Episodes
It's time for the final lesson in this series of Coffee Break Chinese and Mark is about to leave China. He and Hongyu have a chat about what they've done during the visit and reflect on how much Mark has learned. As ever, Crystal is on hand in the studio to help you understand the conversation in full.
This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the podcast to enjoy each episode. If you'd like...
Published 03/27/19
In this penultimate episode of Season 1 of Coffee Break Chinese, Mark meets some members of Hongyu's family at his younger cousin's birthday party. This gives him a great opportunity to put his Mandarin to the test and learn some new vocabulary too. As usual, Crystal is on hand in the studio to help.
This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the podcast to enjoy each episode. If you'd like...
Published 03/13/19
In this lesson, Mark is feeling a bit under the weather during his trip to China. He and Hongyu head to the pharmacy for some advice and some medicine. As usual, Crystal is on hand to help you understand the Chinese language in the recorded conversations.
This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the podcast to enjoy each episode. If you'd like to benefit from video versions, lesson notes...
Published 02/28/19
We have an exciting episode of Coffee Break Chinese for you today, as Mark and Hongyu have finally made it to Chángchéng, the Great Wall of China. In this lesson you'll build your understanding of Chinese by reviewing previously learned vocabulary and acquiring new expressions and structures. As usual, Crystal is on hand in the studio to help.
This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the...
Published 02/13/19
In this lesson Mark and Hongyu are going shopping. In the first shop, Mark wants to buy some postcards, and in the second shop Mark is looking for a new shirt. This lesson gives us the opportunity to review shopping vocabulary and will help you practise the transactional words and phrases covered in previous lessons. As usual, Crystal is in the studio to help you understand everything.
This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the...
Published 01/30/19
One of the most common experiences for any tourist visiting a foreign country is having to ask for information. In episode 35 of Coffee Break Chinese, Mark and Hongyu go to a tourist information office to ask for for information about a particular tourist attraction in Beijing, practising vocabulary learned in previous lessons. As usual, Crystal is on hand in the studio to help us understand everything.
This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be...
Published 01/17/19
In this episode of Coffee Break Chinese we join Hongyu and Mark at breakfast in the hotel where they get talking to another hotel guest and her son. We'll take the opportunity to review vocabulary associated with ordering food and learn about some cultural aspects of eating breakfast in China. Crystal is on hand in the studio to help Mark understand everything.
This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay...
Published 12/19/18
It's time for another episode of Coffee Break Chinese and in this lesson Mark is checking into his hotel in Beijing, using many of the structures covered in previous lessons. Hongyu is on hand to help Mark in China, and Crystal is in the studio "after the event", discussing the language used in the lesson. This is a great opportunity to review vocabulary and grammar points associated with the topic of checking into a hotel.
This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons,...
Published 11/21/18
In this episode of Coffee Break Chinese, Crystal and Mark continue to follow Mark's progress as he puts his Chinese into practice in China. Mark is making his way into Beijing from the airport and Hongyu helps him prepare for a conversation at the airport information desk. Mark then enquires about the best way to travel into the city - and hopefully manages to get the information he needs!
This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in...
Published 10/23/18
It's time to put into practice what we've learned so far in the course, and Mark has arrived in China where he meets his friend Hongyu who will be his guide during this stay in Beijing. In this episode Mark arrives at the airport and he and Hongyu talk about what they're looking forward to.
This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the podcast to enjoy each episode. If you'd like to benefit...
Published 09/24/18
We've reached a milestone in Coffee Break Chinese with lesson 30 and in this lesson Crystal puts Mark - and our listeners - to the test with a marathon translation test covering all the topics of the course so far.
This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the podcast to enjoy each episode. If you'd like to benefit from video versions, lesson notes and bonus audio materials, you can access...
Published 09/03/18
In this episode you'll learn how to describe people in Chinese. You'll learn various adjectives to describe people physically and talk about hair and eye colour. We'll put this to the test by challenging you to identify some famous people from their descriptions in Chinese, and you'll be able to see how much you've understood of the lesson.
