Coffee Break Italian

Un Palio... affollato! - Coffee Break Italian Travel Diaries Episode 5

03 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to the Coffee Break Italian Travel Diaries! Find out what Giulia and Paolo get up to when they finally reach Siena in this week's episode...

Un piacevole imprevisto - Coffee Break Italian Travel Diaries Episode 4

26 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Join Giulia and Paolo in the latest episode of the Coffee Break Italian Travel Diaries as they venture through the beautiful area of Tuscany. This wee...

Firenze, bellezza infinita - Coffee Break Italian Travel Diaries Episode 3

19 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to the Coffee Break Italian Travel Diaries! This week, Giulia and Paolo take the train from Lucca to Florence and experience some new adv...

Sosta per le vie di Lucca - Coffee Break Italian Travel Diaries Episode 2

12 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In our second episode of the Coffee Break Italian Travel Diaries, join Giulia and Paolo as they travel on towards Lucca. We'll accompany them for some...

Prima tappa: Pisa! Coffee Break Italian Travel Diaries Episode 1

05 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to this brand new series from Coffee Break Italian for intermediate learners. While it's not so easy to travel right now, why not do some virt...

CBI Mag 1.10 | Adesso pedala!

04 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Often described as "the other Italian national pastime" (in addition to il calcio, football) cycling is huge in Italy. In this final episode of this s...

CBI Mag 1.09 | La Ricetta di Francesca

21 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

By the time you've listened to this episode you'll have l'acquolina in bocca - your mouth will be watering! Francesca shares a recipe for the rice dis...

CBI Mag 1.08 | A Carnevale ogni scherzo vale

07 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of the Coffee Break Magazine we're heading to the north of Italy to the town of Ivrea, known for its peculiar way of celebrating Carne...

CBI Mag 1.07 | Amore per il passato...

23 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

... e tanta voglia di futuro. The city of Matera in the Basilicata region of Italy celebrates an incredibly rich heritage, with the word famous Sassi,...

CBI Mag 1.06 | Ti viene voglia di ballare?

09 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It's time for a new episode of the Coffee Break Italian Magazine and in this episode Francesca and Mark talk about their summer breaks and where they ...

CBI Mag 1.05 | Cuciniamo le orecchiette

01 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We're heading to the kitchen for this episode and learning about the popular pasta dish, le orecchiette. Mark and Francesca also discuss their recent ...

CBI Mag 1.04 | Leggiamo un po'

17 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Francesca and Mark discuss one of Italy's most famous authors, Italo Calvino. Calvino's work can be read on many levels, and as a resu...

CBI Mag 1.03 | La Comunità Walser

03 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In episode 3 of the Coffee Break Italian Magazine we're heading to the north of Italy to find out more about the Walser Community. In addition we'll b...

CBI Mag 1.02 | Il Gargano - la Perla della Puglia

20 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we're heading south to the region of Puglia and, more specifically, to the area known as Il Gargano. Known for its crystalline waters ...

CBI Mag 1.01 | La Bocca della Verità

06 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The Coffee Break Italian team is back with a new series, the Coffee Break Italian Magazine. In each episode of this 10-lesson season for intermediate ...

CBI 2.40 | Ognuno vivrà l'estate che aveva sognato

28 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

And so our series, and our soap opera, reach their conclusion and we're delighted to bring you episode 40 of Coffee Break Italian Season 2. In this ep...

CBI 2.39 | Che scenetta romantica...

14 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In the previous instalment of La Mia Estate which featured in episode 38 of Coffee Break Italian, we left our characters at a dramatic ...

CBI 2.38 | Adesso esprimi un desiderio!

17 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Coffee Break Italian, the big day has arrived, La Notte di San Lorenzo. Mia, Anna and Giorgio are full of expectations for the roma...

CBI 2.37 | Chissà quali sorprese ci regaleranno le stelle!

03 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In the latest lesson of Coffee Break Italian, it's the day of preparation for the famous Notte di San Lorenzo, and it's all hands on deck at the camps...

