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•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast Are you ready for the next stop on Victoria and Abel's honeymoon adventure in the north of Spain? In this week's episode, we're in the town of Guernica doing some sightseeing before making our way to Bilbao to sample some tasty Spanish dishes! Of course, Mark and Anabel discuss the language used in Victoria's diary entry, including the phrase antes de que and the construction ir a + an infinitive. We also hear some useful pronunciation tips along the way! Travel Diaries will be published in one ...
Sep 03, 2020•32 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome to this brand new series from Coffee Break Spanish for intermediate learners! Following our French and Italian Travel Diaries released earlier this summer, we’re now heading to the north of Spain to follow the adventures of Victoria and Abel on their luna de miel - their honeymoon. Join Mark and Anabel in Episode 1 of this 10-week series as they discuss Victoria’s first travel diary entry and look at interesting vocabulary and expressions along the way. First stop: the stunni...
Aug 27, 2020•36 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast In this final episode of this season of the Coffee Break Spanish Magazine, we discuss the popular Spanish crime television series, La Casa de Papel . In response to listener, John's question, Fernanda explains how to say “to try” in Spanish, and more specifically, when to use the verb tratar , or the verb intentar. To finish, Anabel explains the meaning behind an interesting expression. In each episode of this 10-lesson season for intermediate learners you can build your vocabulary, increase you...
Apr 17, 2020•29 min•Ep 46•Transcript available on Metacast It's time for another episode of the Coffee Break Spanish Magazine! We hope you're hungry as this week's episode is all about Mexican food! Listener Jorge would like to know more about the phrase el uno al otro and Sofía shares a joke about a much loved Mexican dish. In each episode of this 10-lesson season for intermediate learners you can build your vocabulary, increase your understanding of grammar and learn to use the Spanish language in a more natural way. This series is aimed at intermedia...
Apr 03, 2020•26 min•Ep 45•Transcript available on Metacast Mark, Fernanda and Anabel are back for another episode of the Coffee Break Spanish Magazine. This week we're heading to Tenerife for El Carnaval de Santa Cruz ! Listener Iris has a question about the use of the words época and tiempo when talking about time, and Anabel shares a couple of interesting expressions. In each episode of this 10-lesson season for intermediate learners you can build your vocabulary, increase your understanding of grammar and learn to use the Spanish language in a more n...
Mar 20, 2020•24 min•Ep 44•Transcript available on Metacast It's time for another episode of the Coffee Break Spanish Magazine! In this lesson, we're discussing a very important day for the Hispanic world, El Día de la Hispanidad . Our listener Namrata would like to know more about the use of the past participle in Spanish and Sofía challenges Mark with a tongue twister! In each episode of this 10-lesson season for intermediate learners you can build your vocabulary, increase your understanding of grammar and learn to use the Spanish language in a more n...
Mar 06, 2020•28 min•Ep 43•Transcript available on Metacast Fernanda, Anabel and Mark are back for another episode of the Magazine and this time they're talking about the famous Spanish writer Federico García Lorca. Listener Eric has a question about demonyms and Anabel shares an interesting expression. In each episode of this 10-lesson season for intermediate learners you can build your vocabulary, increase your understanding of grammar and learn to use the Spanish language in a more natural way. This series is aimed at intermediate Spanish learners. If...
Feb 21, 2020•29 min•Ep 42•Transcript available on Metacast Join Fernanda, Sofía and Mark in the latest episode of the Magazine as they discuss the story behind the impressive Panama Canal. Listener Jean asks a question about pronunciation and Sofía shares some Panamanian colloquial words. In each episode of this 10-lesson season for intermediate learners you can build your vocabulary, increase your understanding of grammar and learn to use the Spanish language in a more natural way. This series is aimed at intermediate Spanish learners. If you have a qu...
Jan 31, 2020•30 min•Ep 41•Transcript available on Metacast ¡Feliz Año Nuevo! We're starting a new year of Coffee Break Spanish with episode 4 of our third season of the Magazine, and the topic for this week is salsa. Not the kind of salsa you put on your fajitas, but the dance which is popular all over the world. There's a question from listener Namrata about combining infinitives, and Sofía shares a fantastic Spanish tongue twister which will get you practising your pronunciation. In each episode of this 10-lesson season for intermediate learners you c...
