In the penultimate episode of the series, Simone and Anna are on the move again as they are hiking up Marmolada - the highest mountain of the Dolomites. Mark and Francesca pick up on many interesting grammar points along the way and discuss: dopo + past infinitive, stare + gerund, and the pronoun ci, both as a direct object pronoun and a reflexive pronoun. Don't miss this useful episode! The podcast episodes will be published weekly from 12th February. However, if you would like to binge...

In the latest episode of the Coffee Break Italian Travel Diaries Season 2, Simone and Anna are in Cortina, one of the most popular ski destinations in the Dolomites, where they enjoy a trip to the spa. Join Mark and Francesca as they discuss the language featured in this episode, from relative pronouns and indirect object pronouns to demonstrative pronouns and more! We also hear some handy Italian phrases such as che meraviglia! and per niente. The podcast episodes will be published weekly...

Welcome back to Season 2 the Coffee Break Italian Travel Diaries! Having spent the night in the mountain retreat, Simone and Anna make their way down from the Le Tre Cime and encounter a deer on their way. Throughout Simone's diary entry, we hear a range of useful verbs including affrontare and scivolare, as well as some new idioms. Listen to the episode to find out more! The podcast episodes will be published weekly from 12th February. However, if you would like to binge the entire season...

In Episode 6 of the Coffee Break Travel Diaries Season 2, Simone and Anna finally reach the Tre Cime di Lavaredo and make the most of the view before having lunch at a mountain retreat while enjoying a bombardino. There's much more food-related vocabulary in this episode as well as some interesting grammar points which Mark and Francesca explore.   The podcast episodes will be published weekly from 12th February. However, if you would like to binge the entire season then you can access all...

We're halfway through our trip to the mountains in northern Italy, and this time, we're joining Anna and Simone for some ice skating on Lago di Dobbiaco after an unexpected detour changes their plan for the day. All’idea di, tanto che and per sicurezza are just some of the useful phrases which Mark and Francesca discuss in this episode. The podcast episodes will be published weekly from 12th February. However, if you would like to binge the entire season then you can access all 10 episodes...

We're back with another episode from Season 2 of the Coffee Break Italian Travel Diaries! This time, Simone and Anna are visiting the village of Ortisei where they go sledging and enjoy a traditional dinner with canederli. Listen out for a range of adjectives mentioned in this diary entry, including accogliente, fiabesco and innevato. As always, Coffee Break Italian hosts, Mark and Francesca will be on hand to explain the language featured in this episode. The podcast episodes will be...

It's time for another episode from Season 2 of the Coffee Break Italian Travel Diaries, and this time, Simone and Anna head to Bolzano, the capital of Italy's northernmost region of South Tyrol. Here, they explore the market and taste polenta for the first time, before taking the cable car to the mountains to enjoy the view of the snow-capped city. Mark and Francesca pick up on some interesting vocabulary such as funivia and tetti a punta, and discuss the difference between mattina and...

Welcome back to another episode of the Coffee Break Italian Travel Diaries. This week, Simone and Anna are taking a break from skiing to visit the medieval castle above the town of Thun where they have a frightful encounter with a ghost! Listen out for the useful grammar points which Mark and Francesca discuss in this episode, including the indirect object pronoun ci, the irregular plural of the word muro, and the da + infinitive construction. The podcast episodes will be published weekly...

Welcome to Season 2 of the Coffee Break Italian Travel Diaries for intermediate learners. While it's not so easy to travel right now, why not do some virtual travelling with us? In this 10-episode series, we follow the adventures of Simone and his wife Anna as they enjoy una settimana bianca (a white week of winter activities) in the Trentino-Alto Adige region. In Episode 1, Simone and Anna make the most of their first day on the slopes. We hear lots of winter and skiing related vocabulary...

In this episode of Coffee Break Italian To Go, Francesca asks the question, qual è la tua città italiana preferita? - What is your favourite Italian city? You can use the answers of our interviewees to help you answer this question in Italian and Mark is back in the studio and he’ll help you understand all the responses. Please note all interviews were filmed before lockdown. Our Coffee Break Italian To Go interviews are also available as videos on our website. Click here to watch, and we’d...

In this episode of Coffee Break Italian To Go, Francesca asks the question, qual è la cosa più strana che hai mai mangiato? - what's the strangest thing you've ever eaten? You can use the answers of our interviewees to help you answer this question in Italian and Mark is back in the studio and he’ll help you understand all the responses. Please note all interviews were filmed before lockdown. Our Coffee Break Italian To Go interviews are also available as videos on our website. Click here...

In this episode of Coffee Break Italian To Go, Francesca asks the question, se potessi andare in qualsiasi posto del mondo, dove andresti? - if you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? You can use the answers of our interviewees to help you answer this question in Italian and Mark is back in the studio and he’ll help you understand all the responses. Please note all interviews were filmed before lockdown. Our Coffee Break Italian To Go interviews are also available as videos...