CBI 2.36 | La Mia Estate ep6 - Incredibile, sembrano due piccioncini!

19 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In the latest lesson of Coffee Break Italian we're listening to episode 6 of our soap opera, La Mia Estate. Riccardo and Maria seem to be getting...

CBI 2.35 | La Mia Estate ep5 - Perché non ci diamo del tu?

05 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

It's time for a new episode of Coffee Break Italian, and the latest episode of our soap opera, La Mia Estate. In this instalment Riccardo and Maria ar...

CBI 2.34 | La Mia Estate ep4 - Dobbiamo escogitare un piano!

22 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode of Coffee Break Italian, join Francesca and Mark for the fourth instalment of our Italian soap opera, La Mia Estate. Preparatio...

CBI 2.33 | La Mia Estate ep3 - Accipicchia! Che sbadato...

08 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In lesson 33 of Coffee Break Italian Season 2 you'll hear the latest instalment of our Italian soap opera, La Mia Estate. Mia is now fully involv...

CBI 2.32 | La Mia Estate ep2 - Sognare non costa niente!

24 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In lesson 32 of Coffee Break Italian Season 2 you'll listen to the second instalment in our Italian soap opera, La Mia Estate. Mia and her father are ...

CBI 2.31 | La Mia Estate ep1 - Facciamo le Valigie!

10 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We're back with another lesson of Coffee Break Italian, and in lesson 31 we're presenting the first episode of our Italian soap opera, La Mia Estate. ...

CBI 2.30 | Review episode

22 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This episode of Coffee Break Italian is a review episode, covering many of the topics discussed in lessons 1-29. With Francesca, Isla and Mark you'll ...

CBI 2.29 | Ho molti amici molto simpatici

12 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

It's time to take a detailed look at a topic which, on the surface, can seem straightforward, but when you get into it in more detail it can get a bit...

CBI 2.28 | Dopo aver fatto colazione, vado al lavoro

23 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Coffee Break Italian we're looking at two constructions which will help you increase your range of expression easily and effectivel...

CBI 2.27 | Fra 10 minuti dobbiamo essere da tuo zio!

10 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We're back with the second instalment of our two-part preposition marathon. In this episode you'll learn all you need to know about the prepositions&n...

CBI 2.26 | Preferisci andare in palestra o a teatro?

27 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This is the first of our two-part preposition marathon! In this episode you'll learn all you need to know about the prepositions a, in ...

CBI 2.25 | Chi è quella persona che lavora in biblioteca?

12 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode you'll learn everything you need to know about asking questions in Italian. We'll cover come, dove, quando, chi, perché, quale, ...

CBI 2.24 | Chi va a Roma perde la poltrona

27 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Coffee Break Italian is the show which helps you learn Italian. Mark and Francesca are the teachers who teach Isla in Season 2. This is the episode in...

CBI 2.23 | Cosa facevi quando ti ho telefonato?

12 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this lesson we're focusing on combining the Perfect and the Imperfect which together allow us to tell stories in the past. You'll consolidate what ...

CBI 2.22 | Preparavo la cena quando Luca è arrivato

29 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We've now learned both the Perfect Tense and the Imperfect Tense in Italian, but when do you use which tense? In this episode of Coffee B...

CBI 2.21 | C'era molta gente e non faceva troppo freddo

15 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this lesson we're focusing on a new tense, the imperfect, which is used for descriptions and to talk about repeated actions in the past. It's a ver...

CBI 2.20 | Non ha mai provato la pizza napoletana!

20 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this lesson you'll learn to use four very useful adverbs: mai (ever), già (already), appena (just) and ancora (still/yet) to talk about what you'v...

CBI 2.19 | Ti è piaciuta la pastiera?

07 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we're looking at how you say you liked something in the past using the verb piacere. This verb is conjugated with essere and you have ...

CBI 2.18 | A che ora sono arrivati?

23 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

So far we've been learning how to talk in the past by using the Perfect Tense with avere. In this lesson we'll be learning about a specific group...

