Italian

Coffee Break Italian

CBI 3.11 | Introduction to the imperative | Anno nuovo, vita nuova!

In this week’s lesson of Coffee Break Italian Season 3 we’re looking at the following forms of the imperative: tu and voi forms; the negative imperative; irregular forms; and the imperative with pronouns. We also hear a dialogue between two colleagues, Carlo and Michela, who are back at work after their Christmas holidays.

Coffee Break Italian

CBI 3.10 | Review of all pronouns | Caro diario…

We have reached Lesson 10 of Coffee Break Italian Season 3! In this review lesson we look at all of the pronouns covered in Lessons 1 -9: subject pronouns, reflexive pronouns, direct and indirect object pronouns and combined pronouns. We also hear from Silvia, a young girl who has written a journal entry all about

Coffee Break Italian

CBI 3.09 | Disjunctive pronouns | Amicizia e musica

In this lesson, Coffee Break Italian hosts, Mark and Francesca, introduce the last remaining category of personal pronouns to be discussed in this series: disjunctive pronouns. We then listen to a dialogue centred around the use of disjunctive pronouns. In the previous episodes, direct, indirect and combined pronouns were looked at quite extensively and you

Coffee Break Italian

CBI 3.08 | Combined pronouns | Una macchina nuova di zecca

Welcome back to Coffee Break Italian Season 3! In this lesson, Mark and Francesca bring together direct and indirect object pronouns, and discuss what happens when both pronouns are used in one sentence at the same time. Before looking at this new grammar point, we remind ourselves what direct and indirect objects are and then

Coffee Break Italian

CBI 3.07 | Indirect object pronouns | Due compleanni davvero speciali

Throughout this lesson of Coffee Break Italian, Mark and Francesca teach us about indirect object pronouns and we follow a dialogue of three friends discussing what present to get for two of their friends’ birthdays. Listen out for some useful vocabulary including the words: cravatta and indimenticabile.

Coffee Break Italian

CBI 3.06 | Superlative adjectives | Aiuto! Cosa mi metto?

We’re back with a brand new Coffee Break Italian lesson! Join Mark and Francesca in this episode as they continue discussing the topic of adjectives. While the focus of Lesson 5 was on comparative adjectives, this time we are learning about superlative adjectives, both in their relative and absolute forms. We also hear a dialogue

Coffee Break Italian

CBI 3.05 | Comparative adjectives | Le vacanze… che fatica!

The latest lesson from Coffee Break Italian Season 3 is all about comparative adjectives. Join Mark and Francesca to learn about regular and irregular comparatives and the use of che and di when introducing comparisons. We also hear some useful phrases including all’ultimo minuto and spendere un occhio della testa.

Coffee Break Italian

CBI 3.03 | Simple future | Ci trasferiamo in Australia!

Join hosts Mark and Francesca in Lesson 3 of Coffee Break Italian Season 3 as they discuss the simple future. We talk about the structure of the tense and how it is formed and used in Italian. We also hear a dialogue between a father and daughter who are discussing aspects about their lives in

Coffee Break Italian

CBI 3.02 | Direct object pronouns with compound tenses | Pronti per la festa

Welcome to another episode from Season 3 of Coffee Break Italian! This time, Mark and Francesca discuss direct object pronouns with compound tenses and the use of agreements with the past participle. We also hear a dialogue in which three friends, Mirko, Diego, and Daniela discuss the details of a party they are organising. If

Blog

5 Films for Italian Learners

Films are an important language-learning tool: they present us with alternative points of view from which to admire stories set in other countries. Watching a film means immersing yourself in a different language and culture without having to take a plane, from the comfort of your own sofa. It can be challenging at times but,

Coffee Break Italian

CBI Travel Diaries 2.10 | Grazie di tutto, Trentino-Alto Adige!

It’s the 10th and final episode of the Coffee Break Italian Travel Diaries Season 2 and Simone and Anna are rounding off their trip with a visit to the city of Trento before enjoying one last traditional lunch with canederli, polenta, cheese, apple pie and bombardino. In between the food-related vocabulary featured in our final travel

Coffee Break Italian

CBI Travel Diaries 2.09 | Tempesta sulla Marmolada

In the penultimate episode of the series, Simone and Anna are on the move again as they are hiking up Marmolada – the highest mountain of the Dolomites. Mark and Francesca pick up on many interesting grammar points along the way and discuss: dopo + past infinitive, stare + gerund, and the pronoun ci, both

Coffee Break Italian

CBI Travel Diaries 2.08 | Il meritato riposo a Cortina d’Ampezzo

In the latest episode of the Coffee Break Italian Travel Diaries Season 2, Simone and Anna are in Cortina, one of the most popular ski destinations in the Dolomites, where they enjoy a trip to the spa. Join Mark and Francesca as they discuss the language featured in this episode, from relative pronouns and indirect

Coffee Break Italian

CBI Travel Diaries 2.07 | Un trekking intenso verso valle

Welcome back to Season 2 the Coffee Break Italian Travel Diaries! Having spent the night in the mountain retreat, Simone and Anna make their way down from the Le Tre Cime and encounter a deer on their way. Throughout Simone’s diary entry, we hear a range of useful verbs including affrontare and scivolare, as well

Coffee Break Italian

CBI Travel Diaries 2.06 | Tre Cime di Lavaredo – Finalmente in vetta!

In Episode 6 from Season 2 of the Coffee Break Italian Travel Diaries, Simone and Anna finally make it to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo and make the most of the view before having lunch in a mountain retreat while enjoying a bombardino. There’s much more food-related vocabulary in this episode as well as some

Coffee Break Italian

CBI Travel Diaries 2.05 | Un imprevisto al lago di Dobbiaco

We’re halfway through our trip to the mountains in northern Italy, and this time, we join Anna and Simone for some ice skating on Lago di Dobbiaco after an unexpected detour changes their plan for the day. All’idea di, tanto che and per sicurezza are just some of the useful phrases which Mark and Francesca discuss

Coffee Break Italian

CBI Travel Diaries 2.04 | Un villaggio da favola: Ortisei

We’re back with another episode from Season 2 of the Coffee Break Italian Travel Diaries! This time, Simone and Anna are visiting the village of Ortisei where they go sledging and enjoy a traditional dinner with canederli. Listen out for a range of adjectives mentioned in this diary entry, including accogliente, fiabesco and innevato. As always, Coffee

Coffee Break Italian

CBI Travel Diaries 2.03 | Terza tappa: la fredda Bolzano

It’s time for another episode of the Coffee Break Italian Travel Diaries, and this time, Simone and Anna head to Bolzano, the capital of Italy’s northernmost region of South Tyrol. Here, they explore the market and taste polenta for the first time, before taking the cable car to the mountains to enjoy the view of

Coffee Break Italian

CBI Travel Diaries 2.02 | Il fantasma di Castel Thun

Welcome back to another episode of the Coffee Break Italian Travel Diaries. This week, Simone and Anna are taking a break from skiing to visit the medieval castle above the town of Thun where they have a frightful encounter with a ghost! Listen out for the useful grammar points which Mark and Francesca discuss in