​Chapter 17: "A Shadow on the Wall"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT ETHNIC MINORITIES
Preview
Lesson
Practice
Mastery
Preview
*STARRED WORDS are BONUS*

民族    (mín zú) [n] ethnic group; people; nationality

少数民族    ethnic minorities
  • 少数    (shǎo shù) small number; few; minority
  • 民族 (mín zú) ethnic group; people; nationality
  • Ex: 我记得电视里说过，云南风景好，少数民族多，是个旅游的好地方。   

X族    X ethnicity/people
  • *汉族*    (hàn zú) Han people [dominant ethnicity in China]
  • *藏族*    (zàng zú) Tibetan people [concentrated in Tibet]
  • *维吾尔族*     (wéi wǔ ér zú) Uyghur people [concentrated in Xinjiang]
  • *彝族*    (yí zú) Yi people [concentrated in Yunnan]
  • *壮族*    (zhuàng zú) Zhuang ethnicity [concentrated in Guangxi]
  • Ex: 藏族主要聚居在西藏；维吾尔族主要聚居在新疆；彝族主要聚居在云南；壮族主要聚居在广西。

语言 (yǔ yán) [n] language
  • 中国有很多种语言 = China has many different languages
  • 汉族的语言叫“汉语”，藏族的语言叫“藏语”
  • 语言研究 = language studies
Lesson
element_settings.Image_30621876.default
Click for the STORY QUEST
Picture
Click for the LEARNING SLIDES
Practice
SPEAK: discuss the different ethnic minorities of China. How are they different from ethnic minorities in the U.S.? Where is each ethnic minority concentrated?

WRITE: look at the map below. Which ethnic minority (藏族，维吾尔族，彝族，壮族) is concentrated in which colored region? Label the map accordingly.
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 少数民族，语言，*汉族*，*藏族*，*维吾尔族* ，*彝族* ，*壮族* 
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 我记得电视里说过，云南的少数民族多，是个旅游的好地方。
  • *藏族在西藏；维吾尔族在新疆；彝族在云南；壮族在广西*。
  • TARGET: no mistakes, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Define the concept of an ethnic minority.
  • Discuss different ethnic minorities in China, including where they are concentrated.
  • Compare ethnic minorities in China with other countries.
  • Talk about different languages.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 18: "Oathkeeper"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT NATURAL CONDITIONS
Preview
Lesson
Practice
Mastery
Preview
自然    (zì rán) nature; natural; naturally    

条件    (tiáo jiàn) condition, requirement    

自然条件    natural conditions    

风景    (fēng jǐng) scenery; landscape    

四季如春    (sì jì rú chun) spring-like all year around [idiom]

Sentences:
  • 西南呢，高山，高原多，西北呢，沙漠多，自然条件不太好，所以人口比较少。
  • 要不然我真想坐船从东往西，看看长江或者黄河的风景。
  • 我记得电视里说过，云南风景好，少数民族多，是个旅游的好地方。
  • 听说云南有些地方四季如春，一年四季都不冷不热。
Lesson
element_settings.Image_30621876.default
Click for the STORY QUEST
Picture
Click for the LEARNING SLIDES
Practice
SPEAK: talk about the natural conditions you prefer living in, and why. Would you like to live in a place that is "四季如春"?

WRITE: write a paragraph comparing the natural conditions of different regions of China.
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 自然，条件，风景，四季如春
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 西南呢，高山，高原多，西北呢，沙漠多，自然条件不太好，所以人口比较少。
  • 要不然我真想坐船从东往西，看看长江或者黄河的风景。
  • 我记得电视里说过，云南风景好，少数民族多，是个旅游的好地方。
  • 听说云南有些地方四季如春，一年四季都不冷不热。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Compare natural conditions in different regions of China.
  • Define the phrase "四季如春." Talk about places that might meet this description.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

​Chapter 19: "You Know Nothing, Mao Mao"

HOW TO RESEARCH ORIGINS
Preview
Lesson
Practice
Mastery
Preview
家乡    (jiā xiāng) hometown 
  • 我们先到南京，我父母的家乡...在这里，在中国的东南边。然后你想去哪儿？
  • 他的父母希望他去他们的家乡南京看看，张天明也很想当丽莎的导游，带她到中国的一些地方走走。

研究    (yán jiū) to study; to look into; research
  • 研究中国地理    to research Chinese geography

路线    (lù xiàn) route; itinerary    
  • 除了南京意外，还应该去什么地方呢？为了决定旅行的路线，张天明拿出一张中国地图，研究了起来。  = Besides Nanjing, where should they go? In order to decide on the itinerary he takes out a map of China and begins to study it.

