

Coffee Break Italian
Coffee Break Languages
With Coffee Break Italian you can learn Italian where and when it suits you. In Season 1, you'll join teacher Mark, learner Katie and native speaker Francesca in our 15-minute lessons, and build your confidence in the language, learning Italian from scratch. Take your learning further with Season 2 in which Mark and Francesca are joined by learner Isla. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 7, 2025 • 7min
'insegnare' & 'imparare' - What's the difference? | A Coffee Break with Francesca
We're back with a new episode, bringing you a little espresso lesson in between the main seasons of Coffee Break Italian. Today, Francesca explores two essential Italian verbs that often cause confusion: imparare (to learn) and insegnare (to teach). 👩🎓 👨🏫While they may look similar, they have opposite meanings and different structures. By the end of the episode, you’ll know exactly when to use imparare and when to use insegnare and feel confident putting both into practice.🎯 You can receive regular free mini-lessons straight to your inbox by signing up for our Coffee Break Italian newsletter. Just go to coffeebreaklanguages.kit.com/newsletter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

5 snips
Sep 30, 2025 • 6min
3 Italian idioms related to autumn | A Coffee Break with Michela
Michela dives into autumn-themed Italian idioms that enrich your vocabulary. Discover how 'prendere in castagna' captures the essence of catching someone red-handed. Learn about 'venir su come i funghi,' perfect for describing rapid growth, like trends on social media. The phrase 'avere sale in zucca' teaches the importance of common sense, illustrated with a humorous example. It's a cozy mini-lesson that blends culture and language seamlessly!

Sep 23, 2025 • 6min
Back to school in Italy | A Coffee Break with Francesca
Francesca dives into the vibrant traditions of returning to school in Italy. Discover the timing of the school year and the cherished memories tied to summer holidays. Hear about the iconic school uniform and the significance of traditional idioms that inspire success. With fun insights and practical vocabulary, you’ll be ready to navigate the Italian classroom like a pro!

6 snips
Sep 16, 2025 • 8min
Francesca's top travel tips for Sicily & Palermo | A Coffee Break with Francesca
Join Francesca as she spills her best travel tips for exploring Sicily and its capital, Palermo. Discover the island's stunning landscapes and rich culinary heritage, complete with mouthwatering local delicacies. Francesca also shares essential Italian phrases to help you immerse yourself in the culture. Get ready to add Sicilian charm to your travel bucket list!

11 snips
Sep 2, 2025 • 17min
How to maximise your language learning every day | A Coffee Break with Mark
Mark shares effective tips for maximizing everyday opportunities to enhance language skills. He reflects on his time in Slovenia, illustrating how small interactions can boost confidence. The discussion includes practical strategies like labeling items and choosing daily focus words. Discover how to build momentum through consistent practice instead of striving for perfection. Plus, dive into the Italian adjective 'bello' and the pronoun 'cui' to grasp essential grammar nuances. Ideal for language learners seeking to make progress!

Aug 26, 2025 • 6min
When to use 'tu' & 'Lei' in Italian | A Coffee Break with Carolina
Join Carolina from the Coffee Break Italian team for a coffee break, in which you'll have the chance to practise and improve your Italian under just 10 minutes.In this episode, Carolina explains when to use tu and when to use Lei, the informal and formal ways of saying ‘you’ in Italian. You'll learn how to choose the right level of formality depending on the context, and how to avoid common cultural missteps. 🗣️👋🎯 To access more Italian content and to keep improving your Italian, just click here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 19, 2025 • 5min
Carolina's travel tips for this enchanting Italian destination | A Coffee Break with Carolina
Here at Coffee Break Italian, we're currently enjoying working on our next podcast series for you, but in the meantime, we hope you enjoy this mini espresso lesson with Carolina.☕In this episode, she shares some of her top travel tips for exploring a beautiful Italian destination: Castelluccio di Norcia. You’ll not only discover what makes this place so special, but you’ll also pick up useful Italian words and phrases along the way! ✈️🌅➡️ To continue improving your Italian skills, access more content like this and subscribe to the Coffee Break Italian newsletter, click here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 12, 2025 • 8min
'Metà' vs. 'mezzo' - How to say "half" in Italian | A Coffee Break with Michela
Join Michela from the Coffee Break Italian team for a coffee break, in which you'll have the chance to practise and improve your Italian over just 10 minutes.In this episode, she will take a closer look at how to say half in Italian, specifically the difference between metà and mezzo. While both words can be translated the same, they’re used in different contexts.➗➡️ To continue improving your Italian skills, receive regular free content straight to your inbox and access more content like this, click here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 5, 2025 • 7min
6 fun Italian idioms about food & how to use them | A Coffee Break with Francesca
Join Francesca from the Coffee Break Italian team for an espresso-style episode, in which you'll have the chance to practise and improve your Italian.In this episode, she shares six fun Italian idioms – all based on food! Francesca explains the meaning behind expressions like parla come mangi and filare liscio come l’olio, and how to use them naturally in conversation. 🍅🫘🎯 To access more Italian content and to keep improving your Italian, you can receive regular free mini-lessons straight to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter. Just click here now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 29, 2025 • 11min
5 tips to turn any trip into your language classroom | A Coffee Break with Mark
Join Mark, the founder of Coffee Break Languages, for a coffee break, in which you'll hear tips and ideas to boost your language-learning journey in just a few minutes.In this episode, Mark shares five tips to make any trip your language classroom, even if travelling is not an option for you just now. So, if you're planning a trip to an Italian-speaking destination or want to get some tips for immersing yourself in the language even when you're at home, this episode is perfect for you.✈️🌍🗣️➡️ Stay inspired and receive regular language tips and free resources by signing up for our newsletter here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.