​Chapter 5: "How Good You Are"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT PARENTS' ASPIRATIONS FOR THEIR CHILDREN
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望子成龙    (wàng zǐ chéng lóng) to hope that one's son will become a dragon; to hope that one's son will become successful
  • This expression is a 成语 (CHÉNG YǓ), a traditional Chinese four-character idiom. Each character in the 成语 has a specific meaning with a larger story behind it.
  • 望 = 希望 (to hope)
  • 子 = 儿子 (son)
  • 成 = 成为 (to become)
  • 龙 = dragon
  • Meaning in Chinese: “希望自己的子女能在学业和事业上有成就。”

​望女成凤    (wàng nǚ chéng fèng) to hope that one's daughter will become a phoenix; to hope that one's daughter will become successful
  • The counterpart to “望子成龙”

一番大事业    a great undertaking
  • 番    (fān) measure word for type or kind
  • 事业    (shì yè) career; undertaking
  • Ex: 很多家长望子成龙，望女成凤，都希望自己的孩子小时候好好学习，将来能做出一番大事业。
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SPEAK: talk about parents' aspirations for their children, especially in terms of their success. 

WRITE: write a fortune for a young baby, predicting their success in the future.
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 望子成龙，望女成凤，一番大事业
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • ​很多家长望子成龙，望女成凤，都希望自己的孩子小时候好好学习，将来能做出一番大事业。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about parents’ aspirations for their children.
  • Talk about worldly success.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 6: "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother"

HOW TO COMPARE CHINESE AND AMERICAN PARENTING STYLES
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移民    (yí mín) immigrants; to immigrate
  • 玛丽会移民去日本 = Mary will immigrate to Japan
  • ​李哲的父母是墨西哥移民。= Li Zhe’s parents are Mexican immigrants

​做法    (zuò fǎ) way of doing things; method
  • Note: “做法” is different from “办法”.
    • “办法” describes more of a specific solution to a problem, like “怎么办?” or “你有没有办法”？
    • “做法” describes a general personal approach or a preferred way of doing something, like “这是我喜欢的做法” (this is the way I like to do it) or “我不同意她的做法” (I don’t agree with her methods).
  • Ex: 没想到你跟嫂子的看法一样！你同意我嫂子的做法？Who knew you would have the same view as my sister-in-law! Does that mean you agree with my sister-in-law’s methods?

虎妈    (hǔ mā) "tiger mom"
  • a strict or demanding mother who pushes her child or children to high levels of achievement, especially by using methods regarded as typical of childrearing in China and other parts of East Asia; a tiger mother.

中国梦 (zhōng guó mèng) "Chinese Dream"
  • “中国梦”跟“美国梦”一样吗？

美国梦 (měi guó mèng) "American Dream"
  • 梦 = 梦想
  • 我来到美国寻求美国梦。

Definitions of the "American Dream":
​1. “美国梦是指任何一个孩子都可以出人头地。”
2. “他把他的美国梦定义为：一幢房，一只狗，两杆来福枪，一条钓渔船。”
3. ”麦斯纳说，美国梦代表一个更美好的未来。“
4. ”关于美国梦，他写道，是让这片土地上每个人生活的更好，更富裕的梦想，让每一个人都有施展才能的机会，并取得相应成就。“
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SPEAK: compare Chinese and American parenting styles. Which one is best for children, in your opinion?

READ AND REFLECT: read the following quotes about the "American Dream." Analyze each quote and then write a paragraph responding to the prompt:

这些人认为“美国梦”是什么？你同意吗？美国梦和中国梦有没有区别？
  1. “美国梦是指任何一个孩子都可以出人头地。”
  2. 他把他的美国梦定义为：“一幢房，一只狗，两杆来福枪，一条钓渔船。”
  3. “麦斯纳说，美国梦代表一个更美好的未来。”
  4. “关于美国梦，他写道，是让这片土地上每个人生活的更好，更富裕的梦想，让每一个人都有施展才能的机会，并取得相应成就。”

