German

Coffee Break German

CBG Mag 2.10 | Til Schweiger

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,

Coffee Break German

CBG Mag 2.09 | Das Leben der Anderen

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

Coffee Break German

CBG 3.20 | Review episode 3.11 to 3.19

We’re halfway through Season 3 of Coffee Break German, so it’s time for a review episode! Join Mark and Andrea as they look back on some of the things we have learned in episodes 11 – 19; from prepositions with the Genitive to the future tense, qualifiers and reflexive verbs with the Dative – this

Coffee Break German

CBG Mag 2.08 | Heißluftballonrennen im Januar

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

Coffee Break German

CBG 3.19 | Causative Adverbs | Also los nach dem Pieps

Welcome to another episode of Coffee Break German! In Lesson 19 Mark and Andrea discuss adverbs which connect clauses: daher, deswegen, deshalb, darum, also, folglich, demzufolge and somit. We then listen to three separate voicemails in which we hear causative adverbs in context. Listen out for these useful words and phrases: etwas hinterlassen, die Rückrufnummer,

Coffee Break German

CBG Mag 2.07 | Großglockner Hochalpenstraße – ein österreichischer Roadtrip

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

Coffee Break German

CBG 3.18 | Reflexive verbs with the Dative | Das werde ich mir merken

Welcome to another lesson of Coffee Break German! This time, we are introducing reflexive verbs with reflexive pronouns in the dative. We hear these learning points in context during a discussion between characters Tim and Anna. Some words and phrases to listen out for include: sich die Nacht um die Ohren schlagen, sich etwas aus … machen and

Coffee Break German

CBG Mag 2.06 | Labskaus

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

Coffee Break German

CBG 3.17 | Qualifiers | Ich finde ihn ganz nett

In this episode of Coffee Break German Season 3 we are discussing the new topic of qualifying adverbs: sehr, ziemlich, außerordentlich, völlig. We also listen to a conversation between school students Manuela, Tina and Tobias, who are discussing the latest developments at school and what they think of them. Some vocabulary to look out for

Coffee Break German

CBG Mag 2.05 | Die Habsburger

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

Coffee Break German

CBG 3.16 | Temporal prepositions | Sie arbeitet seit zwei Jahren in München

We’re focusing on a brand new topic in this episode of Coffee Break German Season 3: temporal prepositions. Join Mark and Andrea as they discuss temporal prepositions, such as seit, ab, and von… bis, before hearing them in context during a dialogue in which Herr Kühne has a job interview with Frau Dr. Hofmann. Vocabulary

Coffee Break German

CBG Mag 2.04 | Hansestädte

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

Coffee Break German

CBG Mag 2.03 | Die Deutsche Bundesliga

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

Coffee Break German

CBG 3.14 | Temporal connectors | Solange die Kinder noch gern zelten…

In this episode of Coffee Break German, Mark and Andrea focus on connectors which connect words, word groups or clauses. We hear many examples of connectors linking clauses before hearing a dialogue between characters Ben and Marianne in a coffee shop. Listen carefully for some useful vocabulary throughout this episode, including words and phrases such

Coffee Break German

CBG Mag 2.02 | Glacier-Express

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

Coffee Break German

CBG 3.13 | The future tense | Er wird dir schon zuhören

In this episode of Coffee Break German we’re focusing on the use of the future tense. We learn how to express plans, promises and assumptions in the future. That’s not all, we also introduce adverbs which can be used to suggest that we are making an assumption. We then hear what we’ve learned in context

Coffee Break German

CBG Mag 2.01 | Der Deutsche Schäferhund

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

Coffee Break Italian

CBI 3.12 | Formal and irregular imperative | Alla scoperta della città

We’re back with another episode of Coffee Break Italian! This time, Mark and Francesca are looking at the formal imperative and its negative and irregular form. We see this grammar point in context with a dialogue between a Scottish tourist and a local who provides directions to the Museum of Modern Art. Listen out for some useful