​Chapter 1: "Home"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT SOMEONE'S FAMILY
Preview
Lesson
Practice
Mastery
Preview
这是我的....    (zhè shì wǒ de) This is my....

这    (zhè)

家    (jiā) family, home    

的    possessive or descriptive particle, (de)
  • The particle “的” has many uses in Chinese. Here it indicates a possessive relationship between a “possessor” and a “possessed”. It is equivalent to the “ ’s ” structure in English.
  • Examples:
    • 1. 老师的名字 (lǎo shī de míng zi) = teacher’s name
    • 2. 王朋的妈妈 (wáng péng de mā ma) = Wang Peng’s mother
    • 2. 我的爸爸是老师 (wǒ de bà ba shì lǎo shī) = My dad is a teacher
    • 4. 你的家很大 (nǐ de jiā hěn dà) = Your home is very big

谁    (shéi) who, whom?    
  • 谁 is a “question pronoun.”
  • In Chinese, question words go in the same place in the sentence as they would in the answer to the question.
  • The word order never changes! Super simple.
  • Examples:
    • A: 谁是老师? = Who’s a teacher?
      • B: 李先生是老师。= Mr. Li is a teacher.
    • A: 那个男孩子姓什么？= That boy is surnamed what?
      • B: 那个男孩子姓高。= That boy is surnamed Gao.
    • A: 谁有哥哥？= Who has an older brother?
      • B: 高文中有哥哥。= Gao Wen Zhong has an older brother.
    • A: 这个女孩子是谁？= That girl is who?
      • B: 她是高文中的妹妹。= That girl is Gao Wen Zhong’s sister.

这是谁的家？    This is whose home/family?
Lesson
element_settings.Image_30621876.default
Click for the STORY QUEST
Picture
Click for the LEARNING SLIDES
Practice
SPEAK: Show your partner photos of your family. Ask about your partner's family, and talk about your own family.​​

READ: Take turns reading aloud the following sentences.
  1. 这是谁的家？
  2. 这是我的家。
  3. 他是谁的学生？
  4. 他是熊老师的学生。
  5. 这个人是谁？
  6. 这个人是王朋的老师。

WRITE: Caption the following picture using "这":
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 这，家，的，谁
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Rule: Explain the grammar of the "的" particle. What is the structure? Give examples.
    • Translate: This is my father.
    • Translate: He is my (oldest) brother's son.
  • Rule: Explain how to use "question pronouns" in Chinese (where do they go in a sentence?). Give examples.
    • Puzzle: List at three different Chinese "question pronouns."
    • ​Translate: Who has older sisters?
  • TARGET: no more than 1 grammar mistake.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 这是谁的家？
  • 这是我的家。
  • 老师的名字是熊老师。 
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Describe the people in a family photo.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 2: "Head of the Table"

HOW TO DESCRIBE SOMEONE'S PARENTS
Preview
Lesson
Practice
Mastery
Preview
爸爸    (bà ba) dad, father    

妈妈    (mā ma) mom, mother    

他    (tā) he, him    

她    (tā) she, her    

Sentences:
  • 这是我的爸爸 = This is my father
  • 这是我的妈妈 = This is my mother
  • 爸爸妈妈 = parents
  • 她是我的妈妈 = She is my mother
  • 他是我的爸爸 = He is my father
Lesson
element_settings.Image_30621876.default
Click for the STORY QUEST
Picture
Click for the LEARNING SLIDES
Practice
SPEAK: Bring photos of your parents and talk about them with your partner.

WRITE: Caption the following picture using new words:
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 爸爸，妈妈，他，她
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 这是我的爸爸。
  • 这是我的妈妈。
  • 她是我的妈妈。
  • 他是我的爸爸。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Describe someone's parents.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 3: "Modern Family"

HOW TO DESCRIBE SOMEONE'S SIBLINGS
Preview
Lesson
Practice
Mastery
Preview
哥哥    (gē ge) older brother    
  • 这是我的哥哥 = This is my older brother

弟弟    (dì di) younger brother
  • 这是我的弟弟 = This is my younger brother

姐姐    (jiě jie) older sister    
  • 这是我的姐姐 = This is my older sister

妹妹    (mèi mei) younger sister    
  • 这是我的妹妹 = This is my younger sister

高文中    Gāo Wén Zhōng (NAME)
  • This is a person in our textbook dialogues.
  • 高 = surname, 文中 = given name.​
Lesson
element_settings.Image_30621876.default
Click for the STORY QUEST
Picture
Click for the LEARNING SLIDES
Practice
SPEAK: Bring photos of your siblings and talk about them with your partner. If you don't have siblings, you can use photos from the Internet.

WRITE: Caption the following picture using new words:
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 哥哥，弟弟，姐姐，妹妹，高文中
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 他是我的弟弟。
  • 她是我的妹妹。
  • 这是我的姐姐。
  • 高文中是我的哥哥。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Describe the following family tree (including siblings):
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 4: "Bundles of Joy"

HOW TO DESCRIBE SOMEONE'S CHILDREN
Preview
Lesson
Practice
Mastery
Preview
孩子    child (hái zi)    
  • 孩 = child, 子 = son or child

男 (nán) male

男孩子    male child

女    (nǚ) female    

女孩子    female child

儿子    (ér zi) son    

女儿    (nǚ ér) daughter    

Sentences:
  • 这是我的孩子 =  This is my child
  • 我是男孩子 = I am a male child / boy
  • 我是女孩子 = I am a female child / girl
  • 这是我的儿子 = This is my son
  • 这是我的女儿 = This is my daughter
Lesson
element_settings.Image_30621876.default
Click for the STORY QUEST
Picture
Click for the LEARNING SLIDES
Practice
SKIT: In groups, write a dialogue based on two parents talking about your respective children. Memorize your skit and perform in front of the class! Use photos if possible.

WRITE: Caption the following picture using new words:
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 孩子，男，男孩子，女，女孩子，儿子，女儿
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 这是我的孩子。
  • 我是男孩子。
  • 我是女孩子。
  • 他是我的儿子。
  • 她是我的女儿。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Describe the following family tree (including children):
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

 MINIBOSS #1: ACT 1 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 someone's/your own family.​​
    • Describe the people in a family photo (including parents, siblings, and children).
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

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