​Chapter 9: "The Gift of Life"

HOW TO DEFINE A HAPPY CHILDHOOD
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理解    (lǐ jiě) to understand
  • 我不完全同意，但是我能理解。

​看法    (kàn fǎ) point of view
  • NOTE: “看法” expresses your opinion or view on something, it’s totally different from “办法” or “做法”
  • 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?
  • 我的看法是... 两个都重要。

​童年    (tóng nián) childhood
  • 童=儿童(ér tóng) = more formal way of saying child
  • 可是到现在我也不清楚，孩子到底是将来“成龙”，“成凤”好，还是又一个快乐的童年好？
  • 我嫂子整天要她学这学那，可是我哥哥反对给孩子太大的压力，他认为对孩子来说，最重要的是有一个快乐的童年。

幸福 (xìng fú) happiness, well-being; fortune
  • 哥哥和嫂子结婚十多年了，生活一直很幸福。= Li Zhe’s older brother and sister-in-law got married over ten years ago, their lives are truly happy.
  • The three words “幸福”，”快乐”，”高兴” can all be translated as "happiness." However, there are differences in usage.​

幸福 vs. 快乐 vs. 高兴：​
幸福 (xìng fú) = "to feel contented with life."* It denotes a state of mind that has lasted for an extended period of time.
  • 幸福 also has the additional meaning of "fortune" or "blessing."
  • Ex. 小王和小李结婚以后，生活一直很幸福。[their life has always been very happy]

快乐 (kuài lè) = "the happiness one feels when one's needs and concerns have been addressed and taken care of."* It is not necessarily externalized, and can be a more sustained happiness than that suggested by 高兴.
  • 快乐 is also used in celebratory greetings like 新年快乐 and 生日快乐.
  • Ex. 暑假回到父母家，有好吃的，有老同学一起玩儿，她很快乐。[she was very happy]
  • Ex: 上大学以后，他一直不快乐，因为他想家，想朋友。[he's been unhappy because he misses friends and family]

高兴 (gāo xìng) = "one's state of mind upon seeing someone they like or experiencing something they find gratifying."* It can be externalized and possibly temporary.
  • Ex: 听说好朋友周末来看他，他非常高兴。[he was very glad]
  • Ex: 你刚才还在笑，现在怎么不高兴了？[why are you unhappy now?]
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SPEAK: discuss what you consider to be a happy childhood, from your point of view.

DEBATE: discuss the statement, "有些父母反对给孩子太大的压力，对孩子来说，最重要的是有一个快乐的童年。有些父母望子成龙、望女成凤，希望自己的孩子小时候好好学习，将来能做出一番大事业。" Which side do you take? Stake out a strong position!

WRITE: write a story based on the image below:
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 理解，看法，童年，幸福
  • 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.
  • Rule (in English): Compare and contrast the words "幸福" vs. "快乐" vs. "高兴." Give examples of the usage of each word.
  • Detective (find and fix the mistakes): 小王和小李结婚以后，生活一直很高兴。
  • Detective (find and fix the mistakes): 你刚才还在笑，现在怎么不幸福了？
  • Detective (find and fix the mistakes): 祝你新年幸福！
  • TARGET: no grammar mistakes.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • ​我不完全同意，但是我能理解。
  • 没想到你跟嫂子的看法一样！你同意我嫂子的做法？
  • 我嫂子整天要她学这学那，可是我哥哥反对给孩子太大的压力，他认为对孩子来说，最重要的是有一个快乐的童年。
  • 哥哥和嫂子结婚十多年了，生活一直很幸福。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Discuss how to define a “happy childhood.”
  • Discuss different ways or perspectives of looking at things.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 10: "Story of More Woe"

HOW TO DISCUSS FREEDOM OF CHOICE
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厉害    (lì hai) terrible; formidable

吵得很厉害    to fight terribly

尊重    (zūn zhòng) to respect
  • 乖孩子应该尊重父母，尊重老师！

选择    (xuǎn zé) choice; to choose
  • 她说小孩子也是人，有自己的爱好和兴趣，家长应该尊重孩子自己的选择。    She says that kids are also people, they have their own hobbies and interests, parents should respect their child's own choices.

一直    (yì zhí) [adverb] all along; continuously
  • 哥哥和嫂子结婚十多年了，生活一直很幸福。    Li Zhe’s older brother and sister-in-law got married over ten years ago, their lives are truly happy.
  • 我们的生活一直很幸福。= Our lives have all along been happy/blessed
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SPEAK: discuss if children should have freedom of choice or not. What if their parents disagree--whose wishes should they follow?
​
WRITE: write a story based on the following image:
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • (吵得很)厉害，尊重，选择，一直
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 乖孩子应该尊重父母，尊重老师！
  • 她说小孩子也是人，有自己的爱好和兴趣，家长应该尊重孩子自己的选择。
  • 哥哥和嫂子结婚十多年了，生活一直很幸福。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Discuss a child’s freedom of choice.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 11: "The Secret"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS
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知识    (zhī shi) knowledge
  • 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.

