spanish Season 3, Mark and Alba talk about the advantages and disadvantages of buying things online, and share their experience, both positive and negative. In this week’s intermedio , Alba presents the city of Granada in the south of Spain, and José talks about ways to describe someone whose head is always in the clouds. Grammar points covered include the personal a , present subjunctive, double negatives, and the expression dar ganas a alguien . Please note that l...
Aug 05, 2011•24 min•Ep 18•Transcript available on Metacast This episode is dedicated to all fans of the imperfect subjunctive… and to those of you who are terrified of it! After listening to Mark and Alba’s discussion about all things hypothetical, you’ll be 100% confident in using the Spanish imperfect subjunctive. In addition, Alba talks about her favourite parts of Madrid, and José introduces some ways to express surprise in the intermedio . Please note that lesson 17 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 317 of Coffee Break Spanish. We have ren...
Aug 02, 2011•23 min•Ep 17•Transcript available on Metacast Episode 16 features a conversation between Alba and Mark about what they’ve been doing since they last saw each other. Grammar points covered include possessive pronouns, and uses of the subjunctive. This week’s intermedio features a presentation of Barcelona from Alba, and José looks at some more interesting ways of talking about going out for a drink or for something to eat. Please note that lesson 16 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 316 of Coffee Break Spanish. We have renumbe...
Jul 29, 2011•25 min•Ep 16•Transcript available on Metacast Episode 15 features the third installment of our ‘telenovela’, Verano Español . Find out the latest about the life of Laura and her mother as they spend the summer in Spain en la casa de tía Julia . How will Laura cope on her first day in her new job at the panadería ? Please note that lesson 15 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 315 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 Cof...
Jul 26, 2011•29 min•Ep 15•Transcript available on Metacast In episode 14, Mark and Alba are joined by David, el novio de Alba . Topics discussed include Galicia (the region of Spain where David is from), St Valentine’s day, romantic Spanish and the imperfect subjunctive. In this week’s intermedio , Alba talks about the film Diarios de Motocicleta , and José introduces some different ways to express disbelief. Please note that lesson 14 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 314 of Coffee Break Spanish. We have renumbered the lessons of each season a...
Jul 22, 2011•28 min•Ep 14•Transcript available on Metacast In episode 13, Mark and Alba discuss social networks including Facebook and Twitter and their value for language-learning. In addition, in this week’s intermedio , José discusses effective ways to say you’ve had enough of something, and Alba talks about the film Habana Blues . Grammar points discussed inlude subjunctive after el hecho de que, preferir que and the imperative in the vosotros form. Please note that lesson 13 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 313 of Coffee Break Spanish. We...
Jul 19, 2011•26 min•Ep 13•Transcript available on Metacast In episode 12, Mark and Alba get all poetic as they celebrate the 250th anniversary of el poeta nacional de Escocia , Robert Burns. Alba learns some Scots and in return she teaches Mark a poem by Spanish poet Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer. The intermedio includes a review of the film Secretos del Corazón , and José introduces some interesting ways to convey the concept of 'to fancy doing something'. Language points covered include how to translate “to realise” and the construction estar a punto de + in...
Jul 15, 2011•25 min•Ep 12•Transcript available on Metacast In episode 11, Mark and Alba talk about the holidays and about their New Year’s Resolutions. Alba presents a review of the film La Lengua de las Mariposas in the intermedio , and José’s topic of the week is paying compliments to people. Grammar points covered include the use of sí que for emphasis, and talking about how long you did things for in the past using both durante and a more simple preterite tense. Please note that lesson 11 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 311 of Coffee Brea...
Jul 12, 2011•25 min•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast It’s time for our second installment of the Coffee Break Spanish telenovela, Verano Español . Laura and her mother have just arrived in Spain to spend the summer in the house they’ve recently inherited from tía Julia . In this episode we’ll meet some of their new neighbours and Laura makes a new friend. Please note that lesson 10 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 310 of Coffee Break Spanish. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more simple for our...
Jul 09, 2011•28 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast In this 9th episode of Coffee Break Spanish Season 3, Mark and Alba discuss Christmas traditions in Spain. José introduces a couple of phrases which you can tell someone not to take something the wrong way in this week’s intermedio . Grammar points covered include al + infinitive, por and para , volver a hacer algo , and expressions which are followed by the subjunctive including antes de que, sin que and para que . Please note that lesson 09 of Season 3 was originally known as less...
Jul 05, 2011•25 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast In episode 8, Alba and Mark discuss smoking laws in different countries. Language points covered include the future perfect tense, eg. “I will have stopped smoking”, the use of soler , and the phrase pillar a alguien desprevenido . José’s intermedio covers two phrases which you can use to describe how well you speak Spanish. Please note that lesson 08 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 308 of Coffee Break Spanish. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make thin...
Jul 01, 2011•24 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast In this week’s episode, Mark and Alba talk about the different seasons of the year and about their own favourite times of year. This episode provides an opportunity for learners to learn to use the Spanish phrase o sea, and the combination of object pronouns is also covered. José’s intermedio introduces two ways to express surprise. Please note that lesson 07 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 307 of Coffee Break Spanish. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to m...
Jun 28, 2011•25 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast In episode 6 of Coffee Break Spanish Season 3, Mark and Alba discuss their recent visits to Edinburgh and will entertain you with some singing! José introduces two phrases to say that things are in a mess, and language points include the pluperfect tense and using double indirect pronouns, e.g. a mi madre le gusta la música . Please note that lesson 6 of Season 3 was originally known as lesson 306 of Coffee Break Spanish. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make thin...
Jun 24, 2011•26 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast 
