Chapter 9: "Mind Control"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT DOWNLOADING SOFTWARE
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免费    (miǎn fèi) [v]; to be free of charge 
  • A: 微信，电邮不花钱。=  You don’t have to pay for WeChat or emails.
  • B: 没错！免费，又快又方便。= That’s right! It’s free, both fast and convenient.

下载    (xià zǎi) [v]; to download
 
软件    (ruǎn jiàn) [n]; software
  • 下载软件＝download software
  • 翻译软件＝translation software
  • 对不起，对不起，我在网上下载了一个软件，又查了一点儿东西，结果忘了时间了。

感觉    (gǎn jué) [n/v]; feeling, to feel or perceive
  • 我有一个不好的感觉 (n) ＝ I have a bad feeling
  • 我感觉 (v) 不舒服＝I feel uncomfortable
  • 可是有的时候，发电邮不如打电话感觉好。= But sometimes, reading WeChat messages and emails don't feel as good as a phone call.​
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SPEAK: talk about downloading software. Do you pay for it, or do you download it for free?

WRITE: find some free software on the Internet. Write specific instructions for how to download it.
Mastery
​​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 免费，下载，软件，感觉
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 因为电邮不花钱又省时间...没错！免费，又快又方便。
  • 对不起，对不起，我在网上下载了一个软件，又查了一点儿东西，结果忘了时间了。
  • 可是有的时候，看微信，看电邮没有打电话感觉好。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about downloading software.
  • Talk about free things.
  • Talk about feelings or perceptions.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 10: "Terminator Salvation"

HOW TO REACH CONCLUSIONS
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看起来    (kàn qǐ lái) [vc]; it looks like...​
  • 看＝verb (to see)，起来＝compound directional complement
    • can be used before or after the subject​​
  • "verb＋起来＋adjective"＝to look at, discuss, or comment on something from the point of view of "V".
  • NOTE: 起来 is an abstract direction complement used in many different grammatical contexts. Here, 起来 is being used to express the speaker's judgement. The subject seems "adjective" when the action of the verb is performed often used with sensing verbs like 看起来/听起来...
  • (A lot of direction complements, particularly compound direction complements, have additional idiomatic meanings beyond literally describing the physical direction of an action. These are the so-called "ABSTRACT DIRECTION COMPLEMENTS." They are often used figuratively to express result.)

Examples:
  1. 李阿姨这几天常常哭，看起来心情很不好，她到底怎么了？= Auntie Li has been crying a lot in the last few days. It seems she’s in a bad mood. What’s going on with her?
  2. 天气不太好，很快就会下雨，看起来（咱们）不能去公园打球了。= The weather isn’t very good. It’ll rain soon. It doesn’t look like we’ll be able to play ball in the park anymore.
  3. 天明，你几乎整天待在屋子里玩儿电脑，看起来真是玩儿上瘾了。
 
听起来    (tīng qǐ lái) [vc]; it sounds like...
  • 听＝verb (to see)，起来＝compound directional complement
    • What follows this expression is the speaker’s interpretation or conclusion based on what he heard.

Examples:
  1. 今天电视里有一个卖电脑的广告，听起来又便宜又好，我真想买一台。= There was a computer commercial on TV today. It sounded very inexpensive and very good. I really wanted to order one.
  2. ​怎么？听起来好像你不爱跟我聊天儿。​

百分之＋X        (bǎi fēn zhī) [n]; percent "X"
  • 百分之 + [＃] = [#] %
    • 百分＝ 100 points，之＝of（的）
    • 百分之 literally means “out of 100 points”
  • 百分之一百＝100%, 百分之十＝10%, 百分之一＝1%
  • 百分之七十的人用网络看新闻 = 50% of people use the Internet to read news
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TRAIN: write 3 sentences each using the following grammar structures:
  • 看起来
  • 听起来

WRITE: write a letter to your parents, telling them the conclusion to a scandalous incident that occurred recently.

SKIT: in a group, write a dialogue between gossiping friends. Memorize your skit and perform in front of the class!
  •  Gossip about a fellow student who has been absent from class for many days.
  • Reach certain speculative conclusions...
Mastery
​​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 看起来，听起来，百分之​X
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Rule (in English): Explain the "...起来" structure and describe when it's used. Give at least two examples.
  • Translate: It looks like you're really addicted to playing [on your computer].
  • Translate: It sounds like [it seems] you don't like chatting with me.
  • Translate: 1%, 10%, 100%
  • Translate: 8% of the people in the world are addicted to the Internet.
  • BONUS (Rule): in English, explain what an "abstract compound directional complement" is. 
  • TARGET: no more than 1 grammar mistake.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 天明，你几乎整天待在屋子里玩儿电脑，看起来真是玩儿上瘾了。
  • 怎么？听起来好像你不爱跟我聊天儿。
  • 网络世界又大又方便，你可以叫外卖，购物，你可以租房子，买车...，总之，衣食住行，什么资料都查得到。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following role-play:
  • You're concerned about your friend, who is always on the computer...
  • Make observations about your friend [using ...起来].
  • Reach a conclusion about what to do.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

​Chapter 11: "Father vs. Son"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT CAUSING TROUBLE
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帮助    (bāng zhù) [v]; to help
  • 我知道电脑和网络在我们的生活中越来越重要，我也用电脑帮助我做翻译练习，也上网比较价格，可是不像你，常常忘了时间，忘了朋友。
  • Take care to distinguish between 帮，帮助，and 帮忙:
    • 帮 ＝ (transitive verb) to help
    • 帮助 ＝ (transitive verb) “to aid and assist.” Very similar to 帮 but is more formal.
    • 帮忙 = (verb+object) “to help give a hand.” CANNOT take another object.
      • 请帮忙 = Please help (give a hand)!
 
