Season 2 – Lesson 01 – Coffee Break French
In this episode, we move on from looking at particular words and phrases to constructing the language so you can say exactly what you want to say. We start by taking a look at how to conjugate regular...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 02 – Coffee Break French
In this episode, we continue to look at ER verbs in the present tense by talking about our daily routines. Please note that lesson 02 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 42 of Coffee Break...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 03 – Coffee Break French
In this week’s episode, we take a further look at daily routine, focusing particularly on reflexive verbs. We also look at time in more detail so we can say exactly when we carry out each part of our...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 04 – Coffee Break French
In this week’s lesson, Mark and Anna talk about making arrangements. By looking more closely at the grammar behind the French, we hope you will gain a better overall understanding of the language and...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 05 – Coffee Break French
In this week’s lesson, Mark and Anna talk about the verb aller, meaning ‘to go’ and introduce the concept of irregular verbs in the context of making arrangements and forming questions. By looking more...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 06 – Coffee Break French
In this episode, we check if Anna has done her homework from last week and take a look at the conversations she has come up with. We also look at the present tense of two irregular verbs: avoir and...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 07 – Coffee Break French
In this week’s lesson, Mark puts Anna and our listeners to the test on the verbs we have been looking at in the past few lessons. Please note that lesson 07 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 08 – Coffee Break French
In this episode, we look at a different area of French grammar. We move on from verbs to adjectives and start by talking about colours and nationalities. Anna can’t be here for this lesson but she will...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 09 – Coffee Break French
In this week’s lesson, we look at some adjectives that come before the noun instead of after. We also learn a way to remember which adjectives come before the noun. Please note that lesson 09 of Season...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 10 – Coffee Break French
In this lesson, Mark puts Anna to the test with an identity quiz. Please note that lesson 10 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 50 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 11 – Coffee Break French
In this lesson, we learn how to say ‘going to do something’ in French. This is a useful way of talking about the immediate future. Please note that lesson 11 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 12 – Coffee Break French
In this week’s lesson, we take a look at the negative form of the immediate future tense. We also look at the different ways to say ‘some’ in French, also known as the partitive article. Please note...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 13 – Coffee Break French
In this lesson, we introduce the perfect tense of regular -er verbs. Please note that lesson 13 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 53 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 14 – Coffee Break French
In this week’s lesson we continue looking at the perfect tense, this time using regular -re and -ir verbs. We also think about the different uses of the perfect tense. Please note that lesson 14 of...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 15 – Coffee Break French
In this week’s lesson, we take a look at some verbs which have irregular past participles and are therefore irregular in the perfect tense. Please note that lesson 15 of Season 2 was originally known...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 16 – Coffee Break French
In this week’s lesson we look at two verbs which take être as their auxiliary verb in the perfect tense, instead of avoir. Please note that lesson 16 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 56 of...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 17- Coffee Break French
In this lesson, we look at the other verbs that take être as their auxiliary verb in the perfect tense and we consider a way to remember them. Please note that lesson 17 of Season 2 was originally...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 18 – Coffee Break French
In this week’s lesson, we take our knowledge of the perfect tense a stage further by looking at reflexive verbs. Please note that lesson 18 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 58 of Coffee Break...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 19 – Coffee Break French
This week we look at demonstrative adjectives: different ways of saying “this”, “these”, “that” and “those”. We will also have the chance to practise the perfect tense. Please note that lesson 19 of...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 20 – Coffee Break French
In this lesson, we check whether Anna has done her homework by taking a look at her diary entry using avoir verbs, être verbs and reflexive verbs. In doing so, we review everything we have covered in...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 21 – Coffee Break French
Lesson 21 marks the beginning of Level 2b of Coffee Break French. In this week’s lesson we look at two tiny pronouns which can cause some confusion for French learners: y and en. Please note that...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 22 – Coffee Break French
In this week’s lesson we look at another tense used to talk about the past: the imperfect tense. We learn how to construct it and look at one of the situations in which the imperfect is used. Please...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 23 – Coffee Break French
In Lesson 23 we take a further look at the imperfect tense, this time looking at the formation of -re and -ir verbs. We also consider some verbs with slightly different patterns and the only verb with...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 24 – Coffee Break French
In this lesson you’ll find out exactly why Prince Philip changes his wig frequently… or at least when the imperfect tense is used in French! Please note that lesson 24 of Season 2 was originally known...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 25 – Coffee Break French
In this lesson 25 you’ll solve the mystery of qui or que. Please note that lesson 25 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 65 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 26 – Coffee Break French
In this lesson we’re covering two constructions which will help to increase your range of expression: venir de faire quelque chose (to have just done something) and avant de faire quelque chose (before...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 27 – Coffee Break French
In this week’s lesson we’re building on the verbal constructions we’ve been learning over the past few weeks and introducing the phrase après avoir fait quelque chose. This lesson also explains what...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 28 – Coffee Break French
It’s time to put the language we’ve been learning into practice and return to some transactional situations, this time equipped with a thorough understanding of how the language works. In this week’s...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 29 – Coffee Break French
This week’s Coffee Break French deals with hiring a car in a French-speaking area. Like our last episode, this lesson focuses on using the language we’ve been working on recently in a practical...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 30 – Coffee Break French
In this 30th episode of Coffee Break French, Mark and Anna look at one activity which learners traditionally find difficult in a foreign language: using the telephone. Please note that lesson 30 of...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 31 – Coffee Break French
One of the main things learners seem to be finding difficult is the idea of making conversation with people. It’s easy enough to order a coffee, or book into a hotel, and saying the words and phrases...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 32 – Coffee Break French
In episode 32 of Coffee Break French we’ll hear the next instalment of the conversation between David, Christina and Jean-Jacques. Please note that lesson 32 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 33 – Coffee Break French
In this episode of Coffee Break French our conversation between David, Christina and Jean-Jacques continues, and they are joined by Jean-Jacques’ wife, Sophie. Topics covered include the use of ça vous...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 34 – Coffee Break French
In this week’s episode of Coffee Break French David and Christina decide to join Jean-Jacques and Sophie for dinner in the latest instalment of our ‘radio play’. Topics covered include a review of...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 35 – Coffee Break French
Our radio play continues in this week’s lesson as David and Christina get to know Jean-Jacques and Sophie a bit more. They talk about their children and pets, and about the food they’re going to order....
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 36 – Coffee Break French
In this lesson of Coffee Break French, our radio play continues. Sometimes it’s difficult to know when to use tu and when to use vous when speaking to people in French. In this lesson, Jean-Jacques...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 37 – Coffee Break French
In lesson 37 our radio play continues and Sophie, Jean-Jacques, David and Christina are talking about what they will be doing in the coming days. We’ll therefore be taking a look at the future tense....
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 38 – Coffee Break French
In the 38th episode of the course, we continue our radio play featuring David and Christina who are having dinner with their new friends Sophie and Jean-Jacques. This lesson introduces the pluperfect...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 39 – Coffee Break French
After an enjoyable meal our two couples are about to enjoy a coffee and un petit digeo. The conversation continues between David, Christina, Sophie and Jean-Jacques in this penultimate episode of the...
View ArticleSeason 2 – Lesson 40 – Coffee Break French
We’ve arrived at the final episode in our series of Coffee Break French. In lesson 40, we reach the end of the meal in which our friends Christina, David, Sophie and Jean-Jaques have been getting to...
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