Coffee Break French
Education & Explainer
About
Learn French in coffee-break lessons from the Radio Lingua Network. In each lesson we'll focus on the language you need to know and before long you'll be making yourself understood with native French speakers. Season 1 lessons are for absolute beginners, and the courses increase in difficulty as the seasons progress. 386357 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
- Stop translating: 5 English phrases French people say differently
Max explains why literal translation often fails and provides natural French alternatives for five common English phrases, including expressions for coldness, missing someone, and making sense.
- 7 everyday French expressions you won't find in a textbook
Max introduces seven essential French words and expressions frequently used in everyday conversation in France that are not typically taught in textbooks. The episode provides context and examples to help listeners understand the nuances o…
- Scenes Season 2 | Chapter 10: Oui et encore oui
In the final episode of Coffee Break French Season 2, set at Chez Nico, Bastien and Tanguy celebrate their PACS, with friends gathering to toast to their future. The episode also features significant decision-making and the anticipation of…
- Scenes Season 2 | Chapter 9: Casting et cœur brisé ?
In this episode of Coffee Break French, Aurore faces a career decision, Fifi contemplates the future, and Romain shares some celebratory news at the café Chez Nico. The chapter focuses on language learning through storytelling set within t…
- Scenes Season 2 | Chapter 8: Un nouvel uniforme
In this chapter of the Coffee Break French café story, Jérôme begins his work as a postman while Jacques and Dominique discuss the upcoming winter. The episode continues the series' focus on building language skills through immersive story…
- Scenes Season 2 | Chapter 7: Bonnes nouvelles en vue
In this episode of Coffee Break French, Ségolène and Jérôme receive life-changing news at Chez Nico that prompts a celebration. This story-based lesson aims to help listeners improve their French language skills.
- Scenes Season 2 | Chapter 6: Où est passé Milou ?
In this episode of Coffee Break French, the regulars at Chez Nico work together to help Monique search for her missing dog, Milou. This storytelling session is designed to help listeners build their French language skills.
- Scenes Season 2 | Chapter 5: Entretiens, extras et poulets
This episode of Coffee Break French, set in the café Chez Nico, features Romain recounting his job interview and Aurore preparing for increased work responsibilities. Despite a busy atmosphere with more customers than expected, Nico mainta…
- Scenes Season 2 | Chapter 4: Un congé pluvieux
In Coffee Break French's "Scenes Season 2 | Chapter 4: Un congé pluvieux," a story unfolds at Chez Nico café. Clients gather despite rainy weather, forming new friendships over food, though some are not in a good mood.
- Scenes Season 2 | Chapter 3: Un spectacle de haut vol
In Scenes Season 2, Chapter 3, the village empties for an impressive air show while Bastien and Tanguy complete their preparations for a significant event. The story continues at the French café, Chez Nico.
- Scenes Season 2 | Chapter 2: Le mal du pays
Chapter 2 of Scenes Season 2, set in the Chez Nico café, features Ségolène confiding her worries and Jacques and Dominique facing a significant problem. The episode explores emotional themes as the story continues.
- Scenes Season 2 | Chapter 1: Une nouvelle carrière
Coffee Break French returns with Season 2, Chapter 1 set in the café Chez Nico. A regular patron shares exciting news, continuing the immersive language learning experience through storytelling.
- A French Christmas Eve dinner | A Coffee Break with Max
This Coffee Break French lesson explores traditional French Christmas Eve dinner, known as le réveillon de Noël. The episode details dishes like oysters, snails, turkey, cheese, and chocolate Yule log.
- How Christmas markets look and feel in France | A Coffee Break with Max
This Coffee Break French episode describes French Christmas markets, known as 'les marchés de Noël'. Listeners will learn about the typical offerings, including food like roasted chestnuts and mulled wine, and crafts sold in stalls, while…
- The tradition of Saint Nicolas | A Coffee Break with Max
This Coffee Break French mini-lesson explores the tradition of Saint Nicolas, celebrated on December 6th in parts of Europe. Learn about the customs and festive French vocabulary associated with this charming cultural insight.
