Chapter 5: "How Dare You, Sir!"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT FORGETTING
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怎么回事？    (zěn me huí shì) what's the matter?
  • 到底是怎么回事儿？
  • 回  =   (huí) [mw] measure word for frequency of an action

丢三落四    (diū sān là sì) [成语] scatterbrained, forgetful
  • 柯林跟天明差不多，常常忘这忘那，丢三落四的。

马虎    (mǎ hu) [adj]; careless, perfunctory, mediocre
  • 哎，这个天明，怎么这么马虎！
  • 别生气了！马虎跟心里没有你是两回事儿。
  • NOTE: The related Chengyu expression "马马虎虎" is often used incorrectly by Chinese learners. (It has two meanings, one of which is "careless" [like 马虎] and the other is "just so-so". But remember, "马马虎虎" DOES NOT describe your mood! See 1) this post and 2) this this post for a detailed explanation.

一干二净    (yī gān èr jìng) [成语] completely, thoroughly
  • this four-character idiom (成语) is mostly used after 得 as a complement
  • verb + 得 + 一干二净 ＝ to completely [verb]
  • 上个学期学的汉子，他已经忘得一干二净了。= He has forgotten every single character that he learned last semester.
  • 他请我们去饭馆吃饭，我去晚了一点，到那儿的时候，他们已经把菜吃得一干二净。= He invited us to dinner. I was a little bit late. When I got there, they had already eaten everything.

忘得一干二净    (wàng de yī gān èr jìng) to completely forget
  • 两个星期前我跟他约好去看一个演唱会，没想到他那天晚上一直玩儿电脑，把演唱会的事儿忘得一干二净。​
Lesson
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Click: Chapter 5 STORY QUEST
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Click: Chapter 5 LEARNING SLIDES
Practice
WRITE: write an email to your boyfriend/girlfriend, criticizing him/her for forgetting something important. You're furious!

SKIT: in a group, write a dialogue between two friends. Memorize your skit and perform in front of the class!
  • Person A complains to Person B about their SO's forgetfulness.
  • Person B gives Person A advice and sympathy.
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 怎么回事？，丢三拉四，马虎，忘得一干二净
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 这是怎么回事儿？
  • 柯林跟天明差不多，常常忘这忘那，丢三落四的。
  • 哎，这个天明，怎么这么马虎！
  • 两个星期前我跟他约好去看一个演唱会，没想到他那天晚上一直玩儿电脑，把演唱会的事儿忘得一干二净。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about forgetful people.
  • Recount an instance when you have forgotten something important, and why.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 6: "Breaking Point"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT RELATIONSHIP CONFLICTS
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吵架    (chǎo jià) [vo]; to quarrel
  • ​昨天林雪梅问了她好几次，她才说她跟张天吵架了。 Lin Xuemei asked her about it several times yesterday, Only then did Lisa say that she had had a fight with Zhang Tianming.
  • 我看你跟柯林两个人挺好的，也不怎么吵架。
  • "小两口吵架不记仇"    "when a young couple fights they don't hold grudges" [a colloquial saying about lovers' quarrels]

生气    (shēng qì) [vo]; to get angry
  • 你说我能不生气吗？
  • 别生气，柯林也常常这样，一看球赛就什么事儿都忘了。
  • 这些虽然都是小事儿，但是叫我非常生气，觉得他根本不在乎我。= These were all small matters, but they made me really upset. I think I really don't matter to him.

分手    (fēn shǒu) [vo]; to break up, to part company
  • 我和你要分手了！
  • 咱们分手吧！

​​*吹*        (chuī) to end a relationship
  • literally, “to blow.” Figuratively, meaning to break up a romantic relationship.
  • A 跟 B 吹 ＝ A breaks up with B
  • 真想跟他吹了。
Lesson
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Click: Chapter 6 STORY QUEST
Picture
Click: Chapter 6 LEARNING SLIDES
Practice
SKIT: in a group, write a dialogue between two friends. Memorize your skit and perform in front of the class!
  • Gossip about the latest relationship drama of the school's most notorious couple.
  • There was a big fight when they broke up! Why?

WRITE: write a dramatic breakup letter with your partner. The more dramatic, the better!
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 吵架，生气，分手，*吹*
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 我看你跟柯林两个人挺好的，也不怎么吵架。
  • 你又把我的生日忘得一干二净了！你说我能不生气吗？
  • 别生气，柯林也常常这样，一看球赛就什么事儿都忘了。
  • 咱们分手吧！
  • 真想跟他吹了。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Recount an instance where you quarreled with another person; explain the context.
  • Talk about breaking up.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

​Chapter 7: "Rival in the Shadows"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT INNER SECRETS
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心事    (xīn shì) [n]; something weighing on one's mind
  • 丽莎这几天好像有什么心事。

到底    (dào dǐ) [adv]; when all's said and done, in the end; [lit. "to get to the bottom"]
  • “到底” is often used in questions to press the other speaker for an answer. It can be translated as “what on earth” or “what in the world.”
  • 你到底去不去？= Are you going or not?
  • 你们俩到底为什么分手？没有人知道。= What’s the real reason those two broke up? No one knows.

