Chapter 9: "Animal House"

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF PETS
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遛 (liù) to walk [an animal]

狗 (gǒu) dog
  • 遛狗 = to walk a dog
  • 打过，我做过家教，教英文。我的同学有的做翻译，有的管理电脑，也有的帮人遛狗或者喂猫。

喂 (wèi) ​to feed or raise [an animal]

猫 (māo) cat
  • 喂猫 = to feed a cat
  • 打过，我做过家教，教英文。我的同学有的做翻译，有的管理电脑，也有的帮人遛狗或者喂猫。

多+adj!    How... it is! [used as an intensifier in exclamatory sentences]

多不容易！    How not easy it is!
  • 难怪她妈妈生气。他怎么不想想，父母挣钱多不容易啊？    No wonder her mother is angry. Why doesn't she give any thought to how hard it is for her parents to make money?
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SPEAK: talk about pets. Do you have any? Compare and contrast dogs and cats. What do you need to do to take care of them.

SKIT: in a group, write a dialogue on the following prompt. Memorize your skit and perform in front of the class!
  • One person is a cat lover. You hate dogs--too much work...
  • The other person is a dog lover. You hate cats--they're not very friendly...
  • Get into a big argument!
Mastery
​​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 遛狗，喂猫，多不容易
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 打过，我做过家教，教英文。我的同学有的做翻译，有的管理电脑，也有的帮人遛狗或者喂猫。
  • 难怪她妈妈生气。他怎么不想想，父母挣钱多不容易啊？
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about taking care of animals and pets.
  • Discuss part-time jobs walking dogs or feeding cats.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 10: "Lay On Hands"

HOW TO REDUCE PRESSURE ON OTHERS
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减轻    (jiǎn qīng) to lessen

家庭    (jiā tíng) family [unit]; household

负担    (fù dān) burden

减轻家庭经济负担        to reduce the economic burden of the family
  • 我想打工，除了为了减轻家庭经济负担以外，更重要的是想取得一些工作经验。

来 (conjunction): for; in order to...
  • We've learned many different ways to use 来, including as a verb and a complement. Here, "来" is a conjunction that connects two phrases. It can be translated as "for", "to", or "in order to."
  • "verb phrase 1 + 来 + verb phrase 2"
  • When 来 connects two verb phrases, the second phrase should indicate a purpose (explaining the reason behind the first verb phrase).

Examples:
  • 1. 大家决定开一个舞会来给他过生日。= Everyone decided to throw a dance party to celebrate his birthday.
  • 2. 我妹妹告诉我应该用听录音的办法来提高汉语水平。= My younger sister tells me I should listen to recordings to improve my Chinese.
  • 3. 张天明觉得自己已经是大人了，应该找工作赚钱来减轻父母的负担，所以就上网看看有没有合适自己的工作。这时候丽莎和雪妹走了进来。​
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SPEAK: discuss ways you can reduce the economic burden of your family (part-time job, saving money, etc).

WRITE: write a story based on the pictures below, using the words in Chapter 11:
Mastery
​​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 减轻，家庭，负担，来...
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Rule (in English): Explain how to use "来" as a conjunction, and in what context. Give examples.
  • Translate: Zhang Tianming should get a job in order to ease his parents' burden.
  • TARGET: no grammar mistakes.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:​
  • A：学费越来越高，我想减轻家庭经济负担。最近不太忙，所以我想打工。
  • 张天明觉得自己已经是大人了，应该找工作赚钱来减轻父母的负担，所以就上网看看有没有合适自己的工作。这时候丽莎和雪妹走了进来。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about different ways in order to reduce burdens (such as family economic pressures).
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 11: "Dark Betrayal! The Fated Confrontation"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT PART-TIME JOBS
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家教    (jiā jiào) tutor

英语    (yīng yǔ) English language

农村    (nóng cūn) countryside; village; rural area

Sentences:
  • 看起来不少学生都是一边读书一边打工挣钱。
  • 我打过工。我做过家教，教英语。
  • 中国城市里有很多从农村来找工作的人，饭馆儿喜欢找他们，因为工资比较低。
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SPEAK: Discuss part-time jobs, including those mentioned in chapter 12. What would be a good part-time job to have as a student? What would be a bad part-time job? Why?