This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the...
Published 08/15/18
In this episode of Coffee Break Chinese you'll learn to talk about your likes and dislikes. You'll start by continuing on from where we left off in lesson 27, and learn to talk about whether or not you like your job. You'll then learn more ways to say what you like and what you don't like, and this topic is always useful for making conversation with native speakers.
This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just...
Published 08/01/18
In this episode of Coffee Break Chinese you'll learn to talk more about yourself, specifically by talking about your job, where you work, what you do and where you'd like to work if you didn't have your current job! Crystal provides some interesting information about Chinese work ethic, and you'll be able to practise your Mandarin with the help of a conversation about jobs.
This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed....
Published 05/23/18
In this episode of Coffee Break Chinese you'll learn to increase your range of expression to deal with conversations when visiting China and explaining why you're there, how long you're there for, and how long you've been learning Chinese.
This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the podcast to enjoy each episode. If you'd like to benefit from video versions, lesson notes and bonus audio...
Published 04/23/18
In this episode you'll learn to deal with emergencies in Chinese. Needless to say, we hope you never have to use this language, but it's useful to know nonetheless! You'll learn to talk about losing wallets, reporting stolen passports and asking for help in various situations. You'll be ready for all eventualities by the time you've listened to this episode!
This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay...
Published 03/28/18
In this lesson you'll learn the words and phrases needed to make phone calls and use the internet in Mandarin Chinese.
This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the podcast to enjoy each episode. If you'd like to benefit from video versions, lesson notes and bonus audio materials, you can access the premium version of Coffee Break Chinese in the Coffee Break Academy.
Don't forget to follow...
Published 03/21/18
In this episode of Coffee Break Chinese we're taking the topic of illnesses and ailments a stage further with a visit to the pharmacy where you'll learn to describe your symptoms and understand the advice given to you by the pharmacist.
This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the podcast to enjoy each episode. If you'd like to benefit from video versions, lesson notes and bonus audio...
Published 03/01/18
When you're travelling things don't always go according to plan and you may have to visit a doctor or pharmacist. In this lesson you'll learn the words for various parts of the body in Chinese, and to explain that you're feeling unwell. By the end of this episode you'll be able to explain to a doctor or pharmacist which part of your body is sore and if you have any other symptoms.
This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the...
Published 01/31/18
In this episode you'll learn to talk about the weather in Mandarin. By the end of the lesson you'll be able to use the words and phrases for different meteorological conditions and understand a weather forecast in Chinese.
This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the podcast to enjoy each episode. If you'd like to benefit from video versions, lesson notes and bonus audio materials, you can...
Published 01/17/18
This lesson marks the end of the first half of the Coffee Break Chinese Season 1 course, and we're taking the opportunity to review much of the vocabulary and structures learned in the first 20 lessons through a series of conversations in different situations.
This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the podcast to enjoy each episode. If you'd like to benefit from video versions, lesson...
Published 09/22/17
In this lesson of Coffee Break Chinese you'll be learning about train travel in China. You'll learn to book your tickets in advance and request the particular type of ticket and seat you require. There's also a cultural segment about travel in China.
This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the podcast to enjoy each episode. If you'd like to benefit from video versions, lesson notes and...
Published 09/04/17
In this lesson of Coffee Break Chinese we're looking at the topic of getting around the town. You'll develop your range of vocabulary for asking for directions - and understanding the answers - and you'll learn more vocabulary and structures to help you deal with public transport in China.
This season of Coffee Break Chinese features a total of 40 lessons, all of which will be included in the podcast feed. Just stay subscribed to the podcast to enjoy each episode. If you'd like to benefit...
Published 08/16/17
In this episode of Coffee Break Chinese you'll learn to ask questions in the tourist information office or at your hotel. We take the time topic further by looking at more complex times like "half past" and "quarter to", and we also cover opening and closing times. By the end of this lesson you'll be able to ask questions like "what can you do here?" and say what you'd like to visit, and you'll understand the Mandarin responses you may hear in reply. This is the perfect lesson to study...
Published 08/03/17