发生    (fā shēng) [v]; to happen, to occur, to take place
  • 他们到底发生了什么事儿？= Lin Xuemei couldn't figure out what had happened between the two of them.

原来    (yuán lái) [adv]; as a matter of fact
  • used upon the discovery of new information, implying “a sudden realization.”
  • 噢，原来是这样。
  • 是吗？原来柯林也有马虎的时候。
  • 我早就听说有一个新同屋要来，原来就是你呀。= I heard that a new roommate was coming. So it was you!

难怪    (nán guài) [adv]; no wonder
  • An interjective adverb often used at the beginning of a sentence.
  • 难怪 + statement of mysterious fact, + (explanation).
  • 难怪你不高兴。后来呢？
  • 难怪他不申请念研究生，我刚知道他已经找到工作了。= No wonder he is not applying to graduate school. I just found out that he has already found a job.
  • 难怪这两天他不高兴，原来他女朋友跟他吹了。= No wonder he’s not happy these last couple of days. As it turns out, his girlfriend broke up with him.
Lesson
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Click: Chapter 7 STORY QUEST
Picture
Click: Chapter 7 LEARNING SLIDES
Practice
TRAIN: write 3 sentences each using the following grammar structures:
  • 到底 
  • 难怪... 原来...

WRITE: write a letter from the perspective of parents to a troubled teen. They want to know what secrets s/he is hiding!

​SPEAK: you love to gossip and find out the following information about people at school. Express your surprise; then use the information to explain your previous observations [using 难怪... 原来...]:
  • A teacher looks tired; you find out she is very busy.
  • A friend looks upset; you find out she did very badly on her history test.​
  • A friend looks upset; you find out his parents forgot his birthday.
  • A classmate has been crying all day; you find out her dog died.
  • A parent looks delighted; you find out he has a new romantic partner.
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 心事，到底，发生，原来，难怪
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Translate: What on earth happened between them?
  • Scenario: Your friend is being evasive about whether she wants or not to go to the concert. Press her for a concrete answer using "到底...?"
  • Translate: Really? So as it turns out, Ke Lin also has his moments of carelessness.
  • Translate: No wonder he's been in a bad mood the last couple of days. As it turns out, his girlfriend broke up with him.
  • TARGET: no more than 1 grammar mistake.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 丽莎这几天好像有什么心事。
  • 他们到底发生了什么事儿？
  • 你们俩到底为什么分手？没有人知道。
  • 噢，原来是这样。
  • 是吗？原来柯林也有马虎的时候。
  • 难怪这两天他不高兴，原来他女朋友跟他分手了。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following role-play:
  • Secretly Upset Person: you just broke up with your partner, but nobody knows.
    • Pretend that nothing is wrong.
    • Finally admit the depth of your anxiety, anger, or bad mood.
  • Inquiring Friend: you haven't seen your friend together with his/her partner for days...
    • Inquire into your friend's mood.
    • Persist in your inquiries through denials.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 8: "Romeo vs. Elmo"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT DIFFERENCES
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Practice
Mastery
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背景    (bèi jǐng) [n]; background
  • 丽莎和张天明的文学背景不同。

态度    (tài du) [n]; attitude
  • 后来他见到我，不停地给我道歉，说对不起，态度特别好。

不同    (bù tóng) [n]; different, not the same
  • 丽莎说，他们的兴趣爱好虽然不同，但是一直相处得很好。
  • 丽莎和张天明的文学背景不同。
Lesson
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Click: Chapter 8 STORY QUEST
Picture
Click: Chapter 8 LEARNING SLIDES
Practice
SPEAK: discuss the similarities and differences in your personalities, backgrounds, and interests.

WRITE: write a "pro/con" list for staying together with your current significant other (real or imaginary). On the pro side, you might list their good traits, while on the con side, you might list differences in your background or interests.
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 背景，态度，不同
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 丽莎和张天明的文学背景不同。
  • 后来他见到我，说对不起，态度特别好。
  • 你对中文课有什么态度？
  • 丽莎说，他们的兴趣爱好虽然不同，但是一直相处得很好。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Compare you and your partner’s backgrounds.
  • Compare your attitudes toward different persons, things, or topics.
  • 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 role-play:
    • Careless Partner: your partner is angry, but you don't know why...
      • Inquire into your partner's mood.
      • Ask "what on earth" has happened between you and your partner.
      • Admit that you totally forgot your partner's birthday...
      • Plead with your partner not to fight!
      • Complain about your different backgrounds and attitudes.
      • Try to convince your partner not to break up...
    • Angry Partner:  your partner forgot your birthday, but doesn't know...
      • Admit the depth of your bad mood.
      • Explain "no wonder" that you are angry with your partner.
      • Tell your partner that he/she totally forgot your birthday...
      • Explain how angry you are!
      • Complain about your different backgrounds and attitudes.
      • Threaten to break up...​
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

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