
English: 
Welcome to another Coffee Break Conversation, this time with Pierre-Benoît Heriaud!
Pierre-Benoît has been working with Coffee Break for many, many years
and if you're already listening to Coffee Break French,
or indeed if you've been watching some Walk, Talk and Learn then I'm sure you'll recognise Pierre-Benoît.
So, hello monsieur!
Hello Mark, how are you doing?
Very good, very good. Today, we're going to talk in English, okay?
I'll try my best!
Okay, excellent!
So, for the purposes of everyone involved in Coffee Break, tell us a little more about who you are.
Well for those who don't know me, you know maybe who study Coffee Break Italian or Spanish,
I'm Pierre-Benoît and I'm actually French and it's a pleasure to see you here today
because we are actually in my hometown of Sainte-Marie!
We're in your hometown having a coffee at your favourite park!
Yeah, because you've got what I call the Café de la Pause behind me, you've got the church,
You know, I mean it's just ... it's really nice actually to have you here today.
So, it's fantastic.
Delighted to be here!

French: 
 
 
 
 
Alors, bonjour monsieur !
Bonjour Mark, comment vas-tu ?
Très bien, très bien. Aujourd'hui nous allons parler en anglais, d'accord ?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Spanish: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Spanish: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

English: 
Now, as we're speaking in English we're detecting something of an accent there ...
Obviously there's a little bit of a French accent in there, but there's also something else!
Well yeah because I moved to Scotland ...
I studied in Nantes, in the University of Nantes, studied English, Spanish and French
and then once it was all done, I decided to move to Scotland
and I've been living in Scotland now for thirty years I think!
Thirty years!
Yes, yes.
So you've been longer in Scotland than in France.
Yes, but I still make sure that I do come back to my hometown.
You know, you've got to visit family and friends and, you know, it's normal.
Absolutely.
So, you're here in Sainte-Marie, whereabouts is Sainte-Marie in France?
Sainte-Marie is in the Loire-Atlantique area (departement)
and we're talking about the west coast of France,
Just at the south of Brittany, and before we hit the 
Pays de la Loire, although it's,
it's the start of Pays de la Loire, if you want
and so we're about four hours, by car, from Paris.
and we're about, I would say, four hours from Bordeaux as well.

Spanish: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

French: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

English: 
Okay so sort of right in the middle, on the coast.
It is a beautiful, a beautiful area and I love this whole idea of village life
and you know we've got the marché de brocante 
(flea market) behind us
Whatever you call that, yeah.
Closing up for the day.
I really love French village life, I think I would quite enjoy living in a little village like this.
Well, you're welcome to come and visit anytime Mark!
Okay, in this interview we always try to ask questions about language learning.
So tell us a little about your experience with languages.
You mentioned that you studied English, French and Spanish at university, so tell us about that.
Well obviously I studied and I did all my studies in Nantes and then when I decided to move to Scotland
I wanted to perfect my English, so I first started working as a language assistant in a school, in a secondary school.
I'm not going to mention them, but two lovely schools!

English: 
And then decided to stay and continue with teaching basically, so did what you call the "PGEC" in those days
and then got a job in Scotland and now I'm teaching as a French and Spanish teacher!
So that's the day job, as it were.
Yep, yep.
And you've also got a ... well you're interested in lots of things, we can talk about that a little later!
But you've also, you help us with a lot of the courses that we've been working on over the past few years.
Oh yes, I mean that's been from the start actually, I've been contributing to
and I've been creating material for all the Coffee Break French seasons 1-4
and obviously Walk, Talk and Learn French and then the new season with Walk, Talk and Learn French as well
so It's been a pleasure to work with you, obviously, it's good because it keeps your language skills going
and it's totally different, but at the same time it does kind of contribute to what I do in the class as well.
So it's quite nice to be able to do both!
In a sense, we love working with teachers who are teaching real learners all the time,

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French: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

English: 
because what they do on a daily basis, and the feedback that they get from their own students
means that they're tuned in to the kind of difficulties that students may have
but also they're experiencing new reactions to things all the time
but we also hope that what we do, with you and with the other teachers that we work with,
can actually transfer into the classroom too.
Oh yes, there's no doubt about this!
I mean, when pupils want to get extra listening, extra material,
well obviously I've got to say, "well why don't you try this and see if it works for you?"
You know, and it does work! You know, there's no doubt about this,
and it's nice actually to have former pupils say, "Hey! I'm doing Coffee Break French/Coffee Break Spanish"
and, of course, it's bound to happen!
Excellent!
Over the past twelve years, I think that there have been many fun memories of your involvement in all things Coffee Break!
There's one particular one, I have to say.
When we were coming back from a meal out, after the Language Show in the London Underground

