Coffee Break German

In this episode of The Coffee Break German Show we are focusing on pronunciation! In particular we learn how to pronounce letters with an umlaut and its different uses in German. By the end of this episode you will know exactly when and why we use an umlaut! ➡️ Click here to access the blog article and worksheet that accompany this lesson ⬅️ ☕️ To purchase a Coffee Break mug, click here ☕️ Hoste...

Do you know when to use gehen and fahren to say "to go" in German? In this episode of The Coffee Break German Show Mark and Thomas clarify the different contexts in which you would use each verb. ➡️ Click here to access the blog article and worksheet that accompany this lesson ⬅️ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the very first episode of the Coffee Break German Show! To start off the series, we're chatting about some rules to follow when using more than one verb in a sentence. Los geht’s!  ➡️ Click here to access the blog article and worksheet that accompany this episode ⬅️ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to our brand new podcast series - the Coffee Break German Show! Throughout this 10-episode series, Mark and Thomas will help you take your intermediate German 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...

In the final episode of this season of the Coffee Break German Magazine, we hear a text about the well-known and successful German actor and director, Til Schweiger. As we hear about his life and international career, we review some important grammar points such as the imperfect irregular tense and scheint zu sein . As always, we hear relevant vocabulary along the way, including: Regisseur/-in , P...

We’re discussing a film in this episode of the Coffee Break German Magazine: ‘The Life of Others’ by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck. Set in 1984, the film portrays life in the German Democratic Republic, in East Berlin, and follows a couple being spied on by a member of the Stasi. We hear more about the film through the text featured in this episode and Mark and Andrea focus on some of the...

The topic of this Coffee Break German Magazine episode is hot air balloons - specifically the annual hot air balloon competitions which take place in the Alps during the month of January. As we learn about these fascinating competitions, we encounter some interesting vocabulary including the words: bunt, egal ob… oder… and lenken . Mark and Andrea also discuss the following grammar points: bei + n...

In the latest instalment of the Coffee Break German Magazine, we’re heading on a road trip in the Austrian Alps! Throughout the text featured in this episode, we explore the Großglockner Hochalpenstraße - a scenic mountain road and one of Austria’s main attractions - while taking note of the interesting language points, including: adjectives, the infinitive with zu and sowohl als auch . Listen unt...

We hope you're hungry as this episode of the Coffee Break German Magazine is all about a traditional North German dish made of potatoes, beef, pickles and beetroot. This used to be a sailor’s dish but today it’s found all over Northern Europe, and there are lots of different variations. This episode will give you the opportunity to brush up on your food-related vocabulary with words such as Gewürz...

We're halfway through the Coffee Break German Magazine Season 3! In Episode 5 we listen to a text about the Habsburg dynasty and its legacy. We hear lots of new vocabulary and grammar points which Mark and Andrea explain along the way. Be sure to listen until the end to learn about a proverb which is the equivalent to  c'est la vie  in French.  In each episode of this 10-lesson seas...

Welcome to another episode of the Coffee Break German Magazine! This time, our hosts, Mark and Andrea, focus on a text about the Hanse (a trade/military network of cities between the 12th and 17th century) and the Hanseatic cities of Germany. We discuss the cities which were part of the Hanseatic league and how this is celebrated once a year with regional food, medieval costumes, historical guided...

We're back with another episode of the Coffee Break German Magazine! We're talking football this week, specifically the highest professional German football league. As we learn how the league works, we focus on some interesting language points including adjective declination and superlatives before rounding off the episode with the following proverb: Da liegt der Hund begraben . In each episode of...

Welcome back to the Coffee Break German Magazine! In this episode we hear a text about the most famous train route in the German-speaking region: the Glacier-Express! We learn about this 8-hour trip which runs between Zermatt and St. Moritz, offering breathtaking views along the way. We encounter many interesting pieces of vocabulary throughout the episode, including: glasklar , insgesamt and über...

