Coffee Break Spanish

Coffee Break Spanish

Season 3 – Lesson 34 – Coffee Break Spanish

We’re back with more Coffee Break Spanish! We’re staying in Mexico in episode 34 as Mark and Juan discuss some of the interesting aspects of Mexican Spanish. ¡Todo está padrísimo en este episodio! Language points covered include pedir a alguien que + subjunctive, the expression referirse a, and llevarse a cabo. José’s intermedio concentrates on phrases

Coffee Break Spanish

Season 3 – Lesson 33 – Coffee Break Spanish

In lesson 33, it’s destination Mexico as Mark is joined by Juan from México D.F. Juan introduces Mark to the geography and some of the tourist attractions of Mexico. Language concepts included the use of soler, the difference between amable and amigable, and a reminder of the fact that ‘another’ is otro/otra in Spanish –

Coffee Break Spanish

Season 3 – Lesson 32 – Coffee Break Spanish

In lesson 32 we’re still concentrating on Colombian Spanish, and Mark and Carolina discuss the music and literature of Colombia, and typical Colombian expressions including the word paila. In the second act of this episode, Mark discusses impersonal verbs such as apetecer, gustar and faltar. Please note that lesson 32 of Season 3 was originally known

Coffee Break Spanish

Season 3 – Lesson 31 – Coffee Break Spanish

It’s destination Colombia for lesson 31 as Mark is joined by Carolina from Bogotá. Carolina introduces Mark to the geography and traditions of Colombia, and Mark learns a few useful expresiones colombianas. In episodes 31-40 of Coffee Break Spanish, Mark will be joined by various speakers of Spanish from different parts of Latin America, providing

Coffee Break Spanish

Season 3 – Lesson 30 – Coffee Break Spanish

It’s time to return to our telenovela, Verano Español. In this sixth instalment, we’ll find out the latest about what’s happening in the Laura – Ángel – Ramón love triangle, and we’ll also hear if things are still ok between Antonio and Iona after Antonio’s the plumber’s visit! In Act II, Mark will help listeners

Coffee Break Spanish

Season 3 – Lesson 29 – Coffee Break Spanish

In this week’s episode, Alba and Mark are en la cocina, making a Spanish tortilla. The episode is slightly different from our usual episodes as the audio was recorded live in the kitchen rather than in the studio. There’s no “Act II” this week as the conversation follows the entire process of making the tortilla.

Coffee Break Spanish

Season 3 – Lesson 28 – Coffee Break Spanish

The topic for this week’s episode of Coffee Break Spanish is food, or tapas in particular. Alba has recently had a bad experience in a tapas restaurant in Scotland, compared with her normal experiences of tapas in Spain. Mark and Alba talk about different tapas and their experience of eating Spanish food in Spain and

Coffee Break Spanish

Season 3 – Lesson 27 – Coffee Break Spanish

This week we return to a topic we covered previously – in response to listeners’ requests. It’s time to look at your tricks and tips for language learning. Mark and Alba talk about the suggestion of one of our listeners which involves printing out internet texts and cutting out the words. Listen to the episode

Coffee Break Spanish

Season 3 – Lesson 26 – Coffee Break Spanish

This week’s topic is low-cost airlines and the advantages and disadvantages of low-cost travel. Mark and Alba discuss their experiences of flying with low-cost airlines (and indeed with other airlines!) and José introduces two phrases which you can use when you manage to find a real bargain! Language points covered include the use of quedarse,

Coffee Break Spanish

Season 3 – Lesson 25 – Coffee Break Spanish

This episode of Coffee Break Spanish features the fifth instalment of our ‘telenovela’, Verano Español. At the end of the previous episode, Laura discovered that the boy who has been chatting her up on a daily basis in the panadería is none other than Ángel, her next-door neighbour. In episode 5 of the soap, Estela

Coffee Break Spanish

Season 3 – Lesson 24 – Coffee Break Spanish

Following our recent musical episodes, listeners have been asking us for some suggestions of Spanish-language singers and groups. In episode 24 we’ve provided some suggestions, talking about Spanish groups Amaral and Ojos de Brujo, and we’ve also mentioned Colombian Juanes and the renowned Panamanian salsa performer Ruben Blades. Language points include more subjunctive talk, the

Coffee Break Spanish

Season 3 – Lesson 23 – Coffee Break Spanish

This week Mark and Alba bring you a special musical episode: combining the Eurovision Song Contest with a performance from Mark of Tango by Spanish composer Albéniz. In the intermedio, José introduces the idea of ’embarrassment’ – vergüenza – and gives listeners some examples of how to use this concept in interesting expressions. Language points covered

Coffee Break Spanish

Season 3 – Lesson 22 – Coffee Break Spanish

In this week’s lesson, Mark and Alba talk about music. Their discussion includes talk of playing musical instruments and how listening to music is changing because of technology. In the intermedio, José provides a couple of interesting phrases which can be used to say that you find something difficult. Language points covered include comparitives such

Coffee Break Spanish

Season 3 – Lesson 21 – Coffee Break Spanish

In this episode of Season 3, Mark and Alba chat about what they were doing during the vacaciones de Semana Santa. Both Mark and Alba have been travelling, and Mark has some buenas noticias. In the intermedio José provides us with some interesting phrases to talk about things in the past, and language points covered include the

Coffee Break Spanish

Season 3 – Lesson 20 – Coffee Break Spanish

Episode 20 features the fourth installment of our telenovela, Verano Español. Find out the latest about the life of Laura and her mother as they spend the summer in Spain en la casa de tía Julia. Will Laura find out a little more about the mystery customer in the panadería? Please note that lesson 20

Coffee Break Spanish

Season 3 – Lesson 19 – Coffee Break Spanish

In this week’s episode, Mark and Alba discuss some useful techniques for learning languages and share their ideas and advice with listeners. In the intermedio Alba talks about the northern Spanish city of Bilbao, and José introduces a construction which involves lo + adjective. Grammar points covered include the construction siempre que and the use of

Coffee Break Spanish

Season 3 – Lesson 18 – Coffee Break Spanish

In episode 18 of Coffee Break Spanish Season 3, Mark and Alba talk about the advantages and disadvantages of buying things online, and share their experiences both positive and negative. In this week’s intermedio, Alba presents the city of Granada in the south of Spain, and José talks about ways to describe someone whose head

Coffee Break Spanish

Season 3 – Lesson 17 – Coffee Break Spanish

This episode is dedicated to all fans of the imperfect subjunctive… and to those of you who are terrified of it! After listening to Mark and Alba’s discussion about all things hypothetical, you’ll be 100% confident in using the Spanish imperfect subjunctive. In addition, Alba talks about her favourite parts of Madrid, and José introduces

Coffee Break Spanish

Season 3 – Lesson 16 – Coffee Break Spanish

Episode 16 features a conversation between Alba and Mark about what they’ve been doing since they last saw each other. Grammar points covered include possessive pronouns, and uses of the subjunctive. This week’s intermedio features a presentation of Barcelona from Alba, and José looks at some more interesting ways of talking about going out for a

Coffee Break Spanish

Season 3 – Lesson 15 – Coffee Break Spanish

Episode 15 features the third installment of our telenovela, Verano Español. Find out the latest about the life of Laura and her mother as they spend the summer in Spain en la casa de tía Julia. How will Laura cope on her first day in her new job at the panadería? Please note that lesson