​硕士    (shuò shì) master's degree
  • 拿到硕士学位 = getting a masters degree

博士    (bó shì) Ph.D; doctor
  • 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.

学位    (xué wèi) degree
  • 本科 (běn kē) 学位 = Undergraduate degree
  • 学士学位 = Bachelor’s degree
  • 硕士学位 = Master's degree
    • 研究生 （yán jiū shēng）= graduate student
  • 博士学位 = PhD degree
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SPEAK: talk about different educational degrees (high school grad, undergrad, master's, PhD, etc). Which are you interested in obtaining, and why? What's the relationship between education and knowledge?

WRITE: write a story based on the comic below:
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 知识，硕士，博士，学位
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 孩子最好还是在学校多学一些知识。
  • 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。
  • 李哲的嫂子十五年前从香港来美国留学，拿到硕士学位以后找到工作。
  • 哥哥是电脑博士，自己设计，管理网站。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about ways to acquire knowledge: does it come from books, or from life?
  • Talk about educational success (including getting different degrees).
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 12: "He Who Plants Kindness"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY SERVICE
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 义工 (yì gōng) "voluntary work"; volunteer [person]
  • 做义工 = to volunteer
  • 当义工 = to work as a volunteer
  • 学生义工 = student volunteers

志愿者 (zhì yuàn zhě) volunteer [person]
  • 志愿 = to volunteer; to do smth of one's own free will
  • 者 = suffix after a word to indicate a class of persons ("one who is/does [...]")
    • 读 = to read, 读者 = reader
    • 爱好 = hobby，爱好者 = hobbyist, fan 
    • 记 = to record or remember，记者 = journalist  ("one who records")
    • NOTE: "者" is a bound morpheme which means "the one who has this nature or action." For an excellent and detailed explanation of how it's used in Chinese, see this link.

社团 (shè tuán) club; union; association

俱乐部 (jù lè bù) club
  • This is a loanword from English
  • A "俱乐部" is more of a club for fun or recreation (i.e. 网球俱乐部). The term “社团” is often used within a school and is the more common term for a school or student club. 
  • Both 俱乐部 and 社团 can be considered organizations around shared interests.

**社区服务** (shè qū fú wù) community service
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WRITE: write a short essay about your experiences volunteering or doing community service.

SKIT: in a group, write a dialogue between two friends. Memorize your skit and perform in front of the class!
  • One friend loves volunteering and community service, and participates in many kinds of volunteering.
  • The other friend opposes volunteering. He will only work for pay! However, he does like joining clubs for fun.
  • Get into a fierce debate over the worth of volunteering vs. paid work.
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 义工，志愿者，社团，俱乐部，*社区服务*
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • BONUS: Rule (in English): Explain what the "-者" suffix is, and how it's used in Chinese. Provide at least two example words.
  • TARGET: no grammar mistakes.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about joining school clubs or associations.
  • Discuss volunteering and community service.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 13: "Make Your Dream Come True!"

HOW TO DEBATE THE PROS AND CONS OF AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS
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侄女    (zhí nǚ) brother's daughter
  • 侄儿 = nephew, 侄女 = niece
    • (technically, your sister’s son (because they don’t share the same surname as you) is your 外甥 (wài shēng), while your sister’s daughter is your 外甥女 (wài shēng nǚ)  
  • 你有侄女？今年多大了？
  • 我侄女才小学三年级，我嫂子就已经把她的时间安排得满满的。

嫂子    (sǎo zi) older brother's wife
  • Chinese family terms are complicated!
    • “Wife” in general = 妻子 (qī zǐ)
    • 你的哥哥的妻子 = 嫂子
    • 你的弟弟的妻子 = 弟妹 or 弟媳 (dì xí)
    • 你的哥哥和嫂子的女儿 = 侄女
    • Your 侄女 would refer to you as =
      • If male > 叔叔 (shū shu) [father’s younger brother]
      • If female > 姑姑 (gū gu) [father’s sister]
    • Click this link for a complete list of family terms
  • Ex: 哥哥和嫂子结婚十年了，生活一直很幸福。
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FAMILY RESEARCH: check out this cool tool for Chinese family terms. Enter your relationship with a relative and find out what the Chinese word for that person is! ​

​DEBATE: discuss the pros and cons of after-school programs. Take a strong position on each side.

WRITE: write a story about an after-school program gone... wrong.
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 侄女，嫂子
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 哥哥和嫂子结婚十年了，生活一直很幸福。
  • 你有侄女？今年多大了？
  • 我侄女才小学三年级，我嫂子就把她的时间安排得满满的。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Describe the (specific) family relationships between a 嫂子 and a 侄女.
  • Debate the pros and cons of after-school programs.
  • 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:
    • Discuss how to define a “happy childhood.” Is freedom of choice important?
    • Discuss higher education (including the graduate and PhD level).
    • Discuss volunteering and community service.
    • Debate the pros and cons of after-school programs.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.
​
BONUS CHALLENGES:
  • ​GODLIKE: Achieve a 100% score on all mastery challenges—zero mistakes!