Welcome to a brand new series of the Coffee Break German Magazine! In this first episode of Season 2, our hosts, Mark and Andrea discuss The German Shepherd Dog. We learn about the origins of this type of dog and how German Shepherds can act as police dogs, rescue dogs, and therapy dogs while also also being friendly family dogs. Listen out for passive sentences in the present and past tense...

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

We're back! We're delighted to announce that, starting today, the 22nd October 2021, Coffee Break German Season 3 is available. In this series you'll take your German to the next level, accompanied by your friendly teachers and hosts, Andrea and Mark. In each episode you'll learn about a language point and listen to Andrea and Mark explaining the aspects of the language. You'll then 'experience' t...

Welcome to the tenth and final episode from Season 2 of the Coffee Break German Travel Diaries! For the final stop of our trip, we're in Austria’s capital - Vienna - which offers many spectacular sights. The best part of the trip is still to come as Karl's big surprise is finally revealed to Birgit! Join Mark and Andrea as they round off the series and discuss the phrase: Hatte keine Ahnung was vo...

It's the penultimate episode of the Coffee Break German Travel Diaries Season 2! As the ship docks in Melk, a small Austrian town on the Danube, Karl and Birgit marvel at the Melk monastery after a relaxing breakfast, before tucking into goulash later in the day. Back onboard, plans are all in place and Karl sows a seed for his big surprise for Birgit. We see some adverbial phrases as well as verb...

Welcome back to another episode of the Coffee Break German Travel Diaries Season 2! This time, we're in Passau on the German-Austrian border - a romantic city on the Danube - surrounded by green hills and colourful houses. Karl manages to hide his nerves as well as a secret purchase while he and Birgit enjoy a relaxing day strolling through the 3-river city. Join Mark and Andrea as they take a clo...

In this episode, Regensburg lives up to its name weather wise but the rain doesn't stop Karl and Birgit from making the most of their day trip as they explore museums and churches before heading to the magnificent Thurn und Taxis Castle . Karl finally shares details of his big surprise - Das Geheimnis ist gelüftet! -  before enjoying some dancing in the evening. This episode features lot...

It's time to discover a brand new city in Episode 6 of the Coffee Break German Travel Diaries, Season 2. This time, we're joining Karl and Birgit in Nuremberg! The couple's newfound friends join them as they sample some local beer while avoiding the rain after their bus tour and castle visit - all before Karl finalises plans for his surprise. In this episode we review modal verbs, learn how to exp...

Welcome back to Season 2 of the Coffee Break German Travel Diaries! We're halfway through our virtual trip and this time, we're joining Karl and Birgit at a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Discover the spectacular architecture and half-timbered houses in Bamberg and enjoy a trip on the river in a different kind of boat - Eine andere Art von Bootsfahrt - while hosts Mark and Andrea tell us more about t...

In the latest instalment of the Coffee Break German Travel Diaries Season 2, we discover another river - the Main - and a new romantic setting in the cobbled streets of Würzburg in Bavaria. The couple discover what the city has to offer and Karl’s plan takes shape after a trip to the wine cellar. While discussing Karl's latest diary entry, Coffee Break German hosts Mark and Andrea focus on relativ...

In the latest episode from Season 2 of the Coffee Break German Travel Diaries, Karl and Birgit are waking up in Koblenz, a beautiful city in Rhineland-Palatinate. The couple join their new friends on a cable car trip, high above the Rhine, to The Ehrenbreitstein Fortress before rounding off the day with dinner on deck. Throughout the episode, Coffee Break German hosts Mark and Andrea focus on the...

We're back with the second episode of the Coffee Break German Travel Diaries, Season 2. This time, Karl and Birgit see the sites of Cologne and enjoy a view of the city from a modern high-rise building - Ein Blick aus der Höhe! Join hosts Mark and Andrea in this episode and learn some useful adverbs and vocabulary related to tourism. Our premium version includes lesson notes with additional exampl...