Jan 17, 2020•30 min•Ep 40•Transcript available on Metacast It's time for a festive episode of the Coffee Break Spanish Magazine. In this lesson, Anabel joins Mark and Fernanda to discuss Navidad en Madrid and together they discuss festive traditions in the Spanish capital. There's a question from listener Sarah about developing listening skills, and Anabel also shares a useful idiomatic expression which is linked to this time of year. The expression involves El Gordo, the famous lottery drawn at Christmas. If you'd like to watch this year's adverts for ...
Dec 13, 2019•26 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of the Coffee Break Spanish Magazine we'll be investigating an astronaut and a dragon eating ice cream on the façade of a 17th Century cathedral. There's only one city in the Spanish-speaking world where you can see such a thing, and that is Salamanca. Join Mark, Fernanda and Anabel for a quick trip to this jewel in the crown of Castilla y León. In our grammar section we'll be answering listener Hanne's question about using the subjunctive after the word cuando . In each episode ...
Nov 29, 2019•31 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast In this first episode in our new season of the Coffee Break Spanish Magazine, join Fernanda, Sofía and Mark as they discuss a topic close to every Latin American's heart: el fútbol . There's a question from listener Lonneke about the different verbs for "to walk", and Sofía provides us with some useful words and phrases associated with football. In each episode of this 10-lesson season for intermediate learners you can build your vocabulary, increase your understanding of grammar and learn to us...
Nov 15, 2019•37 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast Launching on 15 November 2019, the new series of the Coffee Break Spanish Magazine will help intermediate learners of Spanish build their understanding of the language and improve their listening skills. Each episode focuses on a text on a topic related to the cultures of Spanish-speaking countries around the world. In each episode there's also a phone-in question from a listener. Don't forget to follow Coffee Break Spanish on Facebook where we post language activities, cultural points and...
Nov 08, 2019•3 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast ¡Ha llegado el fin de la primera temporada de En Marcha ! It’s time for one more episode before we wrap up the series and, in this final instalment, it’s time for some questions. While recording En Marcha , we made sure to ask four key questions to almost everybody we interviewed, and this episode brings all of their answers together! Hear about people’s favourite Spanish destinations, dishes and the tips they have for tourists visiting Spain. ¡Vamos a escuchar las respuestas! This season of En ...
Jun 21, 2019•20 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast ¡Es la hora del tapeo! There’s no doubt that trying delicious local delicacies is one of the best things about visiting a new place. In this penultimate episode of Series 1 of En Marcha , Mark and the team head off on a gastronomic adventure around the streets of Málaga. Led by knowledgable guides Jaimie and Susanne from the food tour company Devour Tours , we discover the secrets of Málaga’s mouth-watering offering of food and drink, as well as learning more about the concept of tapas. ¡Que apr...
Jun 07, 2019•20 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast What springs to mind when you think of the city of Málaga? Until recently, it may have been the great weather and the beaches. But nowadays, the city has shaken off the dated image of ‘sol y playa’, and is establishing itself as one of Spain’s main cultural hubs. In this episode, through a series of interviews with local professionals, we hear about what led to this cultural transformation, and the opening of new museums and galleries across the city. This season of En Marcha con Coffee Break Sp...
May 24, 2019•20 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast In this 7th episode of En Marcha , Mark and the team head eastwards along the Costa Tropical, to the village of Frigiliana, officially one of the most beautiful villages in Spain. After spending the day finding out about the village through both its residents and its visitors, it’s time to return to Málaga, but not before dropping in on two more villages, one of which offers up an opportunity for Mark to catch up with some familiar faces. For more information about High Five Spanish, our Spanish...
May 10, 2019•20 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast How many times have you thought about catching a flight to a Spanish-speaking country to learn Spanish? In this episode, Mark catches up with an old friend, talks to the owner of a language school, and asks some students about their experiences at the school. You might have guessed that this episode focuses on a topic close to Mark’s heart: learning Spanish. But no need to book a flight just yet; this episode, and indeed all episodes of En Marcha , will show that you can still improve your Spani...
Apr 26, 2019•20 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast 
