Coffee Break French

In the first episode from our second season of the Coffee Break French Show, we're exploring the meaning of 'on' in French. Join Mark and Max to find out how to use this small but powerful pronoun in different situations. Prefer to watch these lessons? You can do exactly that for free on Coffee Break TV , and download the episodes to your device so you can access them on the go. Or, you can head t...

We're back with Season 2 of the Coffee Break French Show! In this podcast series we help you take your intermediate French to the next level, one coffee break at a time. Throughout the 10-episode series we cover a range of topics to help you deepen your understanding of tricky grammar, broaden your vocabulary, and improve your pronunciation. You'll sound like a native speaker in no time! You will...

Welcome to the 10th and final episode of the Coffee Break French Show! We're rounding off this series by exploring two phrases that French learners often mix up - à cause de and grâce à (both translated as: "because of" in English). Join us for this episode as we discuss the subtleties of these phrases and unravel the positive and negative nuances they bring to expressions in French.   ➡️ Cli...

In our penultimate episode in this series of the Coffee Break French Show, we explore the nuances of using prepositions before cities, countries, islands, and continents. By the end of this episode you'll be able to use the correct prepositions in your French conversations. ➡️ Click here to access the blog article and worksheet that accompany this lesson ⬅️ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy f...

Welcome back to The Coffee Break French Show! In our last episode we explained how to choose between 'qui' and 'que' in French. We're taking this a step further this time as we're putting what we learned into practice with some exercises of when to use these relative pronouns. Be sure to catch up on episode 7 before listening to this episode. ➡️ Click here to access the blog article and worksheet...

Have you ever wondered whether to use ‘qui’ or ‘que’? If so, then this episode of the Coffee Break French Show is for you! Join Mark and Max as they discuss the meaning of ‘qui’ and ‘que’ and how to choose between them when speaking French ➡️ Click here to access the blog article and worksheet that accompany this lesson ⬅️ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us for another episode of The Coffee Break French Show! In episode 6, we discuss how to pronounce the letter ‘e’ in all of its shapes and forms. By the end of this episode you'll sound more like a native French speaker! ➡️ Click here to access the blog article and worksheet that accompany this lesson ⬅️ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're halfway through our series of The Coffee Break French Show! This time, we chat about the distinction between 'jour' & 'journée', as well as 'soir' & 'soirée', 'an' & 'année', and 'matin' & 'matinée'. By the end of this episode, you'll be able to use each of these words confidently and correctly in any situation that comes your way! ➡️ Click here to access the blog article and...

Do you know how to use avoir correctly in French? This verb can be tricky for French learners so in episode four of The Coffee Break French Show, Mark and Max discuss avoir and consider some common expressions where this verb is used. By the end of this episode you will know exactly when avoir is used differently from "to have" in English. ➡️ Click here to access the blog article and worksheet tha...

In this episode of the Coffee Break French Show we help you choose between ‘tu’ and ‘vous’ so that you can navigate informal and and formal French. Mark and Max talk about the rules, exceptions, and social context that surrounds this choice, helping you communicate like a native speaker! ➡️ Click here to access the blog article and worksheet that accompany this lesson ⬅️ Hosted on Acast. See acast...

Knowing where to place adjectives in a sentence can be tricky - but fear not! By the end of this episode of the Coffee Break French Show, you'll be able to add depth to your French conversations and express your ideas more precisely, thanks to having a stronger understanding of the exceptions and nuances in adjective placement. ➡️ Click here to access the blog article and worksheet that accompany...

Welcome to our very first episode of the Coffee Break French Show! We're kicking off the series by talking about French vowel sounds. We share tips on how to pronounce 'u' and 'ou' accurately, and provide words and exercises to practise. Are you ready? C’est parti ! ➡️ Click here to access the blog article and worksheet that accompany this lesson ⬅️ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...

Welcome to our brand new podcast series - the Coffee Break French Show! Throughout this 10-episode series, Mark and Max will help you take your intermediate French to the next level, one coffee break at a time. We cover a range of topics to help you deepen your understanding of tricky grammar, broaden your vocabulary, and improve your pronunciation. You'll sound like a native speaker in no time! P...

