Coffee Break Languages

Coffee Break French

Learn French in coffee-break lessons from the Radio Lingua Network. In each lesson we'll focus on the language you need to know and before long you'll be making yourself understood with native French speakers. Season 1 lessons are for absolute beginners, and the courses increase in difficulty as the seasons progress. 386357 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author

Coffee Break Languages

Category

Education

Podcast website

coffeebreaklanguages.com

Latest episode

Jul 6, 2026

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Episodes

CBF 4:38 | Focus on idiomatic expressions 28.06.2015

In this episode of Coffee Break French, Pierre-Benoît and Mark discuss Sylvie’s most recent email to her mother Monique. The text gives us the opportunity to talk about a number of interesting grammar points and idiomatic expressions including further examples of the gerund, s’apercevoir de quelque chose, insister pour and the expression brûler les étapes . This season of Coffee Break French featu...

CBF 4:37 | The imperfect tense and idiomatic expressions 13.06.2015

It’s time for another episode of Coffee Break French, and in this episode Mark and Pierre-Benoît discuss the latest email from Monique to her daughter Sylvie. A number of interesting examples of French appear in this episode, including the expressions  de mon temps, en faire lourd and further examples of the imperfect tense. This season of Coffee Break French features a total o...

CBF 4:36 | When to use the subjunctive 30.05.2015

In this latest episode of Coffee Break French, Mark and Pierre-Benoît discuss Matthieu’s latest email reply to Gabrielle. As usual there are a number of interesting language points to be discussed including further examples of the subjunctive with triggers we have seen before, and a brand new situation when the subjunctive is used after a superlative. This season of Coffee Break French features a...

CBF 4:35 | Useful idiomatic expressions 18.05.2015

In this episode of Coffee Break French, Mark and Pierre-Benoît discuss the latest email from Gabrielle to Matthieu and look in particular at a number of interesting language points contained in the lesson. Expressions in this episode include the expressions  ce n’est pas ton fort, prendre peur  and rendre des comptes à quelqu’un . This season of Coffee Break French features a total of 40...

CBF 4:34 | Placement of adjectives and idiomatic expressions 01.05.2015

Mark and Pierre-Benoît are back with another episode of our advanced French course. In this episode we’re focusing on the latest email from Sylvie in which she updates her mother on her date with Matthieu. As usual the episode is rich in interesting grammar points and idiomatic expressions and our two hosts are on hand to discuss the language used and to help listeners understand the content. Expr...

CBF 4:33 | Interesting idiomatic expressions 04.04.2015

It’s time for another episode in our series for advanced French learners. In this lesson we read the latest email from Monique to her daughter Sylvie. Monique is desperate to hear how Sylvie got on on her date with Matthieu, and as usual Pierre-Benoît and Mark are on hand to discuss the language points contained in the text. In this episode, expressions featured include tourner en rond, la curiosi...

CBF 4:32 | Agreement of preceding direct objects 20.03.2015

It’s time for another episode in our series for advanced French learners. In this lesson Mark and Pierre-Benoît are discussing the latest email from Matthieu to Gabrielle. There are many interesting expressions and useful grammar points covered including agreement of preceding direct objects, rien que de + infinitive, en avoir l’eau à la bouche , and much more.   This season of Coffee Break F...

CBF 4:31 | Grammar review and idiomatic expressions 06.03.2015

Join Mark and Pierre-Benoît for another lesson of our advanced French course. In this episode they’re discussing Gabrielle’s revelations in her most recent email to Matthieu. As usual there are plenty of interesting grammar points and idiomatic expressions to study including the expressions prendre ses clics et ses clacs   and  aller en éclaireur.   This season of Coffee Break Frenc...

CBF 4:30 | New vocabulary and idiomatic phrases 20.02.2015

It’s time for another episode of Coffee Break French and this week Mark and Pierre-Benoît are discussing the latest email from Sylvie to her mother, Monique. There are lots of interesting language points to talk about including the expressions être pot de colle, faire poireauter quelqu’un   and the wonderful word  dorénavant.   This season of Coffee Break French featu...

CBF 4:29 | Using the subjunctive with jusqu'á ce que 25.01.2015

Join Mark and Pierre-Benoît for another episode of Coffee Break French in which they discuss Monique’s latest email to her daughter Sylvie following Sylvie’s visit to Epinal. As usual the text is rich in complex grammatical points and interesting vocabulary and idiomatic expressions including  piquer du nez, faire un tabac and how to use the subjunctive with jusqu’à ce que . This season of Co...

CBF 4:28 | More triggers for the subjunctive 11.01.2015

Mark and Pierre-Benoît are back with another episode of Coffee Break French, this time working through Matthieu’s latest email to Gabrielle. As usual the email is rich in complex grammatical structures and idiomatic expressions, and through further examples and clear explanations, our two hosts will help you understand everything. Points covered in this episode include using the subjunctive a...

CBF 4:27 | The pluperfect tense 23.12.2014

In this latest episode of Coffee Break French, Mark and Pierre-Benoît discuss Gabrielle’s most recent email to Matthieu. She’s giving Matthieu some advice on where he should take Sylvie on their first date, and she also reveals some news about her own love life! Language points covered include some interesting examples of the pluperfect tense, après avoir fait quelque chose , and the verb valoir ....

