Chapter 4: "The Hogwarts Curriculum (1)"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT CLASSES
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历史    (lì shǐ) history

文学    (wén xué) literature

科学    (kē xué) science

哲学    (zhé xué) philosophy

政治    (zhèng zhì) politics

​Sentences:
  • 张天明这个学期选了四门课：世界历史、电脑、政治学和中文。
  • 我想学文学和科学。
  • 我最喜欢的是哲学，因为我喜欢想问题。
Lesson
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SPEAK: talk about your favorite and least favorite classes, using the words in Chapter 4. Give reasons.

WRITE: make a list ranking these five subjects in order of interest (#1 being the most interesting, #5 being the least interesting). Write a short paragraph explaining your ranking.
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 历史，文学，科学，哲学，政治
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 张天明这个学期选了四门课：世界历史、电脑、政治学和中文。
  • 我想学文学和科学。
  • 我最喜欢的课是哲学，因为我喜欢想问题。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about different classes.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 5: "The Hogwarts Curriculum (2)"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT CLASSES
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系    (xì) department [of a college or university]
  • used as a suffix after an academic subject. For example：
    • 电脑系 ＝ computer department
    • 文学系＝ literature department
    • 哲学系＝ philosophy department
    • 政治学系 = political science department

数学    (shù xué) math
  • “学” can be used as a suffix meaning “academic subject,” e.g. “政治学” (political science), “经济学” (economics), “医学” (medical science), “化学” (chemistry), etc.

经济    (jīng jì) economics; economy

​化学    (huà xué) chemistry
  • 我想再选一门化学、一门经济，另外4再选两门电脑系的课，这样学分就够了。

金融    (jīn róng) finance; banking
  • 但是我对金融没有兴趣。
Lesson
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SPEAK: talk about your favorite and least favorite classes, using the words in Chapter 5. Give reasons.

SPEAK: discuss which classes are most useful, and why.

WRITE: make a plan for your first semester at college. Which courses do you plan to take, and why? Give reasons for each choice.
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 系，数学，化学，经济，金融
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 我想再选一门化学，一门经济，另外再选两门电脑系的课。
  • 但是我对金融没有兴趣。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about different classes. (using new words)
  • Talk about departments.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 6: "The Last Enemy is Death"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT A CLASS'S PROS AND CONS
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经验    (jīng yàn) experience; to experience
  • 你没有什么工作经验，先找个地方实习一下 。

文章    (wén zhāng) essay; article
  • 这门课得花很多时间准备，还常常要写文章 。

轻松    (qīng sōng) easy; light; relaxed
  • 马上又得选下个学期的课了，张天明希望下个学期能轻松点儿。

数字    (shù zì) numeral; figure; digit
  • 她希望我念金融。但是我对金融没有兴趣，整天跟数字打交道，多没意思。​
Lesson
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SPEAK: compare and contrast two or more classes. Which do you prefer, and why?

WRITE: write a letter to your parents asking them for advice. You want to drop one of your classes, but are unsure if you should do so. Include a list of the class's pros and cons.
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 经验，经常，文章，数字，轻松
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 你没有什么工作经验，先找个地方实习一下 。
  • 这门课得花很多时间准备，还常常要写文章 。
  • 马上又得选下个学期的课了，张天明希望下个学期能轻松点儿。
  • 她希望我念金融。但是我对金融没有兴趣，整天跟数字打交道，多没意思。​
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about the pros and cons of different classes [easy, hard, etc.]
  • Talk about different kinds of experience.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 7: "The Headmaster's Intervention"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
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毕业    (bì yè) to graduate
  • 对了，你还得再上几门课才能毕业？
  • 李哲，你毕业以后打算做什么？

学位    (xué wèi) academic degree
  • 我想拿双学位 (dual academic degree)，还得上四门课。

学分    (xué fēn) academic credit
  • 我想再选一门化学，一门经济，另外再选两门电脑系的课，这样学分就够了。

成绩    (chéng jì) academic grades; achievement
  • 他对考试成绩非常担心 = He’s very worried about his exam grades.
  • 她的成绩是B+。= She got a grade of B plus.

这样    (zhè yàng) in this way​
  • This is a conjunction that connects two clauses. The second clause should refer to what has just been mentioned in the first clause.
  • 选课以前你应该听听指导教授的意见，这样你的课才能选的合适。= Before you decide on your courses you should consult with your advisor. This is the only way to choose the appropriate courses.​
  • 我想申请离家比较近的学校，这样我就可以搬回家去住。= I'd like to apply to a school that's closer to home. In this way I can move back home.
Lesson
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TRAIN: write 3 sentences using the following grammar structure:​
  • 这样​

WRITE: write down in detail what you classes you need to take in future years and terms to fulfill graduation requirements.

WRITE: write an advertisement for a new college with... "unique" graduation requirements.
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 毕业，学位，学分，成绩，这样
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Translate: I'd like to apply to a school that's closer to home. In this way I can move back home.
  • TARGET: no grammar mistakes.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 对了，你还得再上几门课才能毕业？
  • 李哲，你毕业以后打算做什么？
  • 我想拿双学位，还得上四门课。
  • 我想再选一门化学，一门经济，另外再选两门电脑系的课，这样学分就够了。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about graduation requirements.
  • Talk about academic degrees.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

 MINIBOSS #2: ACT 2 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:
    • Talk about different academic classes, departments, and grades.
    • Discuss the pressures of different classes.​
    • Discuss graduation requirements for high school or college.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

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