Join Mark and Pierre-Benoît to find out more about the new series from Coffee Break French. In each episode of Il était une fois, Max and Pierre-Benoît will challenge each other to come up with an original story. The catch is that they must include 10 specific words, chosen by the challenger. Each episode is entirely in French, but to help you understand what's going on we've provided a full...

We have reached the final episode of the Coffee Break French Magazine Season 2 and we're going out with a bang as we're discussing one of the most widely celebrated holidays in France - Bastille Day! As we discover how le quatorze juillet is celebrated in Paris, we learn some interesting expressions like grasse matinée, avoir la chance de faire qqch and finir la journée en beauté. Listen out...

In this episode of the Coffee Break French Magazine we hear a text about Marie-Antoinette, the last Queen of France before the French Revolution. Join Mark and Pierre-Benoît as they discuss the language featured in the text and listen out for the following expressions: se rappeler qqch , tenter de faire qqch and faire des reproches à qqn . We also hear examples of indirect object pronouns and prec...

In this episode of the Coffee Break French Magazine, we're transporting you to the city of Geneva. While hearing about what this wonderful Swiss city has to offer, we cover some interesting grammar points such as the agreement of   tel(le) que  and the use of  être assis(e) à  + infinitive. Sophie joins Mark at the end of the episode to discuss some time-related expressions inc...

The topic of this episode of the Coffee Break French Magazine is French painter and founder of impressionist painting, Claude Monet. As we hear about his life and work throughout the text, Mark and Pierre-Benoît focus on the language used before Sophie joins Mark to discuss some interesting quotations by Pissarro. We also hear examples of perfect and imperfect tenses; direct and indirect object pr...

Mais d’où viennent les frites ? That is the question Mark and Pierre-Benoît are addressing in this episode of the Coffee Break French Magazine! We hope you're hungry as we hear a range of useful food-related words and expressions in this episode, such as manger sur le pouce , avoir la frite and ne pas avoir toutes ses frites dans le même sachet. We also come across examples of direct object pronou...

In this episode of the Coffee Break French Magazine we're heading to the cinema! After hearing a text about French cinema, Mark and Pierre-Benoît break down the language, focusing on some useful vocabulary for talking about films, such as: réalisateur , le septième art and trucages . Listen out for examples of the subjunctive, the gerund and the imperfect tense, as well as the following expression...

This week, we're taking a virtual trip to the French-speaking area of Canada: Québec! Throughout the lesson we share some of the top attractions in this beautiful province of Canada. Along the way, we hear examples of direct object pronouns, the pronoun y and examples of the future tense of the verbs avoir and être . Listen out for some useful expressions such as:  profiter de qqch , s'a...

In this episode of the Coffee Break French Magazine, we hear a text about the very well known French fashion designer...that's right it's Coco Chanel! Our hosts, Mark and Pierre-Benoît discuss a range of fashion-related words and phrases as well as examples of the following grammar points: reflexive verbs in the perfect tense; the imperfect tense; and the gerund. To finish, Mark and Sophie explore...

Join Mark and Pierre-Benoît for Episode 2 of our Coffee Break French Magazine Season 2! After introducing the episode, we hear about the French aperitif tradition and analyse the language featured throughout this text. Some interesting expressions to listen out for include: quel(le) que soit (whatever), être le bienvenu (to be welcome) and faire plaisir (to be appreciated). Mark and Sophie round o...

Welcome to the very first episode of the Coffee Break French Magazine Season 2! Join our hosts Mark and Pierre-Benoît as they introduce the series and take a virtual trip to the city of Toulouse, also known as La ville rose. Throughout the reading text about this beautiful city, Mark and Pierre-Benoît discuss the language used, including the use of depuis + present tense; an example of the relativ...

In this special episode, Mark provides an update on all things Coffee Break French including the return of the Coffee Break French 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 French Club , where you can get your daily dose of French activities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy f...