CBI 2.17 | Abbiamo visto tutto

11 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Coffee Break Italian, we're continuing to learn about the Perfect Tense, this time focusing on verbs which have irregular past part...

CBI 2.16 | Abbiamo imparato molto!

12 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

It's time to think about the past. We've already seen examples of the Perfect Tense, one of the main Italian tenses used to talk about what happened i...

CBI 2.15 | Adoro il calcio - ci penso giorno e notte

28 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this lesson we're continuing our study of "ne" and introducing a new pronoun, "ci". Both of these words are small, but exceptionally useful, and yo...

CBI 2.14 | Abbiamo delle belle mele rosse

14 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this lesson we'll be looking at the partitive article - the technical name for how to translate "some" in Italian. We're using the context of buyin...

CBI 2.13 | Questo libro è in italiano, ma quello è in francese

03 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this lesson you'll learn to use the demonstrative adjectives questo and quello, meaning "this" and "that". You'll also learn to use the demonstrati...

CBI 2.12 | Che belle scarpe e che bell'orologio!

17 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Paying compliments is a key part of Italian culture and society, and in this lesson of Coffee Break Italian you'll learn to compliment native speakers...

CBI 2.11 | I pantaloni blu sono molto eleganti!

03 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Coffee Break Italian you'll be learning about Italian adjectives and how they agree in gender and number with the noun they describ...

CBI 2.10 | Esci stasera? Vengo anch'io!

12 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this lesson you'll learn to conjugate and use three very common -ire verbs which are irregular: venire (to come), uscire (to go out) and dire (to s...

CBI 2.09 | Sai che vado a Londra domani?

29 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this lesson we'll be taking a look at four common irregular verbs which end in -ere: bere (to drink), tenere (to hold/keep), sapere (to know) and c...

CBI 2.08 | Hai bisogno di aiuto?

17 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode you'll learn to use avere and essere, two of the most important Italian verbs. In addition to the normal uses you'll also learn to use...

CBI 2.07 | Faccio colazione, e poi vado in spiaggia perché fa bello!

03 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This lesson focuses on two very important irregular verbs, andare ("to go") and fare which means "to do" or "to make", but is used in many other expre...

CBI 2.06 | Cosa facciamo stasera?

18 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this lesson you'll consolidate what you already know about regular -are, -ere and -ire verbs and you'll also review reflexive verbs. One of the mos...

CBI 2.05 | Mario pulisce la casa

03 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this lesson you'll master verbs in the 3rd conjugation - those ending in -ire. There are two groups of these verbs: ones which form their endings a...

CBI 2.04 | Dipingo a modo mio ...

20 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this lesson you'll master regular verbs in the second conjugation, those ending in -ere. You'll have met a few of these verbs before, but this epis...

CBI 2.03 | A che ora ti alzi? Talking about your daily routine

06 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This episode of Coffee Break Italian will help you talk about the things you do on a regular basis, including aspects of your daily routine. Francesca...

CBI 2.02 | Che cosa fai al fine settimana? Talking about the weekend.

20 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In lesson 2 of Coffee Break Italian Season 2 you'll further your knowledge of -are verbs within the context of talking about what you do at the weeken...

CBI 2.01 | Ricominciamo! Using Italian -are verbs

06 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In lesson 1 of Coffee Break Italian Season 2 you'll take the first steps in learning to manipulate the language and say what you want to say! Lesson 1...

Introducing Coffee Break Italian Season 2

02 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Siamo tornati! We're back with a new season of Coffee Break Italian and in this short preview episode Mark and Francesca will be telling you what you ...

CBI 1:40 | Abbiamo imparato molto!

11 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

It’s time for the final episode of Coffee Break Italian in this season, and the team is back in the studio reflecting on what they’ve done in Ital...

CBI 1:39 | Ho l’acquolina in bocca!

04 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

In this week’s episode, we’re joined by a special guest: la mamma di Francesca! Katie is drafted in to help make the tiramisù and Mark is on hand...

CBI 1:38 | La mia amica non si sente molto bene

20 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Hopefully you’ll not have to visit the doctor or the pharmacy while you’re in Italy, but in case you do, this lesson will help you prepare! Katie ...

