CBI 1-00 | Introductory Episode

CBI 1-00 | Introductory Episode

Author: Coffee Break Languages January 25, 2015 Duration: 4:15

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 season of Coffee Break Italian. Join Mark, Francesca and Katie in this introductory episode.


This season of Coffee Break Italian features a total of 40 episodes. If you'd like to benefit from lesson notes, bonus audio recordings and video versions of the lessons featuring 'synchronised video flashcards' to help you understand how the words and phrases are written, you can access the premium version of Coffee Break Italian on the Coffee Break Academy.


Don't forget to follow Coffee Break Italian on Facebook where we post language activities, cultural points and review materials to help you practise your Italian. Remember - a few minutes a day can help you build your confidence in the language. Access the Coffee Break Italian Facebook page here.


If you'd like to find out what goes on behind the scenes here at Coffee Break Languages, follow @coffeebreaklanguages on Instagram, and check out our videos for language learners on our YouTube channel.


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Imagine fitting a trip to a Italian piazza into the time it takes to enjoy your morning espresso. That’s the idea behind Coffee Break Italian. This podcast from Coffee Break Languages turns spare moments into genuine progress, offering structured, accessible lessons designed for complete beginners. You’ll feel like you’re sitting in on a friendly study session with teacher Mark, who guides the learning, and native speaker Francesca, who provides authentic pronunciation and cultural insights. In the first season, fellow learner Katie asks the questions you might be thinking, making the journey from zero to conversational feel natural and achievable. Each episode is crafted to be digestible, focusing on practical vocabulary and grammar you can actually use. The learning continues in subsequent seasons, where the format evolves with new learners like Isla, helping to deepen your understanding. It’s a supportive, step-by-step approach that builds real confidence, allowing you to learn Italian where and when it suits you. Whether you're preparing for a vacation, connecting with heritage, or just love the sound of the language, this podcast provides a consistent and engaging path forward, one coffee break at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 211

Coffee Break Italian
Podcast Episodes
CBI 2.25 | Chi è quella persona che lavora in biblioteca? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:53
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, quali, quanto/a/e/i and, of course, che, che cosa and cosa! By the time you'…
CBI 2.24 | Chi va a Roma perde la poltrona [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:00
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 which we're looking at relative pronouns, and through which you'll ma…
CBI 2.23 | Cosa facevi quando ti ho telefonato? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:12
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 you already know about each of the tenses and you'll recognise certain…
CBI 2.22 | Preparavo la cena quando Luca è arrivato [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:34
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 Break Italian we'll be talking about "thtooms" and "dum-de-dum-de-dums". This is Ma…
CBI 2.21 | C'era molta gente e non faceva troppo freddo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:41
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 very straightforward tense, and Francesca shares some great news about th…
CBI 2.20 | Non ha mai provato la pizza napoletana! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:26
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've just done, what you've already done, what you've never done and what…
CBI 2.19 | Ti è piaciuta la pastiera? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:07
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 to be careful with how you agree the past participle. We'll also be ta…
CBI 2.18 | A che ora sono arrivati? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:15
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 of verbs which use essere in the Perfect Tense. There's something in parti…
CBI 2.17 | Abbiamo visto tutto [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:16
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 participles. You'll learn to form past participles for irregular verbs and…
CBI 2.16 | Abbiamo imparato molto! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:46
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 in the past, but so far we've not learned exactly how to use it. In thi…