- Coffee Break French - All You Need To Know
This episode of Coffee Break French discusses the podcast's history since 2007, detailing the French resources released and offering guidance for new learners. Hosts Mark and Max share insights into the show's origins and available learnin…
- Silent but powerful: the French H explained | A Coffee Break with Max
Max from Coffee Break French explains the difference between the silent 'h muet' and the aspirated 'h aspiré' in French pronunciation. The episode clarifies how silent 'h' allows for smooth linking in words like 'l'homme', while aspirated…
- Bonus Episode: Clues Explained - La Grande Chasse au Trésor
This is a bonus episode of the Coffee Break French podcast explaining the clues from "The Great Coffee Break Treasure Hunt".
- Clue #4 (français) | The Great Coffee Break Treasure Hunt 2025
This episode presents the final clue for the Great Coffee Break Treasure Hunt 2025. Participants can test their French language and detective abilities to uncover the final location and submit their entry form for a chance to win a prize.
- Clue #3 (français) | The Great Coffee Break Treasure Hunt 2025
This episode of Coffee Break French presents the third clue in the 2025 virtual treasure hunt across Europe. Listeners can use provided facts to identify the location of checkpoint number three for a chance to win prizes.
- Clue #2 (français) | The Great Coffee Break Treasure Hunt 2025
This episode of the Great Coffee Break Treasure Hunt 2025 reveals the second clue, taking participants closer to the final destination as they virtually tour Europe. More clues will be shared to help solve the mystery and offer a chance to…
- Clue #1 (français) | The Great Coffee Break Treasure Hunt 2025
This episode, Clue #1 (français), launches the Great Coffee Break Treasure Hunt 2025, a virtual hunt across Europe. Listeners will hear the first clue and be guided to practice their French by solving the mystery throughout the series.
- Announcing the Great Coffee Break Treasure Hunt 2025
Coffee Break French announces a new mini-series, the Great Coffee Break Treasure Hunt 2025, starting October 20th. Participants will practice French by solving clues in a virtual treasure hunt across Europe, with a chance to win prizes.
- French weather expressions for daily conversations | A Coffee Break with Hélène
This episode of Coffee Break French focuses on la météo, teaching common expressions for describing the weather. Hélène explains how to ask about the weather and provides idioms for various conditions, such as chilly days and heavy rain.
- The tradition of les vendanges | A Coffee Break with Hélène
This Coffee Break French episode discusses the French tradition of les vendanges, or grape harvest. It covers how vineyards in regions like Bordeaux, Bourgogne, and Champagne prepare for this season and introduces the concept of les vendan…
- Some handy French idioms - 5 expressions with 'main' | A Coffee Break with Max
Max explores five common French idioms that include the word 'main'. The episode provides meanings and examples to help listeners use these phrases confidently.
- Lequel, laquelle, lesquels, lesquelles - Which one to choose? | A Coffee Break with Max
Max explains the usage of French relative pronouns lequel, laquelle, lesquels, and lesquelles using contextual examples. The episode offers practice to build confidence in using these words.
- Around the word: a tour of 'tour' | A Coffee Break with Max
This Coffee Break French episode features Max exploring the various meanings of the French word 'tour'. It clarifies when to use the masculine 'le tour' versus the feminine 'la tour' and provides examples and set phrases to help listeners…
- How to maximise your language learning every day | A Coffee Break with Mark
In this Coffee Break French espresso episode, Mark shares tips for daily language learning, drawing from his Slovenia trip. He highlights the benefits of small interactions for building confidence and momentum.
- How to compare nouns in French with 'plus' or 'moins' | A Coffee Break with Max
This Coffee Break French episode explains how to compare nouns in French using 'plus de' and 'moins de'. It provides examples and tips for accurate and natural-sounding comparisons.
- 'Grâce à' vs. 'à cause de' - What's the difference? | A Coffee Break with Hélène
Hélène from Coffee Break French explains the difference between 'grâce à' and 'à cause de', both meaning 'because of' but with different connotations. The episode helps listeners use these phrases correctly in French conversations.
- 2 golden French proverbs and what they mean | A Coffee Break with Hélène
Hélène from Coffee Break French explains the meaning and usage of two classic French proverbs: "la parole est d’argent, le silence est d’or" and "tout ce qui brille n’est pas or". This 10-minute episode focuses on helping listeners integra…
- How to say your shoe size in French | A Coffee Break with Hélène
Hélène teaches listeners how to state and inquire about shoe sizes in French and discuss various types of footwear in this quick episode of Coffee Break French.