老是    (lǎo shì) [adv]; always​
  • “sub ＋ 老是 ＋ verb phrase” [usually negative]
  • 你说我该不该生气？你每次都迟到，老是害得大家等你。
 
害得        (hài de) [v]; to cause trouble, to do harm to
  • “sub A + verb phrase, + 害得 + sub B + verb phrase”
    • The actions of Subject A are making Subject B suffer or causing adverse effects in some way.
    • 害得 is often used to introduce a second clause describing the extent of the negative consequence cause by something or some action. 
  • 你昨天晚上没回来，害得我等了你一夜。= You didn’t come back last night. You made me wait for you all night.
  • 女朋友一个星期没给你打电话，害得他吃不下饭，睡不好觉。= His girlfriend hasn’t called him in a week. He hasn’t been able to eat or sleep as a result.
  • 你说我该不该生气？你每次都迟到，老是害得大家等你。    You tell me if I should be mad or not. You're late every time. You always keep everyone waiting.
 
敢        (gǎn) [v]; to dare
  • 我不敢！＝I don’t dare
  • 你敢不做功课吗？= Do you dare not to do homework?
  • 对不起，对不起，是我不好。下次不敢了。
Lesson
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WRITE: write an email to your friend, who you believe is addicted to the Internet.

WRITE: write a letter to your "enemy", listing all the troublesome things he/she does. End the letter with a threat.
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 帮助，老是，害得，敢
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Translate: You're late every time, always causing everybody to wait for you.
  • BONUS (Rule): Compare and contrast the uses of 帮，帮助，and 帮忙. Describe the structure and give examples of each.
  • TARGET: no grammar mistakes.
​
READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 你说我该不该生气？你每次都迟到，老是害得大家等你。
  • 你昨天晚上没回来，害得我等了你一夜。
  • 对不起，对不起，是我不好。下次不敢了。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following role-play:
  • Concerned Friend: you want to hold an intervention for your Internet-addicted friend.
    • List all of your friend's unhealthy habits.
    • Accuse your friend of causing trouble to others.
    • Express that you want to help your friend.
  • Internet Addict: you deny that you need an intervention.
    • Express your negative feelings about this conversation.
    • Make excuses for your behavior.
    • Reject your friend's offer of help.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 12: "Race to Destruction"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT RACING AGAINST TIME
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卡拉OK    (kǎ lā OK) [n]; karaoke
  • English loanword
  • 昨天，丽莎，柯林，雪梅和他约好今天一起去唱卡拉OK。
 
迟到    (chí dào) [v]; to arrive late
  • 你说我该不该生气？你每次都迟到，老是害得大家等你。
 
急忙    (jí máng) [adv]; hastily, in a hurry
  • “sub + 急忙 + verb phrase”
  • 十分钟以后，才看见天明急急忙忙地跑过来。= = Ten minutes later they saw him hastily running towards them.

过来 (guò lái) to come over
  • 过 = to come [verb]，来 = toward speaker's direction [direction complement]
  • "过来" denotes a movement of a person or an object toward the speaker's standpoint (i.e. where she is located or where she focuses on in her speech).
  • This movement may or may not pass a physical location.
  • Similarly, "过去" (to go over) indicates the movement of a person an object away from the speaker's standpoint.
  • "过来/过去" may be used on its own, or in combination after an action verb [creating an compound direction complement]

Examples:
1. 十分钟以后，才看见天明急急忙忙地跑过来。[to run over, toward the speaker]
2. 小张往我这边走过来，好像有什么是要跟我说。[to walk over to "me"]
3. 小王从我身边走过去，没有看见我。[to walk by me; "小张" passes by where "我" is standing]
4. 张老师很高兴地往她老朋友那边走过去。[to walk over, away from the speaker]
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SPEAK: discuss if you are usually early, on time, or late. Give reasons for your behavior.

WRITE: write a text message explaining and apologizing for why you will be late to an event.
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 卡啦OK，迟到，急忙，过来
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 昨天，丽莎，柯林，雪梅和他约好今天一起去唱卡拉OK，时间到了也不见他来，他的手机也没开，就给他发了一个电子邮件。
  • 你说我该不该生气？你每次都迟到，老是害得大家等你。
  • 十分钟以后，才看见天明急急忙忙地跑来。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about racing against time.
  • Accuse another person of causing trouble for others.
  • Apologize for the trouble you’ve caused.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

 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:
    • Talk about software.
    • Talk about reaching conclusions.
    • Talk about intervention (to help someone with a problem).
    • Talk about causing trouble.
    • Talk about racing against time.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.
​
BONUS CHALLENGES:
  • ​GODLIKE: Achieve a 100% score on all mastery challenges—zero mistakes!