CBF 4:26 | Idiomatic expressions and interesting vocabulary 05.12.2014

We’re back with another episode of our advanced French course. In this episode Mark and Pierre-Benoît consider Sylvie’s latest email to her mother and, as usual there are lots of interesting grammar points and idiomatic expressions to discuss including se faire des films, faire un petit somme and the expression en dire long sur quelque chose. This season of Coffee Break French features a total of...

CBF 4:25 | More on the subjunctive 21.11.2014

In this episode of our advanced series for learners of French, join Pierre-Benoît and Mark to look at Monique’s latest email to her daughter Sylvie. As usual there are lots of interesting grammar points and idiomatic expressions to be discovered in the episode including a number of subjunctives, the expression être partant(e) pour quelque chose and lots more. This season of Coffee Break French fea...

CBF 4:24 | Using the subjunctive after pour que and idiomatic phrases 05.11.2014

It’s time for Matthieu to respond to Gabrielle’s email and in this episode we’ll find out about the latest updates in our story. Mark and Pierre-Benoît discuss the interesting language found in the lesson including the expression pour que which is followed by the subjunctive, avoir l’occasion de faire quelque chose and a couple of interesting examples of the word en . This season of Coffee Break F...

CBF 4:23 | Interesting verbs and idiomatic expressions 14.10.2014

In this latest episode of Coffee Break French, Gabrielle is writing to Matthieu to find out the latest in his developing relationship with Sylvie. As usual Pierre-Benoît and Mark are on hand to discuss the complex grammatical constructions and idiomatic vocabulary contained in the lesson which include  proposer à quelqu’un de faire quelque chose, vivre au jour le jour and the verb chômer . Th...

CBF 4:22 | Uses of the subjunctive 01.10.2014

It’s time for another episode of Coffee Break French and for Sylvie to reply to her mother’s latest email. The key phrases discussed by Pierre-Benoît and Mark in this episode include le monde est petit, avoir la tête à quelque chose and a further example of the subjunctive in use. Rich with idiomatic expressions, tricky grammar points and interesting vocabulary, we’re sure you’ll enjoy this latest...

CBF 4:21 | Using the subjunctive and other grammatical constructions 30.09.2014

In this latest episode of Coffee Break French, Monique is writing to her daughter Sylvie. As usual she uses some interesting expressions and tricky grammatical constructions and idiomatic expressions, including plenty of subjunctives and the expressions  soi-disant, marquer un jour d’une pierre blanche and avoir pour projet de faire quelque chose . As usual, Mark and Pierr...

CBF 4:20 | Interesting idiomatic phrases and grammar points 28.08.2014

It’s time for another lesson of Coffee Break French and this week it’s the turn of Matthieu to reply to Gabrielle. The expressions discussed by Mark and Pierre-Benoît this week include je m’en doute , using the subjunctive after jusqu’à ce que , and ramasser quelqu’un à la petite cuillère . As usual Mark and Pierre-Benoît are on hand to discuss the idiomatic expressions and grammar points, an...

CBF 4:19 | Idiomatic ways to say how long you have been doing something 10.08.2014

In this episode of Coffee Break French, Gabrielle is writing to Matthieu. There are some great expressions in this lesson’s text, including a few idiomatic ways of saying how long you’ve been doing something, how to talk about working hard – or “like a dog”, and we even manage to include some Disney references and a bit of Edith Piaf! As usual Mark and Pierre-Benoît are on hand to discuss the idio...

CBF 4:18 | Expressions with reflexive pronouns 22.07.2014

It’s time for a new episode of Coffee Break French. This week Sylvie is responding to her mother’s latest email as they’re both looking forward to spending a family weekend in Épinal. As usual Mark and Pierre-Benoît are on hand to discuss the idiomatic expressions and grammar points contained in the text, including the expressions se dépêcher de faire quelque chose, se faire des idées , and the ve...

CBF 4:17 | More trigger expressions for the subjunctive 01.07.2014

In this episode of Coffee Break French Season 4, we consider Monique’s latest email as she looks forward to Sylvie’s visit this coming weekend. Mark and Pierre-Benoît are on hand to discuss the idiomatic expressions and grammar points contained in the text, including the expression  tous les quatre matins, ce n’est pas la porte à côté, l’essentiel c’est que + subjunctive  and l...

CBF 4:16 | Talking about "remembering" things in French 22.05.2014

It’s time for a new episode of Coffee Break French and in this episode we join Matthieu who is replying to Gabrielle’s email. As usual, Mark and Pierre-Benoît are on hand to discuss the expressions and grammar points contained in his text including how to talk about “remembering” things in French using se rappeller and se souvenir de qc , and an interesting use of the expression pour que . Please...

CBF 4:15 | Verbs which need particular prepositions 07.05.2014

We’re back with another episode of Coffee Break French and this week we’re joining Gabrielle who’s writing her regular email to Matthieu. Mark and Pierre-Benoît discuss the expressions and grammar points contained in her text including verbs which require particular prepositions, such as se dépêcher de faire qc, promettre de faire qc , and lots more. Please note that lesson 15 of Season 4 was orig...

CBF 4:14 | Jours de RTT 13.04.2014

In this week’s edition of Coffee Break French, Mark and Pierre-Benoît discuss Sylvie’s latest email and cover a number of interest points of vocabulary and grammar including the expression tant que tu y es , the verb s’emballer , and the concept of jours de RTT . Please note that lesson 14 of Season 4 was originally known as lesson 414 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each...

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