WRITE: write a story based on the pictures below:
Mastery
​​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 家教，英语，农村
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 我的女儿需要英语家教。你能每周来三天吗？
  • 天明不爱读书，所以他的父母请了家教。
  • 我每周三到农村去教英语。我的学生都有功读书。
  • 中国城市里有很多从农村来找工作的人，饭馆儿喜欢找他们，因为工资比较低。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about different part-time jobs, such as tutoring or working in the countryside.
  • Describe the pressures of working while still in school.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 12: "Crossroads"

HOW TO DISCUSS THE PROS AND CONS OF WORKING WHILE IN SCHOOL
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取得    (qǔ dé) to obtain; to gain; to acquire

经验 (jīng yàn) experience

取得工作经验    to gain work experience
  • 我想打工，除了为了减轻家庭经济负担以外，更重要的是想取得一些工作经验。

影响    (yǐng xiǎng) to influence; to have an impact; influence
  • 你打工会不会影响学习？ Wouldn't that affect your studies?
  • 我想打工是想取得一些工作经验。如果打工时间不太多，不会影响学习。

一边读书一边打工挣钱    study [in school] and work for money at the same time
  • 看起来不少学生都是一边读书一边打工挣钱。
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DEBATE: discuss the pros and cons of working while in school. Take a strong position on each side!

READ: read the text below and answer the following questions:
  1. What role does the author's wife play in his life?
  2. What does the author say about the pressures of life in "the real world"?
  3. What does the author say we owe to our parents and family?
  4. Would the author agree that working while in school is a good thing? Why or why not?
未来有太多的未知，所以你不要再沉迷于网络游戏，不要再为了分手而哭断肠，也不要成天吃喝玩乐。你们要做的应该是不停充实自己，因为机会只留给有准备的人。

我24岁踏入股市+社会，现在回想过去，总是觉得自己比别人慢了好多。幸亏我有个非常成熟的老婆，在她的影响下，我不停督促自己要付出更多，这样我才能跳出所谓的舒适圈。我老婆很爱念我，我被她念到觉得自己满身是缺点。所以我不停地改进以及学习，希望让她为我感到骄傲。忠言逆耳，所以我老婆是世界上对我说最多忠言的人。

年轻人总是喜欢被人称赞，总是觉得自己可以撑起一片天。但是出来社会之后，你会发现一切都是虚假的，象牙塔里的生活跟社会大学完全是两个极端。无忧无虑的日子没有了，工作压力，经济压力，另外一半的压力，家人的压力，仿佛这个世界无处不是压力。以前的我也是草莓一族，但是在时间的磨练下，我学会了面对困难，过后去解决他。

最后要说到的是无私的家人，没有家人的支持，也没有今天的我们。不要想到钱不够用才记得打电话给父母家人，因为不时打电话常常慰问他们。感谢我父母无线的信任，让我可以完成我喜欢的科系。现在的社会已经变了，以前是反哺的社会，现在反而是父母要为孩子到处奔波，赚了钱要留给下一代。而女儿出嫁后，妈妈还要帮女儿做月。这些都是无私伟大的父母之爱，所以请善待疼爱你的父母。

我的想法很简单, 我想要我的父母为我感到骄傲,让我的妻子不后悔她最重要的决定, 让我的孩子以我为榜样, 让这个世界多那么一丝丝的真能量。最后, 我希望我的文字分享可以让读者有那么一丝感悟, 我的想法就是那么简单。
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 取得工作经验，影响，一边读书一边打工挣钱
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 虽然我有很多功课，我还是想打工，取得一些工作经验。
  • 如果打工时间不太多，不会影响学习。​
  • 我想打工，除了为了减轻家庭经济负担以外，更重要的是想取得一些工作经验。
  • 看起来不少学生都是一边读书一边打工挣钱。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about the importance of obtaining work experience.
  • Discuss the pros of working while in school. 
  • Discuss the cons of working while in school.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

 MINIBOSS #3: ACT 3 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 taking care of animals.
    • Describe the pressures of your life.
    • Discuss ways to reduce burdens.
    • Talk about different part-time jobs.
    • Discuss the pros and cons of working while in school. 
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.
​
BONUS CHALLENGES:
  • ​GODLIKE: Achieve a 100% score on all mastery challenges—zero mistakes!