Chapter 10: "Kidnapping! Threat from the Shadows"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT THE CHINESE ZODIAC
Preview
Lesson
Practice
Mastery
Preview
去年    (qù nián) last year
  • 是去年生的 = was born last year

属    (shǔ) to belong to; be born in the year of (one of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals)
  • There are twelve Chinese zodiac animals, each representing one year in a twelve-year cycle. According to a popular but unscientific theory, one’s personality and temperament have much to do with the animal that represents the year of one’s birth.​

狗    (gǒu) dog
  • Besides being the word for dog in general, this is also one the twelve Chinese zodiac animals. In order, they are: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, chicken, dog, and pig.

Sentences:
  • 汤姆刚一岁，是去年生的，属狗。
Lesson
element_settings.Image_30621876.default
Click for the STORY QUEST
Picture
Click for the LEARNING SLIDES
Practice
SPEAK: talk about the year of your birth and your Chinese zodiac sign. Do you think it describes you accurately? What about last year? This year? Next year? 

WRITE: write a personality profile for your baby cousin, who was born last year. Base it off the corresponding Chinese zodiac sign.
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 去年，属，狗
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Translate: He was born last year, born in the Year of the Dog.
  • Culture: Identify the current Zodiac Year.
  • Culture: Identify your Zodiac Animal.
  • TARGET: no mistakes.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 汤姆刚一岁，是去年生的，属狗。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about the year of your birth.
  • Talk about your Chinese zodiac sign.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

​Chapter 11: "Eyewitness Report"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT FACIAL CHARACTERISTICS
Preview
Lesson
Practice
Mastery
Preview
脸    (liǎn) face

眼睛    (yǎn jing) eye

鼻子    (bí zi) nose

嘴    (zuǐ) mouth

头发    (tóu fa) hair

耳朵    (ěr duō) ear

眉毛    (méi máo) eyebrow

牙齿    (yá chǐ) teeth

皮肤    (pí fū) skin

Sentences:
  • 你们看，他的脸圆圆的，眼睛大大的，鼻子高高的，嘴不大也不小，长得很像海伦。
Lesson
element_settings.Image_30621876.default
Click for the STORY QUEST
Picture
Click for the LEARNING SLIDES
Practice
SPEAK: compare each other's facial characteristics. What are the differences and similarities?

WRITE: write a description of the facial characteristics of a celebrity. Include a photo for comparison.
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 脸，眼睛，鼻子，嘴
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 你们看他的脸。眼睛大，鼻子高，嘴小。
  • TARGET: no mistakes, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Describe your own facial characteristics.
  • Give a simple description of the faces of these people.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 12: "Final Clue: A Familiar Face..."

HOW TO TALK ABOUT IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS
Preview
Lesson
Practice
Mastery
Preview
像    (xiàng) (look) like; similar (to)

圆    (yuán) round; circular; spherical
  • 圆圆的＝ exaggerated, “cute” version of 圆

脸圆圆的        round face

鼻子高高的        high nose

眼睛大大的        big eyes

嘴不大也不小        neither big or small mouth

Sentences:
  • 他的脸很像汤姆的脸。
  • 你们看，他的脸圆圆的，眼睛大大的，鼻子高高的，嘴不大也不小，长得很像海伦。
Lesson
element_settings.Image_30621876.default
Click for the STORY QUEST
Picture
Click for the LEARNING SLIDES
Practice
​SPEAK: discuss the identifying characteristics of a cute baby. Use photos for reference.

​WRITE: create a Craigslist "Missed Connections" ad. Describe someone you met at a party, using their identifying characteristics, in the hopes that you can meet them again.
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 像，圆，圆圆的
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Translate: He looks a lot like Helen.
  • TARGET: no mistakes.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 他的脸很像汤姆的脸。
  • 你们看，他的脸圆圆的，眼睛大大的，鼻子高高的，嘴不大也不小。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Give a more complex description of the faces of these people.
  • BONUS: Compare Chinese beauty standards with those of other cultures.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 13: "True Murderer Revealed! Ultimate Betrayal"

HOW TO PRAISE APPEARANCE
Preview
Lesson
Practice
Mastery
Preview
长得    (zhǎng de) to appear as
  • A + 长得 + 像 + B = A looks like B [usually used to compare people's appearances] 

长大    (zhǎng dà) to grow up

可爱    (kě ài) cute; lovely; amiable

Sentences:
  • 你们看，他的脸圆圆的，眼睛大大的，鼻子高高的，嘴不大也不小，长得很像海伦。
  • 妈妈这么漂亮，儿子长大一定也很帅。
  • 哎，汤姆长得真可爱！你们看，他笑了。
Lesson
element_settings.Image_30621876.default
Click for the STORY QUEST
Picture
Click for the LEARNING SLIDES
Practice
SPEAK: find at least 3 photos of very cute children. Exchange photos and remark on the appearance of the children in your partner's photos. Which one is the cutest?!

WRITE: write a short story about little Tom and his grandmother, who loves to comment on his cuteness!
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 长得，长大，可爱
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 你们看，他的脸圆圆的，眼睛大大的，鼻子高高的，嘴不大也不小，长得很像海伦。
  • 妈妈这么漂亮，儿子长大一定也很帅。
  • 哎，汤姆长得真可爱！你们看，他笑了。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Compare the faces of different people. Explain why they look alike (or not).
  • Talk about growing up.
  • Talk about cute things.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

 MINIBOSS #3: ACT 3 REVIEW

Picture
Pika, Pika! Can you beat me?
Mastery Challenge 1 (Vocabulary and Grammar): ​
​Mastery Challenge 2 (Speaking):
  • Perform the following conversation tasks:
    • Talk about your Chinese zodiac sign.
    • Talk about growing up.
    • Compare and contrast the facial features of different people.​
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

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