Chapter 10: "The Cruelest Month"

HOW TO NEGOTIATE RENT
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房租    (fáng zū) rent for a room or house

元    (yuán) Chinese monetary unit; dollar

美元    (měi yuán) American dollar; US dollar

人民币    (rén mín bì) Renminbi (RMB), PRC currency
  • 1美元 = 6.3人民币 (approximately)
  • See Sina Finance for current exchange rates

能不能...?    can...?

Sentences:
  • A：每个月房租多少钱？
  • B：八百五十元。
  • A：八百五十美元？人民币差不多是...有一点儿贵，能不能便宜点儿？
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RESEARCH: compare and contrast the average rents of different cities around the world. Write a paragraph summarizing your findings.

SPEAK: ​discuss what would be considered a reasonable monthly rent for different apartments and cities; explain your reasoning.

WRITE: write a dialogue based on the following picture:​
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 房租，元，美元，人民币，能不能...?
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Culture: 一百美元是多少人命币？(approximately)
  • Culture: 一百人命币是多少人美元？(approximately)​
  • TARGET: no mistakes.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • A：请问，房租是多少？
  • B：每月一百美元。
  • A：一百美元是六百人民币！太贵了吧！
  • B：上海的房租就是这么贵。
  • A：能不能便宜一点儿？
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:

Chapter 11: "Final Hours"

HOW TO NEGOTIATE UTILITIES AND DEPOSITS
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付    (fù) to pay

水电费    (shuǐ diàn fèi) water and electricity fees

押金    (yā jīn) security deposit; cash pledge

当    (dāng) to be; to act as

付一个月的房租当押金        pay a month's rent [which acts] as a security deposit

还    (huán) to pay back; to return

搬出去的时候还给你        return it to you when you move out

Sentences:
  • A：那你不用付水电费。
  • B：要不要付押金？
  • A：要多付一个月的房租当押金，搬出去的时候还给你。
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​​SKIT: in a group, write a dialogue on the following prompt. Memorize your skit and perform in front of the class!
  • A renter approaches a landlord about an apartment he likes.
  • The landlord's quoted rent is too high, however.
  • Haggle about the price, deposit, and fees!

WRITE: write a short story based on the pictures below:
Mastery
​​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 付，水电费，押金，当，还 [verb]
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • A：你得付一个月的房租当押金，搬出去的时候还给你。
  • B：好，没问题。
  • A：另外，每个月要付差不多三百美元的水电费。
  • B：有一点儿贵。
  • A：上海就是这么贵！
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about the cost of utilities.
  • Talk about security deposits.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 12: "Against the Tide"

HOW TO FINALIZE A RENTAL AGREEMENT
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差不多    (chà bu duō) almost; nearly; more or less

[# under ten]+MW+多+noun:    sentence pattern to indicate an approximate number

[# ten and over]+多+MW+noun:    the same structure as above, but with numbers greater than ten

一个多月    over one month [but less than two]

一块多钱    over one dollar [but less than two]

一百多块钱    over one hundred dollars [but less than two hundred]

Sentences:
  • 八百五十美元？人民币差不多是...有一点儿贵，能不能便宜点儿？
  • 他找房子找了一个多月了，可是还没有找到合适的。
  • 我不相信一把椅子才一块多钱。太便宜了吧！
  • 我已经花了一百多块钱！今天不能再买东西了。
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TRAIN: write 3 sentences using each of the following grammar structures:​
  1. [# under ten]+MW+多+noun
  2. [# ten and over]+多+MW+noun
​​
READ: read the text below and answer the following questions:

1) If the weekly rent is $700 or below, what is the highest amount the security deposit can be?
2) What are three methods you can use to pay the rent?
3) Which utilities are included in the rent?
​押金
如果每周租金为$700或更低，则押金最高金额相当于4周房租。如果每周租金超过$700，则押金最高金额不限。

