Coffee Break Spanish

Season 3 – Lesson 35 – Coffee Break Spanish

21 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In this week’s show we’re returning to our telenovela, Verano Español. It’s the morning after the night before when Ángel arrived drunk at Ion...

Season 3 – Lesson 34 – Coffee Break Spanish

13 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

We’re back with another episode of Coffee Break Spanish! We’re staying in Mexico in episode 34 as Mark and Juan discuss some of the interesting as...

Season 3 – Lesson 33 – Coffee Break Spanish

06 Dec 2011

Contributed by Lukas

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 attr...

Season 3 – Lesson 32 – Coffee Break Spanish

22 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In lesson 32 we’re still concentrating on Colombian Spanish, and Mark and Carolina discuss the music and literature of Colombia, and typical Colombi...

Season 3 – Lesson 31 – Coffee Break Spanish

16 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

It’s destination Colombia for lesson 31 as Mark is joined by Carolina from Bogotá. Carolina introduces Mark to the geography and traditions of Colo...

Season 3 – Lesson 30 – Coffee Break Spanish

08 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Season 3 – Lesson 29 – Coffee Break Spanish

01 Nov 2011

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Season 3 – Lesson 28 – Coffee Break Spanish

25 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

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 restaur...

Radio Lingua is 5 years old – and we’re celebrating!

18 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

It’s five years since we launched the first lesson of Coffee Break Spanish, and since then we’ve served up millions of language lessons to learner...

Season 3 – Lesson 27 – Coffee Break Spanish

18 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

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 languag...

Season 3 – Lesson 26 – Coffee Break Spanish

11 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

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 wi...

Season 3 – Lesson 25 – Coffee Break Spanish

04 Oct 2011

Contributed by Lukas

This episode of Coffee Break Spanish features the fifth instalment of our telenovela, Verano Español. At the end of the previous episode, Laura disco...

Season 3 – Lesson 24 – Coffee Break Spanish

27 Sep 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Following our recent musical episodes, listeners have been asking us for some suggestions of Spanish-language singers and groups. In episode 24 we’v...

Season 3 – Lesson 23 – Coffee Break Spanish

20 Sep 2011

Contributed by Lukas

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 co...

Season 3 – Lesson 22 – Coffee Break Spanish

13 Sep 2011

Contributed by Lukas

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 c...

Season 3 – Lesson 21 – Coffee Break Spanish

06 Sep 2011

Contributed by Lukas

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 travell...

Season 3 – Lesson 20 – Coffee Break Spanish

12 Aug 2011

Contributed by Lukas

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 spen...

Season 3 – Lesson 19 – Coffee Break Spanish

09 Aug 2011

Contributed by Lukas

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&...

Season 3 – Lesson 18 – Coffee Break Spanish

05 Aug 2011

Contributed by Lukas

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 exp...

Season 3 – Lesson 17 – Coffee Break Spanish

02 Aug 2011

Contributed by Lukas

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’...

Season 3 – Lesson 16 – Coffee Break Spanish

29 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Episode 16 features a conversation between Alba and Mark about what they’ve been doing since they last saw each other. Grammar points covered includ...

Season 3 – Lesson 15 – Coffee Break Spanish

26 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Season 3 – Lesson 14 – Coffee Break Spanish

22 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In episode 14, Mark and Alba are joined by David, el novio de Alba. Topics discussed include Galicia (the region of Spain where David is from), St Val...

Season 3 – Lesson 13 – Coffee Break Spanish

19 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In episode 13, Mark and Alba discuss social networks including Facebook and Twitter and their value for language-learning. In addition, in this week’...

Season 3 – Lesson 12 – Coffee Break Spanish

15 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In episode 12, Mark and Alba get all poetic as they celebrate the 250th anniversary of el poeta nacional de Escocia, Robert Burns. Alba learns some Sc...

Season 3 – Lesson 11 – Coffee Break Spanish

12 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In episode 11, Mark and Alba talk about the holidays and about their New Year’s Resolutions. Alba presents a review of the film La Lengua de las Mar...