Spanish: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

French: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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English: 
and Pierre-Benoît decided to try to convince the entire carriage
(in the London Underground where people don't tend to look at each other or talk to each other)
that they should all start learning French or Spanish or Italian with Coffee Break.
Or German!
Or German, indeed!
But what about your favourite memories 
of Coffee Break?
I think I'm not getting any younger so my memory fails me you know
but I do believe I've really enjoyed the latest thing we've been doing which is the second series of Walk, Talk and Learn French.
Particularly when it comes to technology, there have been so many developments when it comes to technology you know,
that I've got to really be careful and I get a lot out of it!
And then it's quite nice because then it means I can use that as well in the classroom, you know, and I get a lot out of it.
So, it's been a pleasure working with you!
Keeping you on your toes, eh?
Eh, well yeah! Yeah! I've got to, I'm so small you know it keeps me tall ...
Okay, another Coffee Break question.
What would you say your ideal coffee break would be?

Spanish: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

English: 
Where would it be? And, crucially, with whom?
Anywhere,
with nice people,
preferably,
Jennifer Lopez.
J.Lo
Okay so, would you particularly be focusing on Spanish there in that case?
Oh yeah, I would expect to perfect my Spanish with her and obviously I would teach her lovely phrases in French.
Excellent, sounds good, okay.
Do you have any language learning tips for our viewers and listeners?
Keep going.
Don't get discouraged.
I still make mistakes in the three languages, even my own native one!
And I do believe it's the idea of a little bit, but more often.
Yes, I totally agree.
That works for food, that works for, you know ...
but I think it's very important, do a little bit but keep going.
Keep going over it and, you know, a little bit can go a long way!
So that's very important to me.
Absolutely!

French: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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French: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pas de lézard !
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Un plateau de fruits de mer, avec un petit verre de Muscadet, quand-même. D'ici !
 
 
 
 

English: 
Okay, we have got time for the quick-fire round, okay?
Yes, what's this?
Okay, so basically we're going to ask you a number of questions
and you've got to come up with your first answer to these questions.
Okay?
It's straightforward enough, don't worry.
Okay, okay.
So, first of all, favourite language?
Oh ... French.
Favourite word in that language?
Or phrase?
"Pas de lézard !"
Which means?
No worries!
Excellent.
No bother, nae bother!
Nae bother, indeed.
The Scottish version.
Favourite food?
A platter of seafood with a little glass of Muscadet, even. From here!
So that's a seafood platter with a little glass of white wine.
A little glass of Muscadet white wine.
Okay, favourite film?
Wow, I used to be a film-geek ... buff

Spanish: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

English: 
and I do believe as good as it gets for French films, 
'Le Prénom' and 'Le Vieux Fusil'.
I watched it the other day, there was
a wee tear in my left eye.
Okay, favourite music?
That's ... that's very difficult because, as you know, I like music. I love music!
I like playing a wee bit of piano, a bit of singing, a bit of guitar as well, playing the guitar.
Favourite music ... favourite music?
Just now, I've been listening to a lot of Jacques Brel.
Okay.
So you can explain who Jacques Brel is... actually, our listeners can do a bit of research on Jacques Brel.
And that will include David Bowie, it will include a lot of artists.
Excellent.
Favourite destination?
Anywhere with nice people,
I'm happy anywhere I go.
As long as people are nice and you can socialise and have a good time, I'm happy with that.
Sounds good.
Yes.
Anyway, we're going to talk in French for a bit.
If you like!
Tell us a little bit, you said that we're in Sainte-Marie.
Yep.

French: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On va quand même parler un peu en français.
Si tu veux.
Dis-nous un petit peu, tu as dit que nous sommes à Sainte-Marie.
Ouais.

English: 
So, explain to us a little bit; what is Sainte-Marie?
Well, Saninte-Marie is the town where my father lives, okay?
And, so, when we were younger, we had a holiday house here.
And then, when my father started to get older, he said to himself "I want to spend the rest of my life
in my hometown".
Because my father is from here. I'm from Nantes, but he's from here.
And so, of course, he built a beautiful property, 2 or 3 kilometres from here.
And so, of course, I come back every year. Once a year at least, if not twice or three times
to see him, and to see all my childhood friends. Okay? So, that's why. It's important.
And actually, this week while we've been here, we have had a great time here in Sainte-Marie. On the beach...
On the beach. I ran into my friends. Last night, if I may, you played us a little bit of piano. Not just one song!
A few!
And it was really nice.

Spanish: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

French: 
Alors, explique-nous un petit peu ce que c’est que Sainte-Marie.
Sainte-Marie c’est en fait la ville où habite mon père, d’accord ?
Et donc quand nous étions plus jeunes, nous avions une maison de vacances ici.
Et puis quand mon père a commencé à vieillir, il s’est dit "je voudrais en fait finir mes jours
dans ma ville natale".
Parce que mon père est d’ici. Moi je suis de Nantes, mais lui il est d’ici.
Et donc bien sûr, il a construit une belle propriété à deux-trois kilomètres d’ici.
Et donc bien sûr je reviens tous les ans. Une fois par an minimum, sinon deux ou trois fois,
pour le voir, lui et puis pour voir tous les amis d’enfance. D’accord ? Donc c’est pour ça, donc c’est important.
Et en fait cette semaine on a été ici, on a passé de très bons moments ici à Sainte-Marie. Sur la plage…
Sur la plage. J’ai rencontré mes amis. Hier soir, si je peux me permettre, tu nous as joué un petit morceau de piano, pas juste, pas qu’un !
Quelques-uns !
Et puis c’était très sympa.