租金
可通过如下认可的方式支付租金：
 » 现金
 » 支票
 » 存入金融机构（由房东指定）
 » 信用卡
 » 从您的工资或养老金中扣除

公用事业
租金包括水电费用，不包括煤气/电话/互联网。
Mastery
​​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 一个多月，差不多
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Rule (in English): Describe how to state numbers that are approximately less than a given number. Give examples.
  • Rule (in English): Describe how to state numbers that are approximately more than a given number. 
    • Note: There are *TWO* different structures to do this. Describe both, and give examples of each.
  • Translate: over one month [but less than two]
  • Translate: over one hundred dollars [but less than two hundred]
  • Translate: almost $850 RMB
  • Detective (find and fix the mistakes): 一多块钱
  • Detective (find and fix the mistakes): 二十个多学生
  • TARGET: no more than 2 grammar mistakes.

​SPEAKING: describe the approximate amounts below:
  • >¥1
  • >2 months
  • <2 months
  • ​>$50
  • >$900
  • <¥850
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 13: “Another Dimension! Looking For Home"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT HOMELESSNESS
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无家可归 (wú jiā kě guī) [adj phrase] be homeless; wander about without a home
  • “无 = no, 家 = home，可 = can [可以]，归 = return”
  • 我们怎么能帮无家可归的人？可以帮他们找工作，或者找更便宜的公寓。= How can we help homeless people? We can help them find jobs, or cheaper apartments.
  • 那些无家可归的孩子好可怜 (kě lián = pitiable) 啊！= Those homeless children are so pitiable!
  • 自从他的父母生病了以后，他就一直无家可归。= Since his parents got sick, he’s been continuously homeless.

流浪汉 (liú làng hàn) [n] homeless person; tramp; wanderer
  • There are a variety of different ways to say “homeless” person in Chinese, with different connotations.
  • “流浪汉” is more negative / rude
  • “无家可归的人” is neutral
  • “无家可归者 (zhě)” [者 = -person suffix] is neutral/formal

收容所 (shōu róng suǒ) asylum, penitentiary, hospice
  • 动物收容所 = animal shelter
  • 无家可归者收容所 = homeless shelter 

危机 (wēi jī) crisis [n]
  • 气候变化危机：climate change crisis
  • 无家可归危机: homelessness crisis
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“​Chapter 14: Crisis Resolved! A Tale of Two Cities”

HOW TO TALK ABOUT INCOME INEQUALITY
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房价 (fáng jià) house price; cost of housing
  • 房价 = cost when buying a residence
  • 房租 = cost when renting an apartment
  • 日本房价比中国的便宜 = Japanese housing prices are cheaper than in China

工资 (gōng zī) wages; pay; earnings; salary
  • Ex：她的新工作工资很高。= Her new job’s wages are really high.
  • Ex:  我每月工资六百美元。= My every month’s salary is $600 dollars.

贫富差距 (pín fù chā jù) wealth gap (between rich and poor)
  • 中国的贫富差距越来越大。= China's wealth gap is more and more big.

富有 (fù yǒu) wealthy; rich
  • 他是世界(shì jiè = world)上最富有的人。= He's the world’s wealthiest person.

贫穷 (pín qióng) poor; impoverished
  • 从这两个孩子的衣服就能看得出来家里非常贫穷。= You could tell from their clothes that the two kids were from very poor families.

移民 (yí mín) to immigrate, to migrate [v] / immigration, migration [n] / immigrant, migrant [n]
  • Ex：我是中国移民。
  • Ex：很多人想移民到美国。
  • Ex：你觉得非法(fēi fǎ)移民是一个危机吗？
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 MINIBOSS #3: ACT 3 REVIEW

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Pika, Pika! Can you beat me?
Mastery Challenge 1 (Vocabulary and Grammar): ​
​Mastery Challenge 2 (Speaking):
  • Perform the following conversation tasks:
    • Discuss a suitable rent for your apartment, house, or dorm room.
    • Convert the rent from RMB to USD (and vice versa).
    • Describe approximate amounts of money [using 多/差不多].
    • Talk about the cost of utilities and a security deposit.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

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