​Chapter 1: "The End of the World"

HOW TO MAKE HARD DECISIONS
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哎呀        (āi yā) (an exclamation to express surprise) gosh; ah 
  • 哎呀，太贵了！

​需要     (xū yào) to need; needs
  • 林雪梅和丽莎正好需要买日用品。

在乎        (zài hu) to mind, to care 
  • negative form: 不在乎 (used more often than affirmative form)
  • 别人说什么，我都不在乎。
  • 他很在乎别人怎么看他。

(要)不然        (yào bù rán) otherwise
  • statement 1, 要不然, statement 2
  • 买东西，我只买名牌的，要不然就不买。​​​= When I buy things I only buy name brand [things], otherwise, I just won't buy.
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TRAIN: write 3 sentences each using the following grammar structures:
  • (要)不然
  • 在乎 vs. 不在乎

​​READ: after reading the following passage, translate it into English:
  • 哎呀，我刚发现一件非常讨厌的事！我跟朋友出去购物的时候，父母每次都会建议，要选质量好的衣服，要不然就不买。于是我好久没有买新衣服了，因为我从来找不到合适的选择。原来如此，我的父母自己买衣服的时候，从来不在乎质量的问题！

SPEAK: tell each other about a decision you are having trouble making. Give each other advice. Finally, make the decision one way or another.

WRITE: write a letter to your parents, telling them why you chose to do something that they disagree with.
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 哎呀，在乎，需要，(要)不然
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Translate: I only buy name brand [things], otherwise, I just won't buy.
  • Translate: Lin Xuemei and Lisa need to buy some daily necessities, so Ke Lin takes them to the shopping center.
  • TARGET: no grammar mistakes.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 哎呀，太贵了！
  • 别人说什么，我都不在乎。
  • 他很在乎别人怎么看他。
  • 买东西，我只买便宜的，要不然就不买。
  • 林雪梅和丽莎正好需要买日用品。
  • ​TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about how to make hard but necessary decisions.
  • Talk about the things you do and don't value.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 2: "Aftermath"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT SHOPPING
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购物    (gòu wù) to shop; shopping 
  • 于是柯林就带他们来到附近一家最大的购物中心。

价钱    (jià qian) price 
  • 我不在乎价钱，我的钱已经太多了。

现金    (xiàn jīn) cash 
  • Q: 先生，付现金，还是用信用卡？A: 我付现金。​

打折    (dǎ zhé) to give a discount
  • 打折 means "on sale". When coupled with numbers, the phrase indicates a specific percentage off, e.g.:
    • 打一折＝ to give a 90% discount [10% of the original price]
    • 打九折＝ to give a 10% discount [90% of the original price]
  • 1. 这个周末很多东西都打折，我们去买吧。
  • 2. 我买了一张飞机票，打五折，一百二十五块钱。
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SPEAK: where is your favorite place to go shopping? Discuss things such as location, hours, price, payment method, discounts, variety of choice, etc.

CLASS SURVEY: interview at least five classmates: where do they prefer to go shopping? In a shopping mall? Online? A specific city? Why?

WRITE: write a blog post describing a typical shopping trip. Include photos.
Mastery
Chapter 2 Mastery Test:

​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 购物，价钱，现金，打折
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

​GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Rule (in English): explain the 打折 structure, and how it's different from English usage. Give examples.
  • Translate: 10% off
  • Translate: 90% off
  • TARGET: no grammar mistakes.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 林雪梅和丽莎正好需要买日用品。
  • 柯林就带他们来到附近一家最大的购物中心。
  • 我不在乎价钱，我的钱已经太多了。
  • Q: 先生，付现金，还是用信用卡？A: 我付现金。​
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about shopping for necessities and luxuries.
  • Talk about prices and discounts.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 3: "The Evil Price Gougers"

HOW TO NEGOTIATE PRICES
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有道理    (dào lǐ) reasonable; has reason or sense 
  • 你说的有道理。

只好    (zhǐ haǒ) to be forced to; to have no choice but to
  • reason or situation, 只要 + result
  • 这件衣服的牌子不好，穿一，两次就不想穿了，只好再买一件。

物美价廉         (wù měi jià lián) attractive goods at inexpensive prices 
  • This expression is a “成语” (chéng yǔ), or a four character idiom
    • 成语 are very prevalent at higher levels of Chinese
    • Each of the characters in the 成语 has a specific meaning, which when added together make up the meaning of the whole idiom
  • 物 =things/stuff, 美=beautiful, 价=价钱/price, 廉=inexpensive
  • 买衣服只考虑便宜当然不好！要物美价廉。

加税    (jiā shuì) to add taxes 
  • 加=verb (to add)，税=object (taxes)​
  • 先生，这条裤子加上税一共是一百八十六块四。
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​WRITE: write an advice column on the topic of how to negotiate prices.

SKIT: in a group, write a dialogue between a shopkeeper and a customer. Memorize your skit and perform in front of the class!
  • The customer is interested in buying an item, but it's unreasonably expensive.
  • Are there discounts?
  • How much tax will be added?
  • Can she use cash or credit card?
  • Negotiate the price of the item!
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 物美价廉，有道理，只好，加税
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 你说的有道理。
  • 这件衣服不好，穿一，两次就不想穿了，只好再买一件。
  • 买衣服只考虑便宜当然不好！要物美价廉。
  • 先生，这条裤子加上税一共是一百八十六块四。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:​
  • Talk about being forced to do something.
  • Talk about taxes. Do you think they are reasonable?
  • Explain what the expression "物美价廉" means. Provide examples.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 4: "Reduced to Cannibalism"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT STANDARDS
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同意    (tóng yì) to agree 
  • Q: 你同意吗？A: 我不同意。