Season 3 – Lesson 10 – Coffee Break Spanish

09 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

It’s time for our second installment of the Coffee Break Spanish telenovela, Verano Español. Laura and her mother have just arrived in Spain to spe...

Season 3 – Lesson 09 – Coffee Break Spanish

05 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In this 9th episode of Coffee Break Spanish Season 3, Mark and Alba discuss Christmas traditions in Spain. José introduces a couple of phrases which ...

Season 3 – Lesson 08 – Coffee Break Spanish

01 Jul 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In episode 8, Alba and Mark discuss smoking laws in different countries. Language points covered include the future perfect tense, eg. “I will have ...

Season 3 – Lesson 07 – Coffee Break Spanish

28 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In this week’s episode, Mark and Alba talk about the different seasons of the year and about their own favourite times of year. This episode provide...

Season 3 – Lesson 06 – Coffee Break Spanish

24 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In episode 6 of Coffee Break Spanish Season 3, Mark and Alba discuss their recent visits to Edinburgh and will entertain you with some singing! José ...

Season 3 – Lesson 05 – Coffee Break Spanish

21 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In episode 5 we launch our very own Spanish soap opera, Verano Español, which tells the story of Spanish dad, Antonio, Scottish mum Iona, and bilingu...

Season 3 – Lesson 04 – Coffee Break Spanish

17 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In this fourth episode of Coffee Break Spanish Season 3, Mark has just returned from a week in London and he discusses the advantages and disadvantage...

Season 3 – Lesson 03 – Coffee Break Spanish

14 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

This lesson was originally released in October, so in lesson 3 of Show Time Spanish, Alba tells Mark about a Halloween party she attended. They discus...

Season 3 – Lesson 02 – Coffee Break Spanish

10 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In our second episode of this series, Mark and Alba talk about languages and their own language skills. In the intermedio, José provides two phrases ...

Season 3 – Lesson 01 – Coffee Break Spanish

07 Jun 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to this first episode of Coffee Break Spanish Season 3! In this first episode of the series you’ll get to know our two main presenters, Mark...

CBS 2.40 | More subjunctives and saying good bye

02 May 2011

Contributed by Lukas

It’s the end of an era: the final episode of Coffee Break Spanish Season 2. It’s time for las despedidas, the goodbyes. Andrew will be returning t...

CBS 2.39 | When to use the subjunctive

25 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

It’s the penultimate episode of this season of Coffee Break Spanish and we continue to follow the adventures of María-José and Andrew as they come...

CBS 2.38 | Introduction to the subjunctive in a tapas bar

17 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

This week María-José and Andrew discuss their plans for the following week when Andrew’s friend arrives in Spain and María-José will be attendin...

CBS 2.37 | Review of tenses

05 Apr 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode María-José tells Andrew about her visits to the Canary Islands. She uses lots of examples of the imperfect tense to describe what sh...

CBS 2.36 | Continuous tenses

04 Mar 2011

Contributed by Lukas

We’re returning to another episode featuring María-José and Andrew this week in which María-José will ask the question ¿Qué estás haciendo? ,...

CBS 2.35 | The imperative

26 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

We’re continuing our soap opera featuring María-José and Andrew and in this week’s episode Andrew needs some help with an assignment for his Spa...

CBS 2.34 | Conditional tense in a café setting

15 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In lesson 34 we’re continuing our ‘soap opera’. This week María-José is taking her friend to a restaurant, so we’ll be revisiting the langua...

CBS 2.33 | Talking about birthdays

11 Feb 2011

Contributed by Lukas

In lesson 33 we continue to follow the story of Andrew and his Spanish friend María-José. In this episode we’ll be introducing the future tense an...

CBS 2.32 | Review of the weather and other language

24 Jan 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Lesson 32 continues the story of Andrew and María-José and their blossoming friendship! María-José has been on vacation in France. The main topic ...

CBS 2.31 | Getting to know someone in Spain

17 Jan 2011

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome back to our Coffee Break Spanish listeners!. In lessons 31-40 you’ll be following a mini soap-opera featuring English student Andrew who is ...

