Coffee Break French
The Coffee Break French Magazine: twenty cultural audio lessons for intermediate learners, presented by teacher Mark and his native-speaker co-hosts. The Season 1 + Season 2 bundle, on offer during Cannes 2026.
In the same way as a film's soundtrack enriches the cinematic journey, grasping the cultural context ensures a deeper understanding and a greater level of proficiency.
Many French courses focus solely on grammar and vocabulary. At Coffee Break, we want to help you get the full picture. Knowing the people, places, traditions and stories that French speakers grow up with is what turns "speaking French" into actually understanding it.
Insights into the lives of native speakers, including their knowledge of famous people, iconic locations, cherished traditions and culinary delights, will elevate your language learning to new heights.
From famous French speakers to beautiful locations; from music, film and literature to typical recipes and legends. There's something for everyone in the Coffee Break French Magazine.
Each lesson helps you build your understanding of the language while developing an awareness of culture as experienced by native speakers.
Each audio lesson is presented by Mark and a native speaker. Having read through the cultural text together, they discuss the language and cultural points before you expand your learning with the additional materials.
The Coffee Break French Magazine is available in two seasons, each with ten cultural lessons for intermediate learners. The Cannes 2026 offer bundles them together at a single price.
Ten cultural lessons presented by Mark with Pierre-Benoît and Susie. Discover the people, places and traditions that have shaped France and the wider French-speaking world.
Ten further cultural lessons presented by Mark with Pierre-Benoît, Sophie and Katia. Ten new topics taking you deeper into francophone art, history, places and everyday traditions.
A structure refined over many years of producing Coffee Break French courses.
After a recording of the cultural text in French, Mark and his co-host discuss the language together, focusing on interesting points of vocabulary and grammar.
Every word of French is provided in writing — both the text itself and the natural discussion between Mark and his co-host. Follow along and never miss a word.
The key words from each lesson, presented alphabetically in English → French and French → English. A clean way to test yourself on what you've covered.
Grammar exercises help you check your understanding of the points covered in each lesson, with a full answer key so you can mark your own work.
For every lesson, an "Extra Shot" pack: five words or expressions from the cultural text, with further examples in context and translations to help you see how each word is actually used. Think of it as a focused vocabulary builder that takes your learning further.
Mark Pentleton, founder of Coffee Break Languages, hosts every lesson with one of his French-speaking colleagues. In Season 1 he's joined by Pierre-Benoît and Susie. In Season 2 by Pierre-Benoît, Sophie and Katia.
The format mixes French and English: the cultural text itself is in French, the language explanations are in English, and the natural conversation between presenters moves between both. Perfect for intermediate learners ready to spend more time in French without being lost.
I find the lessons so helpful with such a rigorous approach to grammar which is something I had been hunting for. The accompanying notes etc are fantastic.
— FloraThe teaching is simply superb, the course content is great and the overall experience of learning French using Coffee Break is just something that cannot be put into words!
— GayathriTwenty lessons, two seasons, one bundle. On offer during Cannes 2026.
Save over 20% on the individual season prices. One-off payment. Currency is chosen at checkout (GBP / USD).