​Chapter 1: "The Car is Waiting, Mr. Holmes!"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT PICKING PEOPLE UP
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住    (zhù) to live; to dwell; to stay

楼    (lóu) house with more than 1 story

接    (jiē) to receive; to meet or welcome sb; to catch

死    (sǐ) to die

Sentences:
  • 你住的地方离小音家很远。
  • 我六点半在楼下等你。
  • 我开车来接你，我们一起去吧。
  • 王朋死了！
Lesson
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Practice
SPEAK: role-play between two friends going to another friend's house together. Discuss the details of the carpool.

WRITE: write a short story about a father who is supposed to pick up his daughter from her friend's house. Unfortunately, things go awry...
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 住，楼，接，死
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 你住的地方离小音家很远。
  • 我六点半在楼下等你。
  • 我开车来接你，我们一起去吧。
  • 王朋死了！
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about picking people up.
  • Offer someone a ride and arrange a time and place to meet.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 2: "Death in the Family"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT PARTIES
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舞会    (wǔ huì) dance; ball; party

王红    (Wáng Hóng) Wang Hong (a personal name)

表姐    (biǎo jiě) older female cousin via female line

海伦    (Hǎi Lún) Helen

杀    (shā) to kill

Sentences:
  • 今天高小音过生日，晚上我们在她家开舞会，你能去吗？
  • 小音的表姐，白英爱，你妹妹王红...
  • 王朋，李友，来，我给你们介绍一下，这是我表姐海伦。
  • 谁杀了王朋？
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SPEAK: role-play between two friends at a dramatic party. Gossip about the drama.

WRITE: write a letter of invitation to your upcoming party.
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 舞会，王红，表姐，海伦，杀
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 今天高小音过生日，晚上我们在她家开舞会，你能去吗？
  • 王红是王朋的妹妹。
  • 王朋，李友，来，我给你们介绍一下，这是我表姐海伦。
  • 谁杀了王朋？
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about parties, including birthday parties.
  • Ask a friend to go to a party with you.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 3: "Whodunit?"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT GOOD AND BAD STUDENTS
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汤姆    (Tāng Mǔ) Tom

中学    (zhōng xué) middle school

暑期班    (shǔ qī bān) summer time class

爱    (ài) to love; affection; to be fond of; to like

Sentences:
  • 王朋，李友，来，我给你们介绍一下，这是我表姐海伦，这是她的儿子汤梅。
  • 听说还有小音的中学同学。
  • 我的中文是在暑期班学的。
  • 小音爱吃中国菜。
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​SPEAK: reminisce about your middle school days. Were you a good or bad student? Did you ever have to take summer time class?

WRITE: write a short story about Tom, the very bad student who, however, still loves to learn...
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 汤姆，中学，暑期班，爱
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 王朋，李友，来，我给你们介绍一下，这是我表姐海伦，这是她的儿子汤梅。
  • 听说还有小音的中学同学。
  • 我在暑期班学中文。
  • 小音爱吃中国菜。​
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about good and bad students.
  • Talk about summer classes.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

​Chapter 4: "First Clue: Suspicious Gifts"

HOW TO SEND GIFTS
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送    (sòng) to give (a present)

礼物    (lǐ wù) gift; present

本    (běn) classifier for books, periodicals, files, etc.

蛋糕    (dàn gāo) cake

Sentences:
  • 你要送给小音什么生日礼物？
  • 我买了一本书送给她。
  • 我送我的表姐一个生日蛋糕。
  • 等等白英爱吧。她最爱吃蛋糕。
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​​SKIT: in a group, write a dialogue about two friends going to a birthday party. Memorize your skit and perform in front of the class!
  • Talk about who's going to the party.
  • Talk about the gifts.
  • Talk about carpool logistics.

WRITE: write a birthday card to accompany the gift(s) you got for your good friend.
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 送，礼物，本，蛋糕
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Translate: You're going to give Little Yin what birthday present?
  • TARGET: no mistakes.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 你要送给小音什么生日礼物？
  • 我买了一本书送给她。
  • 我送我的表姐一个生日蛋糕。
  • 等等白英爱吧。她最爱吃蛋糕。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about how to send suitable gifts.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

 MINIBOSS #1: ACT 1 REVIEW

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Pika, Pika! Can you beat me?
Mastery Challenge 1 (Vocabulary and Grammar): ​
​Mastery Challenge 2 (Speaking):
  • Perform the following role-play:
    • Talk about parties.
    • Offer someone a ride to a party; arrange a time and place to meet.
    • Talk about what gifts to bring to the party and why.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 in ALL categories.

BONUS CHALLENGES:
  • ​GODLIKE: Achieve a 100% score on all mastery challenges—zero mistakes!