CBI 1:37 | Ho qualche domanda…

13 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

When you’re travelling, one of the most common situations encountered is that you need to ask for information. In this episode of Coffee Break Itali...

CBI 1:36 | Cercate qualcosa in particolare?

06 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Mark is buying “delle cartoline” and Katie and Francesca are shopping for clothes. Join them and practise your language skills and...

CBI 1:35 | Avete bisogno di informazioni?

23 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Join Mark and Katie as they visit the town of Stresa on Lake Maggiore. In order to find out about the town they head straight to the tourist informati...

CBI 1:34: | Fate colazione?

16 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode of Coffee Break Italian, Mark and Katie have breakfast in their hotel and get chatting to one of the other guests. This lesson ...

CBI 1:33 | Ho una prenotazione

09 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Having arrived in Italy and found her way to the town of Orta, Katie checks into the hotel and in this episode we listen in on the conversation she ha...

CBI 1:32 | C’è un autobus per Stresa?

02 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Katie takes up the sfida (challenge) set by Francesca and speaks to a lady in the information office at the airport to ask about trans...

CBI 1:31 | Arriviamo in Italia!

25 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

We’re back with another episode of Coffee Break Italian, and it’s time to put Katie’s Italian to the test. Mark and Katie have travelled to Ital...

CBI 1:30 | Talking about clothes in Italian

22 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

In the latest episode of Coffee Break Italian you’ll be learning to talk about clothes and taking your ability to describe people a bit further. Fra...

CBI 1:29 | Describing people in Italian

14 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Coffee Break Italian you’ll be learning how to describe people in Italian and use adjectives in their different forms. We even ha...

CBI 1:28 | Talking about likes and dislikes in Italian

09 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

In lesson 28 of our course you’ll learn how to talk more about your job. You’ll also learn to talk about what you like doing – and what you don’...

CBI 1:27 | Talking about your job in Italian

30 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

In our latest lesson of Coffee Break Italian you’ll learn to talk about your job, to say what you do, where you work and whether or not you like you...

CBI 1:26 | Talking about yourself in Italian

23 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

In lesson 26 of Coffee Break Italian you’ll be joining the team to learn more about informal telephone conversations and how to talk about yourself ...

CBI 1:25 | Using the phone in Italian

09 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

In the latest episode of Coffee Break Italian you’ll be learning the important skill of using the phone in Italian and in the Caffè Culturale, Fran...

CBI 1:24 | Spelling in Italian and an introduction to verbs

02 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Coffee Break Italian you’ll learn more about the patterns of the language and how to form verbs in Italian. We look at the presen...

CBI 1:23 | Visiting the doctor’s or pharmacy in Italian

26 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

It’s time to continue our topic of aches and pains as we take our next steps in Italian with Coffee Break Italian. In this episode you’ll learn to...

CBI 1:22 | Talking about aches and pains in Italian

19 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Hopefully this won’t happen to you while you’re travelling in Italy, but sometimes we have to visit the doctor or a pharmacy and explain our aches...

CBI 1-21 | Talking about the weather in Italian

12 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Bentornati! We’re back with another lesson of Coffee Break Italian. If there’s one topic which everyone loves talking about, it has to be the weat...

CBI 1-20B | Top-up episode

08 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

In this special “top-up” episode of Coffee Break Italian, Mark will test you on some of the words and phrases you’ve learned so far in the serie...

CBI 1-20 | Buying train tickets and Review

06 Jul 2015

Contributed by Lukas

In lesson 20 of Coffee Break Italian you’ll continue to learn useful words and phrases to deal with buying tickets for public transport. You’ll al...

CBI 1-19 | Using public transport in Italian

29 Jun 2015

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode of Coffee Break Italian you’ll learn to use Italian in the context of taking public transport and understanding train and bus...

CBI 1-18 | Asking for directions in Italian

22 Jun 2015

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Coffee Break Italian you’ll learn more ways to ask questions and understand information. We cover opening and closing times and c...