WRITE: write a short story based on the picture below, using the words in Chapter 6:
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 移民，做法，虎妈，中国梦，美国梦
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Rule (in English): Compare and contrast the words "办法" vs. "看法" vs. "做法." Give examples of the usage of each word.
  • TARGET: no grammar mistakes.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 李哲的父母是中国移民。
  • 没想到你跟嫂子的看法一样！你同意我嫂子的做法？
  • “中国梦”跟“美国梦”一样吗？
  • 我来到美国寻求美国梦。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about immigrants and immigrating to different places.
  • Explain the phenomenon of the "tiger mother."
  • Compare and contrast Chinese and American parenting styles.
  • Discuss the "American Dream." Compare with the "Chinese Dream."
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 7: "National College Entrance Examination"

HOW TO COMPARE THE CHINESE AND AMERICAN SCHOOL SYSTEMS
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高考    (gāo kǎo) National College Entrance Examination [in China]
  • The GaoKao is the most important exam in a student’s life. Think of it as a monster-scale SAT exam, but with much higher stakes.
  • For almost all Chinese students, it is the only way for them to get into universities. There are no other components to college admissions (not high school grades, recommendations, essays, extracurriculars, etc.) Only the GaoKao score matters for admission.
  • Students are ranked based on their combined GaoKao scores. In a country where getting a degree is required to obtain a good job, the GaoKao is seen as a make-or-break opportunity.
  • The GaoKao is given once a year in June. Those who achieve poor scores and do not get into their dream school often spend another year studying for the exam again.
  • Many students have spent the last 2-3 years specifically cramming for this exam.
  • The exams last about nine hours over a period of two days, depending on the province. It tests a total of 4 subjects (three mandatory subjects and one elective), which are the following:
    • Chinese Language and Literature; Math, Foreign Language (usually English.); Science; Humanities​

留学    (liú xué) to study abroad
  • 留学生 = international student [student studying abroad]
  • 从香港来美国留学，拿到硕士学位以后找到工作。

清华    (qīng huá) Tsinghua University in Beijing
  • Along with 北京大学 (北大)，清华 is one of the top two universities in China.
  • 北大和清华是中国两个最好的大学。
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RESEARCH: go online to learn more about the GaoKao. Write a paragraph summarizing your findings; compare and contrast the GaoKao with other exams you are familiar with.

​SPEAK: compare the Chinese and American school systems. Which do you prefer, and why?

WRITE: write a story about the struggles of an Chinese student who wants to attend Tsinghua University in Beijing. 
Mastery
​​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 高考，留学，清华大学
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 从中国来美国留学，毕业以后找到工作。
  • 北大和清华是中国两个最好的大学。
  • 如果高考考得不好，肯定不能上清华大学和北京大学。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about the Chinese college entrance examination.
  • Compare and contrast the Chinese and American school systems.
  • ​TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 8: "Teenage Rebellion"

HOW TO CRITICIZE SUCCESS-FOCUSED PARENTS
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结婚    (jié hūn) to get married; to marry
  • 结 = to get a marriage (verb)，婚 = marriage (object)
  • 哥哥和嫂子结婚十年了，生活一直很美满。

墨西哥    (mò xī gē) Mexico
  • 李哲的父母是墨西哥移民，他和他哥哥都是在加州出生、长大的。    Li Zhe's parents are Mexican immigrants, he and his brother both were born and raised in California.

反对    (fǎn duì) to oppose
  • A 反对 B …
  • ​我哥哥反对给孩子太大的压力。

​抱怨    (bào yuàn) to complain
  • 她不喜欢学中文，所以打电话来一边哭，一边抱怨。    She doesn’t like studying Chinese. That’s why she called me. She cried and complained.
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SPEAK: discuss the drawbacks of success-focused parents, drawing from your own personal experience where applicable.

WRITE: write a story about a wedding gone... wrong.
Mastery
​​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 结婚，墨西哥，反对，抱怨
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 哥哥和嫂子结婚十年了，生活一直很美满。
  • 她不喜欢学中文，所以打电话来一边哭，一边抱怨。
  • 我哥哥反对给孩子太大的压力。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about marriage.
  • Criticize the narrow focus of success-focused parents. 
  • 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 parents’ aspirations for their children.
    • Talk about worldly success.
    • Compare and contrast Chinese and American parenting styles.
    • Compare and contrast the "American Dream" and the "Chinese Dream."
    • Compare and contrast the Chinese and American school systems.
    • Discuss the narrow focus of success-focused parents. 
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.
​
BONUS CHALLENGES:
  • ​GODLIKE: Achieve a 100% score on all mastery challenges—zero mistakes!