标准    (biāo zhǔn) standard; criterion 
  • A “标准” is a standard for judging something. In Chinese, a 标准 is expressed in the form of a NOUN PHRASE, that is, a statement coming from a specific perspective. It’s not a simple adjective or a verb.
  • The context in this word is used is usually as follows:
    • 你 ［action］有什么标准？
    • 我有［＃number］标准
    • 第一个标准是。。。［NOUN PHRASE］
    • 第二个标准是。。。［NOUN PHRASE］
  • Ex: 我买衣服有两个标准。第一是穿着舒服，第二是物美价廉。
  • Ex: 我找大学有两个标准。第一是要在大城市，第二是学费要比较便宜。
  • Ex: 我交朋友有两个标准。他们第一是要在美国长大的，第二是要很聪明。

​无论... 都…        (wú lùn... dōu) regardless of... still... 
  • “无论” signifies the result will remain the same under any condition
  • The condition must contain a question pronoun (还是，谁，什么, etc)
  • structure 1: “无论 Condition 1 还是 Condition 2, sub + 都 + result”
  • structure 2: “无论 Condition, sub + 都 + result”
  • 张天明从家里到学校来的时候，妈妈给他买了一些衣服，可是他觉得无论是样子还是颜色都不太好。
  • 明天无论谁请客我都不去。
  • 城里的购物中心我都没去过，所以无论去哪个都可以。
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SPEAK: discuss your standards for buying clothing. 

WRITE: write a list of 10 things you will never do, no matter what, using the 无论...都... structure.

WRITE: respond to the following statement: "选爱人不需要太多标准，只要三样： 不骗你、不伤害你、和愿意陪着你." 你同意吗？为什么是／否？

READ: read the following Chairman's Bao article, "中国网络现“iPhone 6腿”热潮". Answer these questions:
  1. 什么是 “iPhone6腿”？
  2. 你对 “iPhone6腿” 的标准有什么想法？

最近，“A4腰”带来的热潮还没有过去，中国网络上又开始流行“iPhone6腿”。顾名思义，“iPhone6腿”就是两腿合在一起时，膝盖能被苹果公司的iPhone6手机遮住。因为iPhone6手机长13.8厘米，这就要求两个膝盖合在一起时宽度不能大于13.8厘米。一时间，很多网友都加入挑战，并把自己的“iPhone6腿”照片放到网上，“iPhone6腿”已经变成新的美腿标准。

对网络上这种层出不穷的美的标准，网友们有很多有意思的看法。有人认为这样的挑战很有意思，也很容易做。有人觉得“iPhone腿”的标准太高了，问“可以用iPad吗？”。有人问“这是不是苹果公司想出来的点子？”。还有人表示，这个挑战最大的问题是你得先有个iPhone6，得是有钱人。
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 同意，标准，无论...都...
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Translate: Whether it's style or color, he doesn't think [the clothes] are very good.
  • Detective: 衣服无论是颜色张天明都不喜欢。
  • TARGET: no grammar mistakes.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • Q: 你同意吗？A: 我不同意。
  • 我买衣服有两个标准。第一是穿着舒服，第二是物美价廉。
  • 张天明从家里到学校来的时候，妈妈给他买了一些衣服，可是他觉得无论是样子还是颜色都不太好。
  • 明天无论谁请客我都不去。
  • 城里的购物中心我都没去过，所以无论去哪个都可以。
  • TARGET: no more than 2 mistakes, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Discuss your personal criteria for buying clothes.
  • Explain the value of your criteria.
  • ​Agree and expand on someone else’s argument.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

​Chapter 5: "Project Runway"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT FASHION
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非... 不可    (fēi...bù kě) have to; nothing but...would do ​
  • very strong expression, implies addiction or lack of choice
  • structure: “sub + 非 + verb + [obj] + 不可”
  • 你为什么非买名牌不可？

时髦    (shí máo) fashionable; stylish 
  • 我买衣服有两个标准。第一是穿着舒服，第二是物美价廉，是什么牌子的，时髦不时髦，我都不在乎。

好看    (hǎo kàn) nice-looking, attractive 
  • 我不喜欢看林雪梅穿不好看的衣服。

像        (xiàng) such as 
  • similar in use to "比方说" or “比如”, but slightly less formal
  • 妈妈给张天明买了一些衣服，像衬衫，裤子，和袜子。​
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CLOTHING SHOWCASE: brings in a few articles of your clothing. Discuss the stylishness of the clothing you brought. What makes something stylish or not stylish? Is being stylish important to you? Why or why not?

WRITE: write a letter to your principal on the topic of school uniforms. Either express support for them, or argue that students should be able to wear what they want. 

WRITE: write a fashion advice column for high school students. Include photos.

TRAIN: write 3 sentences in your journal using the following grammar structure:
  • ​​非... 不可

SPEAK: look at the following photograph and discuss: Are the outfits fashionable? Would you see them being worn on the streets today? Why or why not?
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 非...不可，像，时髦，好看​
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • ​你为什么非买衣服不可？
  • 我买衣服有两个标准。第一是穿着舒服，第二是物美价廉。时髦不时髦，我都不在乎。
  • 我不喜欢看林雪梅穿不好看的衣服。
  • 妈妈给张天明买了一些衣服，像衬衫，裤子，和袜子。​
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about fashion.
  • Talk about good-looking people or things.
  • Talk about things that you "have to" do.
  • 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 conversation tasks:
    • Discuss different criteria for buying things. Which ones do you value, and why?
    • ​Talk about different places to shop. What do you buy there?
    • Talk about prices and taxes.
    • Talk about fashion and good-looking outfits.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

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