- 5 tips to turn any trip into your language classroom | A Coffee Break with Mark
Mark, founder of Coffee Break Languages, shares five tips to enhance language learning during travel or at home. This episode focuses on making any trip your language classroom, even if travel isn't currently possible.
- How the croissant became a symbol of France | A Coffee Break with Hélène
This Coffee Break French mini-lesson explores the intriguing, non-French origins of the croissant, a popular French pastry. Host Hélène shares its history, fun facts, and relevant vocabulary.
- Talking about holidays in French - Key phrases & examples | A Coffee Break with Hélène
This episode of Coffee Break French features Hélène from the team, providing a mini-lesson on French vocabulary for holidays. It covers essential expressions for discussing travel, breaks, and time off.
- CBF Scenes 1.10 | Une fête inoubliable
This Coffee Break French episode, CBF Scenes 1.10, covers a village festival and introduces the French terms se régaler and inoubliable, marking a celebration of French learning progress.
- CBF Scenes 1.09 | Un avenir à construire
In this episode of Coffee Break French Scenes, Jérôme contemplates a significant career change and job application process, with friends offering support and guidance. The hosts cover relevant French vocabulary for the situation.
- CBF Scenes 1.08 | Une visite surprise
In CBF Scenes 1.08, a surprise visitor shares exciting news at the café, and Nico reflects on the unique encounters his establishment fosters. The episode also introduces key French phrases such as 'se rendre compte', 'un rôle (dans un fil…
- CBF Scenes 1.07 | L’amour au café ?
In this episode of CBF Scenes, a chance encounter at a café leads to a romance, and the hosts discuss useful French phrases like 'un clin d’œil' and 'se douter de'. The episode is suitable for French learners.
- CBF Scenes 1.06 | Une cliente mystérieuse
Chapter six of Scenes features an elderly customer falling ill at Chez Nico. While regulars help, a familiar face reappears, prompting questions about her mysterious routines. The episode covers useful French grammar and vocabulary.
- CBF Scenes 1.05 | Une soirée mémorable
In episode 1.05 of Coffee Break French's Scenes, listeners can hear about a karaoke night with varied performances and a surprise reunion that leads to an announcement. The episode also covers French expressions and past participle agreeme…
- CBF Scenes 1.04 | Deux larrons en foire
In this episode of Coffee Break French's Scenes 1.04, two regulars at Chez Nico's engage in a lively debate about a local event. The hosts highlight language points, including the verb 'se chamailler'.
- CBF Scenes 1.03 | Un vendredi sous la pluie
This episode of Coffee Break French continues the story in Chapter 3 of Scenes. It covers useful grammar and vocabulary such as "débarquer" and "prendre l’eau" as listeners follow Jérôme dealing with bad weather at his bar.
- CBF Scenes 1.02 | Une bonne nouvelle
In Coffee Break French's CBF Scenes 1.02, Ségolène shares family news at Chez Nico while a customer encounters tourists. The episode introduces French vocabulary including maternité, renverser, and se débrouiller.
- CBF Scenes 1.01 | Un début prometteur
This episode introduces the story of Nico, the new owner of Chez Nico café, and Romain, a taxi driver, in the first chapter of Coffee Break French's 'Scenes' for intermediate learners. The hosts will cover grammar points like the passé com…
- Introducing Scenes from the Coffee Break Café
This promo episode introduces 'Scenes from the Coffee Break Café,' a new intermediate French course. It features 10 lessons with an unfolding story set in a café, authentic dialogues, cultural insights, and premium materials, aiming for na…
- Clue #4 (français) | The Great Coffee Break Treasure Hunt 2024
This episode features the final clue of the 2024 Coffee Break French treasure hunt, guiding listeners to the last destination. Participants can test their French and detective skills while learning submission details for a chance to win a…
- Clue #3 (français) | The Great Coffee Break Treasure Hunt 2024
This episode presents the third clue for the Great Coffee Break Treasure Hunt 2024, a virtual scavenger hunt across Europe. Participants use provided facts and French language skills to identify mystery locations, with opportunities to win…
- Clue #2 (français) | The Great Coffee Break Treasure Hunt 2024
In this episode of The Great Coffee Break Treasure Hunt 2024, hosts Max and Mark reveal clue number two. This virtual treasure hunt across Europe progresses with new clues and a mystery to solve, offering chances to win prizes.