CBS 2.30 | Making a phone call in Spanish

30 Dec 2010

Contributed by Lukas

In lesson 30 of Coffee Break Spanish we’re dealing with one of the trickiest things to do in a foreign language: make telephone calls. When you can’...

CBS 2.29 | Hiring a car

23 Dec 2010

Contributed by Lukas

In the long-awaited 29th lesson of Coffee Break Spanish we look at tips to help you pronounce double -r- in Spanish and we build more language in the ...

CBS 2.28 | Travelling by taxi

22 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

In lesson 28 we’ll be continuing to create phrases in the language based on the knowledge of grammar we’ve acquired in recent lessons. This week w...

CBS 2.27 | Travelling by public transport

15 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Over the past few months we’ve been focusing on learning the patterns of the language. In lessons 27-30 we’re going to be constructing phrases wit...

CBS 2.26 | More on the perfect tense

08 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

One of the best ways to make progress in a language is to use the language with native speakers and to check your understanding by asking them for fee...

CBS 2.25 | When to use the perfect tense and irregular verbs

01 Nov 2010

Contributed by Lukas

In lesson 25 of Coffee Break Spanish Season 2 we’re continuing to look at the perfect tense. In this lesson you’ll learn about particular uses of ...

CBS 2.24 | Introducing the perfect tense

11 Oct 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Lesson 24 introduces a new tense: the perfect tense. This tense is used to talk about what you 'have done' and is very simple to use.Please note that ...

CBS 2.23 | Various uses of por

08 Oct 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Over lessons 21-23 we’ve been looking at por and para. In lesson 23 it’s time to look at the various uses of por, including a number of situa...

CBS 2.22 | Expressing purpose using para

04 Oct 2010

Contributed by Lukas

In lesson 22 we’re continuing to discuss por and para: this time we’re focusing on the use of para when expressing purpose, e.g. "this gift is for...

CBS 2.21 | Using "for" in Spanish

01 Sep 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Lessons 21-23 will look at the thorny issue of por and para: by the end of these three lessons you’ll be confident in knowing exactly when to use wh...

CBS 2.20 | End-of-unit test

16 Aug 2010

Contributed by Lukas

In this week’s episode we reach episode 20 and Mark will be testing Kara on everything she’s learned so far about verbs and adjectives in the past...

CBS 2.19 | Describing the past

06 Aug 2010

Contributed by Lukas

This week we’re continuing to look at the imperfect tense. We’ll go through the conjugation of -ar, -er and -ir verbs and talk about how the imper...

CBS 2.18 | Talking more about the past - the imperfect tense

27 Jul 2010

Contributed by Lukas

In this week’s lesson we introduce the imperfect tense and consider in what situations this tense is used. We’ll also learn the conjugation of -ar...

CBS 2.17 | Identity quiz

20 Jul 2010

Contributed by Lukas

It’s time to put into practice what you’ve been learning about the preterite tense. In this week’s episode Mark challenges Kara to an identity q...

CBS 2.16 | Spelling changes in the preterite tense

12 Jul 2010

Contributed by Lukas

More preterite tenses this week: it’s now time to look at reflexive verbs and verbs which have spelling changes ('radical-changing verbs') in the pr...

CBS 2.15 | Preterite tense of irregular verbs

05 Jul 2010

Contributed by Lukas

We’ll be continuing our study of the preterite tense in this week’s lesson and it’s time to take a look at some irregular verbs: hacer, ir, ver ...

CBS 2.14 | Preterite tense of -ir and -ar verbs

30 Jun 2010

Contributed by Lukas

This week’s episode of Coffee Break Spanish looks further at the preterite tense which is used to relate events in the past. Listeners should be awa...

CBS 2.13 | Introducing the preterite tense

21 Jun 2010

Contributed by Lukas

In episode 13 of Coffee Break Spanish we introduce the preterite tense which is used to talk about things in the past. Please note that lesson 13 of S...

