​Chapter 1: "Pokémon Universe"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT SOCIETY
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社会    (shè huì) society
  • 一个人当然应该有快乐的童年，但是也应该成为社会需要的人才。

梦想 (mèng xiǎng) [n] dream; aspiration
  • 今最好的大学是我的梦想。

小学    (xiǎo xué) elementary school; grade school
  • 我侄女才小学三年级。

认为    (rèn wéi) to think; to consider
  • similar to “sub+觉得...”, but more formal
    他认为对孩子来说，最重要的是有一个快乐的童年。 = He believes as far as children are concerned, the most important thing is to have a happy childhood.
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Practice
SPEAK: talk about the society that you live in. What kind of society is it? What attitude do you have toward this society, and why? Compare and contrast different societies.

WRITE: write a story or dialogue based on the following picture, using the words in Chapter 1: 
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 社会，梦想，小学，认为
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Translate: He believes as far as children are concerned, the most important thing is to have a happy childhood. [认为]
  • TARGET: no grammar mistakes.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • ​​一个人当然应该有快乐的童年，但是也应该成为社会需要的人才。
  • 今最好的大学是我的梦想。
  • 我侄女才小学三年级。
  • 他认为对孩子来说，最重要的是有一个快乐的童年。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about different societies.
  • Talk about the importance of education.
  • Talk about your dreams and aspirations.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 2: "Gotta Catch ‘Em All"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT PARENTS' PLANS FOR THEIR CHILDREN
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最好    (zuì hǎo) [adverb] had better; it's best that...
  • 这部电影很受欢迎，看的人多，如果想看，最好早点买票。= This film is very popular [received a great welcome], many people want to see it. If you want to see it, you'd better get a ticket soon.
  • 孩子最好还是在学校多学一些知识。= It’s best for children to learn as much as they can in school.

设计    (shèjì) to design; design
  • 哥哥是电脑博士，设计软件、管理网站。    His brother has a PhD in Computer Science--he designs software and manages websites.

不是A, 而是B        (bú shì...ér shì...) is not A, but B
  • This structure is used when, in responding to a statement or situation, the speaker wishes to strongly negate A and affirm B.
  • NOTE: see also the "不是A，就是B" structure. The two structures have very different meanings.
  • 有些知识不是在学校里或者从书本上学的，而是从社会，从生活中学的。    some knowledge is not learned in school or from books, but is learned from society, from life
  • Examples:
  • ​1. 可是你别忘了，有些知识不是从书上学的，而是从社会、从生活中学的。= But don’t forget: some knowledge isn't learned from book. It must be learned from society, from life.
  • 2. 我不是不希望孩子将来有一番大事业，而是不想给他太大的压力。= It's not that I don't want my child to have a great career in the future, it's just that I don't want to put too much pressure on him.

​“不是...，而是...” vs. “不是...，就是...”:

1. 不是A，就是B = Either A or B; If it's not A, it's B
  • This is a pattern used to list two predictable or habitual scenarios. Both A and B are true events.
  • 她不是叫外卖，就是跟同学饭馆，还经常乱买东西，乱花钱。

2. 不是A，而是B = It's not A, but B
  • This is a pattern used when, in responding to a statement or situation, the speaker wishes to strongly negate A (not true) and affirm B (true).
  • 有些知识不是在学校里或者从书本上学的，而是从社会、从生活中学的。
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TRAIN: write 3 sentences using the following grammar structure:
  • 不是...而是... ​

SPEAK: talk about your parents' plans for you/your siblings. Do you think parents should have plans for their children, or is it best to let children decide for themselves? 

​WRITE: based on the image below, write an advice column for parents on designing plans for their children.
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 最好，设计，不是...而是...
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Rule (in English): Explain the differences between the "不是A，就是B" vs. the "不是A，而是B" structures. Describe their usage in context. Give examples of each structure.
  • Translate: Some knowledge *is not* learned from books, *but is* learned from society, from life.
  • TARGET: no more than 1 grammar mistake.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 孩子最好还是在学校多学一些知识。
  • 她的设计真好！
  • 哥哥是电脑博士，设计软件、管理网站。
  • 有些知识不是在学校里或者从书本上学的，而是从社会、从生活中学的。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about parents' plans for their children.
  • Contradict someone in response to their statement (using 不是...，而是...).
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 3: "Prodigy"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS
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弹    (tán) to play [a musical instrument]

钢琴    (gāng qín) piano

画画儿    (huà huàr) to draw or paint [a picture]
  • 画 = to draw
  • 画儿 = picture, drawing, painting

补习班    (bǔ xí bān) cram class; after-school class

课外活动    (kè wài huó dòng) extracurricular activities

Sentences:
  • 星期一学钢琴，星期二学画画儿，星期三学游泳，星期四学滑冰，星期五好不容易休息一下，星期六又叫他去上中文学校。
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SPEAK: talk about after-school programs at your school. What are your extracurricular activities, and why?

WRITE: Write a sample schedule for after-school programs.
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 弹钢琴，画画儿，补习班，课外活动
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 星期一学钢琴，星期二学画画儿，星期三学游泳，星期四学滑冰，星期五好不容易休息一下，星期六又叫他去上中文学校。​
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about after-school programs.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 4: "Thunderstorm"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT OVERSCHEDULING
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安排    (ān pái) to arrange

满    (mǎn) full

把时间安排得满满的    arranged [a time schedule] fully
  • 我侄女才小学三年级，我嫂子就把她的时间安排得满满的。

完全    (wán quán) completely; fully; complete; whole
  • 我不完全同意 = I don’t fully agree

才    (cài) [adverb] only; used before numbers to express a small quantity
  • (cái) [adverb] only; used before numbers to express a small quantity
  • ​"sub + 才 + # + MW + obj"

Examples:
1. 她才小学三年级 ＝ she's is only in elementary school 3rd grade
2. 你今年才二十岁，就想结婚？= You are only twenty years old, and you already want to get married?
3. 我哥哥已经拿到硕士学位了，而我才高中毕业。= My older brother has already gotten his master's degree. On the other hand, I have only graduated from high school.
Lesson
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SPEAK: talk about overscheduling. Are your schedules too full, or just right?
​
WRITE: to get into Stanford, you think you need to cram your schedule full of activities. Write a paragraph justifying this and explaining your busy life!
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 把时间安排得满满的，完全，才三年级
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Translate: My niece is only in her third year of elementary school.
  • BONUS (Rule): in English, describe at least two different ways we've learned to use the adverb 才. Give examples in context. 
  • TARGET: no grammar mistakes.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 女儿才小学三年级，妈妈就把她的时间安排得满满的。
  • 你说得有道理，但是，我还是不完全同意。​​
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about overscheduling.
  • Talk about exceptionally small quantities (using 才).
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

 MINIBOSS #1: ACT 1 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 society and the college rat race.
    • Talk about the importance of education.
    • Talk about parents' plans for their children.
    • Talk about after-school programs.
    • Talk about overscheduling.​
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.
​
BONUS CHALLENGES:
  • ​GODLIKE: Achieve a 100% score on all mastery challenges—zero mistakes!