English: 
And so, I think it's a town, a village, which is nice to live in. So it's really nice to come back here.
I don't see myself spending the rest of my life here, because I have a certain fondness of Scotland of course
But I can see myself travelling, doing a return trip, the 'shuttle', as we say.
Then, spend one or two months here, then return to Scotland and then come back two months later!
Then go to Spain too, go skiing. It's true: my problem is that there aren't enough hours in one day to do
everything that I like to do!
Yep, it's the problem everyone has, I think!
It's your problem too, isn't it? I know you! I think we know each other well!
You've spoken a bit about Spain too, haven't you? 
You like Spain, don't you?
Yes, I like Spain. I'm in need of some practice because I don't practise much in Scotland
and I don't speak much Spanish, but I normally used to go to the South of Spain, to Estepona.
Estepona, yes.
Do you know the region?
I've never been to Estepona, but I've been to Marbella and to Málaga, all over that area.
Yeah. The accent is really difficult to understand.

Spanish: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Has hablado un poco de España también. 
Te gusta España, ¿no?
Sí. Me gusta España. Me falta un poco la práctica ya que en Escocia no practico mucho,
y no hablo mucho, pero solía ir al sur de España mucho y solía ir a Estepona.
Estepona, sí.
¿Conoces esa región?
Yo nunca he estado en Estepona, pero sí en Marbella, en Málaga, en toda esta zona.
El acento es muy difícil.

French: 
Et donc, non, je pense que c’est une ville, un village, où il fait bon vivre. Donc c’est vraiment sympa quoi, de revenir ici.
Je ne me vois pas finir mes jours ici, parce que j’ai quand même un certain attachement en ce qui concerne l’Écosse bien sûr.
Mais je me vois bien voyager, faire l’aller-retour, la navette, comme on dit !
Et puis passer un mois ou deux mois ici pour retourner en Écosse et puis revenir deux mois plus tard !
Puis aller en Espagne aussi, aller au ski. C’est vrai, mon problème c’est que il y a pas assez d’heures dans une journée pour faire
tout ce que j’aime faire.
Oui c’est le problème de tout le monde je pense.
C’est ton problème aussi hein, je te connais ! Je crois qu’on se connait bien !
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

French: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

English: 
"It's really difficult" (in Andalusian accent).
But I really like it. It's a long time since I was last in Estepona, but I'd like to go back.
I might be able to go back next year, I don't know. 
I like Ibiza too. I don't know...
Very good. You have to travel!
Well, okay, let's go back to English!
Do you have any final messages for our Coffee Break learners or, indeed, any final thoughts?
Well I think I've already mentioned the point that don't get discouraged, okay?
Just a little bit every day, you know, keep learning and don't ... feel down, you know, every time you make a mistake,
We all make mistakes, okay.
But let's go for the future, let's hope that we can continue having fun creating new material for you guys!
And hopefully you're going to be improving all your language skills, because I think it's very important.
And the more Mark comes here as well, the more you improve your French as well Mark, so it's fantastic!

Spanish: 
“E" muy difícil" (acento andaluz).
Es muy difícil, pero me gusta mucho. Hace mucho tiempo que no he regresado a Estepona, pero me gustaría.
Es posible que yo pueda volver de nuevo el año próximo, no sé. Me gusta Ibiza también. No sé…
Muy bien. ¡Hay que viajar!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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English: 
Yeah, I do my best. I do my best.
Not that you need it!
Well, thank you very much, monsieur!
You're welcome!
And, until next time!
Until next time! I hope it's very soon, of course!
Don't forget, of course, that if you want more Coffee Break Language videos
then you can, of course, subscribe to Coffee Break Languages here on YouTube.
And if you hit the little bell icon that, of course, means that you'll get notified whenever we post a new video.
There will be more Coffee Break Conversations with other members of the team
and indeed other language learners and they'll be coming up very soon!
But for now, give it a like if you've enjoyed it, send a message to Pierre-Benoît in the comments.
Woo!
But for now, that's it!
Thank you very much indeed for watching 
and see you next time. Bye!
Goodbye everyone!

French: 
 
 
Bon, merci beaucoup monsieur !
Je t'en prie !
Et, à la prochaine !
À la prochaine ! Et puis bien sûr, très bientôt j'espère !
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
À la prochaine, salut !
Au revoir tout le monde !