CBS 2.12 | Review of present tense verbs

08 Jun 2010

Contributed by Lukas

In episode 12 of Coffee Break Spanish Season 2 we’ll review all the verbs which we’ve been learning over the past few months. Please note that les...

CBS 2.11 | Talking about the future

11 May 2010

Contributed by Lukas

In episode 11 of Coffee Break Spanish Season 2 we learn how to say what you’re going to do in the future. In Spanish you use the verb ir combined wi...

CBS 2.10 | End-of-unit language quiz

05 Apr 2010

Contributed by Lukas

In episode 10 of Coffee Break Spanish Season 2 we’re putting what we’ve learned in recent weeks about descriptions to the test with an identity ga...

CBS 2.09 | Describing people

25 Mar 2010

Contributed by Lukas

This week on Coffee Break Spanish we’re taking a further look at adjectives and we’ll be doing more practice using adjectives and making them agre...

CBS 2.08 | Agreement of adjectives

10 Mar 2010

Contributed by Lukas

An easy way of extending your range of language is by using adjectives, and this lesson of Coffee Break Spanish looks at adjectives in detail. In Span...

CBS 2.07 | Radical changing verbs

15 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

In lesson 7 it’s time to take a look at radical changing verbs, verbs which have some regular spelling changes in certain parts of the verb. Once yo...

CBS 2.06 | Using the correct version of the verb "to be"

04 Feb 2010

Contributed by Lukas

In lesson 6 Mark and Kara look at the difference between ser and estar, the two verbs which mean ‘to be’ in Spanish, and a grammar point learners ...

CBS 2.05 | Making more arrangements

27 Jan 2010

Contributed by Lukas

In lesson 5 Mark and Kara look further at making arrangements using the tricky Spanish verb quedar. Please note that lesson 5 of Season 2 was original...

CBS 2.04 | Making arrangements

23 Jan 2010

Contributed by Lukas

In lesson 4 Mark and Kara look at making arrangements and introduce the idea of irregular verbs, using ir (to go) and hacer (to do/make) as examples. ...

CBS 2.03 | Reflexive verbs

17 Jan 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Lesson 3 introduces the concept of reflexive verbs and completes our teaching on talking about your daily routine. Please note that lesson 3 of Season...

CBS 2.02 | More on the present tense

13 Jan 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Lesson 2 continues where we left off last time and looks further at conjugating verbs within the context of daily routine and making arrangements. Ple...

CBS 2.01 | The present tense

10 Jan 2010

Contributed by Lukas

Hello and welcome to another season of Coffee Break Spanish! In level 1 we concentrated on learning useful words and phrases for a whole range of situ...

CBS 1.40 | Learning Languages

21 Dec 2009

Contributed by Lukas

Level 1 of Coffee Break Spanish draws to a close with this episode, which looks at the languages of Spain through two conversations with native speake...

CBS 1.39 | Making progress in Spanish

15 Dec 2009

Contributed by Lukas

In this week’s lesson Mark and Kara talk to Bea, a student they met while recording in Spain. The conversation is the first of two dialogues focusin...

CBS 1.38 | Seeking help at the pharmacy

15 Nov 2009

Contributed by Lukas

In lesson 38, Kara’s not feeling too well, so she and Mark visit a farmacia. Have a listen to the conversation which takes place in the chemist’s....

CBS 1.37 | Public Transport

28 Oct 2009

Contributed by Lukas

In lesson 137 Mark is in the hotel reception asking for directions to a local shopping centre. The conversation will help you practise the language re...

Radio Lingua celebrates 3 years of language-learning

18 Oct 2009

Contributed by Lukas

On 18th October 2006, episode one of a new language-learning podcast called Coffee Break Spanish was released to the world. This show was a bit differ...

CBS 1.36 | Shopping

16 Oct 2009

Contributed by Lukas

After a few weeks of server problems, we’re back with another episode of Coffee Break Spanish recorded in Santiago de la Ribera in eastern Spain. Th...

CBS 1.35 | At the tourist information office

30 Sep 2009

Contributed by Lukas

In lesson 135, Mark and Kara are at the tourist information office asking about what there is to do in Santiago de la Ribera. Please note that lesson ...