In this episode of Coffee Break Italian To Go, Francesca asks the question, cosa ti fa arrabbiare? (What makes you angry?)Do you prefer summer or winter?. You can use the answers of our interviewees to help you answer this question in Italian and Mark is back in the studio and he’ll help you understand all the responses. Please note all interviews were filmed before lockdown. Our Coffee Break Italian To Go interviews are also available as videos on our website. Click here to watch, and we’d...

In this episode of Coffee Break Italian To Go, Francesca asks the question, preferisci l’estate o l’inverno? Do you prefer summer or winter?. You can use the answers of our interviewees to help you answer this question in Italian and Mark is back in the studio and he’ll help you understand all the responses. Please note all interviews were filmed before lockdown. Our Coffee Break Italian To Go interviews are also available as videos on our website. Click here to watch, and we’d love to hear...

In this episode of Coffee Break Italian To Go, Francesca asks the question, pensi che sia importante studiare le lingue straniere? Do you think that studying foreign languages is important?. You can use the answers of our interviewees to help you answer this question in Italian and Mark is back in the studio and he’ll help you understand all the responses. Please note all interviews were filmed before lockdown. Our Coffee Break Italian To Go interviews are also available as videos on our...

In this episode of Coffee Break Italian To Go, Francesca asks the question, cos’hai fatto ieri? (What did you do yesterday?). You can use the answers of our interviewees to help you answer this question in Italian and Mark is back in the studio and he’ll help you understand all the responses. Please note all interviews were filmed before lockdown. Our Coffee Break Italian To Go interviews are also available as videos on our website. Click here to watch, and we’d love to hear your answer to...

In this episode of Coffee Break Italian To Go, Francesca asks the question, qual è la tua parola italiana preferita? (What is your favourite Italian word?). You can use the answers of our interviewees to help you answer this question in Italian and Mark is back in the studio and he’ll help you understand all the responses. Please note all interviews were filmed before lockdown. Our Coffee Break Italian To Go interviews are also available as videos on our website. Click here to watch, and...

Welcome to the second episode of our new Coffee Break Italian To Go podcast in which we’re in Stresa on the shores of Lake Maggiore, with Francesca, talking to native speakers about a variety of topics. In this episode we’re asking the question com’è la tua giornata tipica? (What is your daily routine?). We’ll listen to all of the interviews with Francesca out and about, while Mark is back in the studio and he’ll help you understand all the responses. Please note all interviews were filmed...

Welcome to the first episode of our new Coffee Break Italian To Go podcast in which we’re in Stresa on the shores of Lake Maggiore, with Francesca, talking to native speakers about a variety of topics. In this episode we’re asking the question per te è importante viaggiare? (Is travelling important to you?) We’ll listen to all of the interviews with Francesca out and about, while Mark is back in the studio and he’ll help you understand all the responses. Please note all interviews were filmed...

Every 30th September, the podcasting world comes together to celebrate podcasting on International Podcast Day. We're celebrating today by saying thank you to the Coffee Break community in this special podcast episode. International Podcast Day aims to raise awareness about podcasts and gives podcast creators and listeners a chance to celebrate the medium and the podcast industry. But podcasting has been around for a lot longer than that! Back in 2004, broadcaster Adam Curry asked developer...

Our virtual journey through Tuscany is coming to an end! Join Giulia and Paolo in the tenth and final episode of this series of the Coffee Break Italian Travel Diaries as they round off their trip by the sea in the beautiful coastal town of Piombino. Listen to the episode to hear what they get up to and look out for some interesting vocabulary as well as a discussion about the structure da passare and an example of the pronoun ci. Travel Diaries will be published in one season of ten...

After taking some time to rest his ankle, Paolo is ready to move on to the penultimate stop on their journey: l’Abbazia di San Galgano. The pair take the time to explore the roofless walls of the 13th-century Abbey church and even see the famous spada nella roccia! Mark and Francesca also discuss when to use pronto a and pronto per, as well as the use of the direct object pronoun lo. Travel Diaries will be published in one season of ten episodes weekly from 5th June. If you'd like to...

Following an unexpected trip to the hospital in last week's episode, Giulia and Paolo continue their journey as they drive through the beautiful countryside of The Val d'Orcia and find the perfect spot for a picnic. In this eighth episode of the Coffee Break Italian Travel Diaries, we'll learn some interesting new vocabulary as well as the difference between the verbs godersi and divertirsi. Andiamo! Travel Diaries will be published in one season of ten episodes weekly from 5th June. If...

It's time for the next stop on our Italian adventure! Giulia and Paolo enjoy a trip to the famous spa in Saturina when all of a sudden things take a turn and they end up in hospital. Tune in to Episode 7 to find out what happens and don't forget to listen out for the subjunctive in the text! Travel Diaries will be published in one season of ten episodes weekly from 5th June. If you'd like to access lesson notes and a video version which features pauses after each sentence to allow you to...

In the latest episode of the Coffee Break Italian Travel Diaries, Giulia and Paolo leave Siena and head to the medieval hill town of San Gimignano. Travel Diaries will be published in one season of ten episodes weekly from 5th June. If you'd like to access lesson notes and a video version which features pauses after each sentence to allow you to practise your pronunciation, check out the full course on the Coffee Break Academy. At Coffee Break Italian we provide content for beginners,...