CBI 1-17 | Asking for information in Italian

15 Jun 2015

Contributed by Lukas

In lesson 17 of Coffee Break Italian, you’ll learn to construct a number of phrases which will be useful for a shopping trip in Italy. You’ll buil...

CBI 1-16 | Shopping in Italian

08 Jun 2015

Contributed by Lukas

In this latest episode of Coffee Break Italian we’re heading to the “negozio” – the shop – to learn how to go shopping in Italian. You’ll ...

CBI 1-15 | Counting in Italian

01 Jun 2015

Contributed by Lukas

One thing which is vital when you’re learning a language is being able to count and deal with numbers in many situations including paying for things...

CBI 1-14 | Booking into a hotel in Italian

25 May 2015

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode you’ll take what you’ve learned so far about ordering food a step further. You’ll learn to deal with dietary requirements and ot...

CBI 1-13 | Visiting an Italian restaurant

11 May 2015

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode you’ll take what you’ve learned so far about ordering food a step further. You’ll learn to deal with dietary requirements and ot...

CBI 1-12 | Ordering food in Italian

04 May 2015

Contributed by Lukas

In this lesson of Coffee Break Italian you’ll learn how to talk about food in Italian. You’ll also learn more about how to use the indefinite arti...

CBI 1-11 | Ordering drinks in Italian

27 Apr 2015

Contributed by Lukas

It’s time for a new lesson of Italian. Join teacher Mark, learner Katie and native speaker Francesca in lesson 11 in our series and learn to order d...

CBI 1-10B | Coffee Break Italian Competition

10 Apr 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Salve a tutti! It’s time to put into practice what you’ve learned so far in Coffee Break Italian – and you can win a fantastic prize by doing so...

CBI 1-10 | Lessons 1-10 Review

31 Mar 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Join native speaker Francesca, learner Katie and teacher Mark in this latest lesson of our series for beginners in Italian. It’s time to test your u...

CBI 1-09 | Language problems and talking about which languages you speak

25 Mar 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Join native speaker Francesca, learner Katie and teacher Mark in this latest lesson of our series for beginners in Italian. In this episode we’...

CBI 1-08 | Talking about what there is to do in the town in Italian

17 Mar 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Join native speaker Francesca, learner Katie and teacher Mark in this latest lesson of our series for beginners in Italian. In this lesson we’re lea...

CBI 1-07 | Asking for directions in Italian

10 Mar 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Join native speaker Francesca, learner Katie and teacher Mark in this latest lesson of our series for beginners in Italian. In this lesson you’ll le...

CBI 1-06 | More about family, counting and phone numbers in Italian

02 Mar 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Join native speaker Francesca, learner Katie and teacher Mark in this latest lesson of our series for beginners in Italian. In this lesson you’ll le...

CBI 1-05 | Talking about your family in Italian

23 Feb 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Join teacher Mark, learner Katie and native speaker Francesca in the latest lesson of our series for beginners in Italian. In this lesson you’ll lea...

CBI 1-04 | Talking about where you live in Italian

16 Feb 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Take your first steps in learning Italian with teacher Mark, learner Katie and native speaker Francesca. In this lesson you’ll learn to say where yo...

CBI 1-03 | Talking about where you come from in Italian

09 Feb 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Join teacher Mark, learner Katie and native speaker Francesca in this third lesson of Coffee Break Italian. In this lesson you’ll learn to say where...

CBI 1-02 | Greetings in Italian

02 Feb 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Join Mark, Katie and Francesca in the latest lesson of Coffee Break Italian. In this lesson you’ll learn to greet people at different times of the d...

CBI 1-01 | Saying ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’ in Italian

26 Jan 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Take your first steps in learning Italian with teacher Mark, learner Katie and native speaker Francesca. In this lesson you’ll learn to say “hello...

CBI 1-00 | Introductory Episode

25 Jan 2015

Contributed by Lukas

If you can learn how to pronounce spaghetti, tagliatelle and bruschetta properly in Italian, you’ll have no bother with the 40 episodes of our first...