CBS 1.34 | Ordering breakfast

19 Sep 2009

Contributed by Lukas

It’s a beautiful morning and Mark and Kara are joined by Kara’s mother and another tourist on the balcony of the hotel for breakfast. Topics cover...

CBS 1.33 | Checking in to a hotel

11 Sep 2009

Contributed by Lukas

In lesson 33 we revisit the language learned in earlier lessons for booking into a hotel. Having arrived in Santiago de la Ribera, Kara takes on the r...

CBS 1.32 | Arriving in Spain

28 Aug 2009

Contributed by Lukas

Mark and Kara have arrived in San Javier airport near Murcia in the east of Spain. In this lesson you’ll listen to a conversation between Mark and t...

CBS 1.31 | On a flight to Spain

15 Aug 2009

Contributed by Lukas

Lessons 31-40 were recorded in Spain and feature conversations with native speakers. These lessons will give listeners the opportunity to put the lang...

CBS 1.30 | At a UEFA Cup Final in Glasgow

23 Jul 2009

Contributed by Lukas

In Lesson 30, Mark and Kara bring you a cultural lesson. You will have the chance to hear some conversations with Spanish football supporters.Please n...

CBS 1.29 | At the pharmacy or doctor

13 Jul 2009

Contributed by Lukas

In Lesson 29, Mark and Kara talk more about aches and pains and cover more useful language for a visit to a Spanish pharmacy, including symptoms and r...

CBS 1.28 | Aches and pains

07 Jul 2009

Contributed by Lukas

This week Mark and Kara look at the language required for a visit to the pharmacy or doctor’s. They learn Spanish words for different parts of the b...

CBS 1.27 | Exchanging currency

26 Jun 2009

Contributed by Lukas

This week Mark and Kara look at dealing with banks and services while travelling. This lesson brings learners to a crucial stage in their language-lea...

CBS 1.26 | At the market in Spain

13 Jun 2009

Contributed by Lukas

In this week’s edition of Coffee Break Spanish, Mark and Kara continue the shopping theme, this time buying food in the market. Please note that les...

CBS 1.25 | Shopping

09 Jun 2009

Contributed by Lukas

In this week’s lesson of Coffee Break Spanish, Mark and Kara head to the shops and Kara learns the language required to try on clothes and buy souve...

CBS 1.24 | The alphabet and staying at a campsite

29 May 2009

Contributed by Lukas

In this week’s lesson of Coffee Break Spanish, Mark and Kara introduce the necessary language for staying on a campsite in a Spanish-speaking countr...

CBS 1.23 | Problems in a hotel

16 May 2009

Contributed by Lukas

In this week’s lesson of Coffee Break Spanish, Mark and Kara continue the topic of hotels. Listeners will learn how to ask for different kinds of ro...

CBS 1.22 | Hotels and accommodation

09 May 2009

Contributed by Lukas

In this week’s lesson of Coffee Break Spanish, Mark and Kara talk about booking into hotels and asking for specific types of rooms. Please note that...

CBS 1.21 | Weather

02 May 2009

Contributed by Lukas

In this week’s lesson of Coffee Break Spanish, Mark and Kara return after a few weeks off. The topic for discussion is the weather, and listeners wi...

CBS 1.20 | Cultural programme in a Spanish restaurant

28 Mar 2009

Contributed by Lukas

In Lesson 20 we visit a Spanish restaurant and order some food. Please note that lesson 20 of Season 1 was originally known as lesson 120 of Coffee Br...

CBS 1.19 | Review of the unit

21 Mar 2009

Contributed by Lukas

In lesson 19 we review everything you've learnt in lessons 11-18. Please note that lesson 19 of Season 1 was originally known as lesson 119 of Co...

CBS 1.18 | Situations in a restaurant

14 Mar 2009

Contributed by Lukas

In lesson 18 you'll learn more useful words and phrases for a visit to a restaurant. Please note that lesson 18 of Season 1 was originally known as le...