为了...    (wèi le) in order to
  • NOTE: "为了" denotes purpose, while "因为" denotes cause. They're used quite differently.
  • ex. 为了中文学得更好，我明年要去中国留学。= In order to improve my Chinese, I'm going to study abroad in China next year.
Lesson
element_settings.Image_30621876.default
Click for the STORY QUEST
Picture
Click for the LEARNING SLIDES
Practice
WRITE: write a story about 张天明's quest to research his father's hometown, including its geography.
​
SKIT: in a group, write a dialogue between a Chinese-American student and a Chinese student. Memorize your skit and perform in front of the class!
  • The Chinese-American student wants to research her origins in China.
  • The Chinese student helps the Chinese-American study find her ancestral hometown.
  • Plan a trip back together to visit her ancestral hometown!
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • ​研究，家乡，路线，为了
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

​GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Translate: In order to determine a travel route, Zhang Tian Ming took out a map of China, [then] started to study it.
  • TARGET: no grammar mistakes.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 他的父母希望他去他们的家乡看看。
  • 我们先到我父母的家乡...在这里，在中国的东南边。
  • 为了中文学得更好，我明年要去中国留学。
  • 为了决定旅行的路线，张天明拿出一张中国地图，研究了起来。​
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about researching different things.
  • Talk about your hometown. Compare and contrast different hometowns.
  • Research a Chinese travel itinerary.
  • Discuss a suitable travel route to different Chinese attractions.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

​Chapter 20: "The Things I Do For Love, Part 1"

HOW TO COMPARE THE GEOGRAPHY OF CHINA AND THE WORLD
Preview
Lesson
Practice
Mastery
Preview
大多    (dà duō) "for the most part" or "mostly" [adverb]
  • NOTE: 大多 [in this context] shouldn't be used before nouns, because it's an adverb.
  • ex. 我们班的同学大多住在学校宿舍，差不多都没有男朋友或者女朋友。= Most of our classmates live in the school dorms. Almost none of us have a boyfriend or girlfriend.
  • ex. 美国的大山和河流的名字，我弟弟大多说不对。= My younger brother said the names of most of the big mountains and rivers of American incorrectly.
    ex. 我们学校教授的研究，我大多都了解，你不用上网看了。= I'm familiar with most of our school's professors' research. You don't need to go online to find out.
  • ex. 中国的河流，大多是从西往东河。= China's rivers mostly flow from west to east.

而    (ér) "but " [conjunction]
  • used to connect two clauses that represent different or contrasting characteristics/situations
  • considered formal, literary language. Essentially, a formal way of saying "但是."
  • ex. 小林毕业以后计划回中国工作，而不准备留在美国。= Xiao Lin plans to go back to China to work, not to stay in the United States.
  • ex. 我想去学校图书馆打工 ，而我的同屋想去校外打工 = I want to work at the school library, but my roommate wants to work off campus.
  • 中国西边是高原，那儿有世界上最高的山。而东边是平原和大海。 In the western part of China there are plateaus. There you'll find the world's tallest mountain. In the eastern part of China, on the other hand, there are plains and oceans.

一下子 (yí xià zǐ) in an instant
  • “一下子” is an adverbial phrase: “sub + 一下子 + verb + obj”
  • ​你一下子要从东南边跑到最北边去。    How come you want to go from the Southeast all the way to the extreme North.
Lesson
element_settings.Image_30621876.default
Click for the STORY QUEST
Picture
Click for the LEARNING SLIDES
Practice
TRAIN: write 3 sentences each using the following grammar structures:
  • ​大多
  • 而

SPEAK: talk about the concentration and location of geographical features in China. Refer to the topographical map below.

WRITE: write a paragraph comparing the geography of China with the geography of the USA using the structures "大多" and "而."
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 大多，而，一下子
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Rule (in English): Compare and contrast the usages of "而" vs. "但是/可是."
  • Translate: Because China's western part is a plateau, the world's tallest mountain is there. *On the other hand*, in the eastern part these are plains and oceans.
  • TARGET: no grammar mistakes.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 中国的河流，大多是从西往东流，如果坐船从东往西走，肯定得花更长的时间。
  • 美国的大山和河流的名字，我弟弟大多说不对。
  • 小林毕业以后计划回中国工作，而不准备留在美国。
  • 我想去学校图书馆打工 ，而我的同屋想去校外打工。
  • 中国西边是高原，那儿有世界上最高的山。而东边是平原和大海。
  • TARGET: no more than 2 mistakes, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Compare and contrast the geography of China and the United States using the structures "大多" and "而."
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 21: "The Things I Do For Love, Part 2"

BOOK 3: LEVELS 21-30 REVIEW
element_settings.Image_30621876.default
Click for the STORY QUEST

 MINIBOSS #5: ACT 5 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 ethnic minorities.
    • Talk about natural conditions around China.​
    • Compare and contrast your hometowns.
    • Research a Chinese travel itinerary; discuss a suitable travel route to different Chinese attractions.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.
​
BONUS CHALLENGES:
  • ​GODLIKE: Achieve a 100% score on all mastery challenges—zero mistakes!