​Chapter 1: "Paradise Lost"

HOW TO MOVE ON IN LIFE
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奇怪    (qí guài) strange [adj]
  • 柯林：奇怪，雪梅，这个"福"字怎么贴错了，"福"字倒了。Ke Lin: How strange, Xuemei. How come this 福 character is pasted incorrectly? 福 is upside down.
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继续    (jì xù) to continue; to proceed with; to go on with
  • 开始放寒假了，柯林决定到北京继续学中文，而林雪梅想在北京实习和找工作。    Winter Break has begun. Ke Lin has decided to go to Beijing to continue studying Chinese while Lin Xuemei would like to intern and look for a job in Beijing.

酒    (jiǔ) wine; liquor; spirits; alcoholic beverage    
  • 大家都不喝酒，来，我们以茶代酒，举起杯来，欢迎你们来北京！ None of us drinks alcohol. Come, let's have tea instead. Let's raise our cups to welcome you to Beijing.

​节日    (jié rì) holiday; festival
  • 中国还有好几个传统节日，吃的东西都不一样，对吧？    China has quite a few other traditional holidays. The food associated with them is all different, right?
  • 中秋节有点像美国的感恩节，是一家人团圆的节日。
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SPEAK: brainstorm ideas for a "fun funeral," where people celebrate life instead of mourn death.

WRITE: write an eulogy for your best friend Mao Mao.
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 奇怪，继续，酒，节日
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 柯林：奇怪，雪梅，这个"福"字怎么贴错了...
  • 柯林决定到北京继续学中文，而林雪梅想在北京实习和找工作。
  • 大家都不喝酒。
  • 哎，中国还有好几个节日，吃的东西都不一样，对吧？    
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
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​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about holidays and celebrations.
  • Talk about moving on or continuing with life after a painful event.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 2: "The Nativity Scene"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT MAJOR AMERICAN HOLIDAYS
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过节    (guò jié) to celebrate a holiday

传统    (chuán tǒng) tradition [noun]; traditional [adj]
  • 哎，中国还有好几个传统节日，吃的东西都不一样，对吧？ 

感恩节    (gǎn ēn jié) Thanksgiving Day [~11月24日]
  • 中秋节有点像美国的感恩节，是一家人团圆的节日。

​圣诞节    (shèng dàn jié) Christmas [12月25日]
  • 在美国圣诞节是公休日，所以学校都会放假的。

*BONUS WORDS:*

*元旦节*    (yuán dàn jié) New Year's Day (Western Calendar) [1月1日]

*万圣节*    (wàn shèng jié) Halloween [10月31日]
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SPEAK: discuss your favorite and least favorite American holidays. Give reasons for your choices.

WRITE: write a letter to your Chinese pen pal, introducing him/her to the major American holidays.
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 过节，传统，感恩节，圣诞节，*元旦节*，*万圣节*
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 哎，中国还有好几个传统节日，吃的东西都不一样，对吧？    
  • 美国的感恩节是重要的节日。
  • 在美国，过圣诞节的人很多，所以学校都会放假的。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
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​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about major American holidays.
  • Talk and holiday traditions.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 3: "Ark of the Covenant"

HOW TO USE THE TRADITIONAL CHINESE CALENDAR
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农历    (nóng lì) lunar calendar
  • lit. "farming calendar" or "rural calendar"
  • NOTE: This is the traditional Chinese lunar-based calendar; it is still used to calculate major traditional holidays.
  • 农历五月初五端午节...

​正月    (zhèng yuè) the first month of the lunar calendar
  • 还有正月十五元宵节···

初    (chū) beginning
  • In this level, (月)初 refers to the first few days of the month (generally from the ~1st to the 10th).​
  • 农历正月初一 = 1st month 1st day = 春节 (Spring Festival) 

计时    (jì shí) to count time; to measure time
  • 你们看，电视机里在倒计时了。"十、九、八、七、六、五、四、三、二、一。" 十二点了，新的一年开始了！ ​
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LEARN MORE: go online and find more information about the traditional Chinese calendar. Write a paragraph summarizing your findings, comparing and contrasting the traditional calendar with the modern Western calendar.

​SPEAK: discuss the traditional Chinese lunar calendar. Does it feel strange for you to use? Why or why not?

WRITE: write a letter to your Chinese pen pal, asking him/her to help you understand the lunar calendar. Use specific examples/dates.
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 农历，正月，初，计时
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 农历五月初五···    
  • 还有正月十五···
  • 你们看，电视机里在计时了。   
  • 奇怪，雪梅，这个字怎么写错了。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
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​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Compare the traditional Chinese lunar calendar and the Gregorian calendar.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 4: "Through a Glass, Darkly"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT MAJOR CHINESE HOLIDAYS
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清明节    (qīng míng jié) Tomb Sweeping Day [~4月5日]    

​端午节    (duān wǔ jié) Dragon Boat Festival [农历五月初五]    

中秋节    (zhōng qiū jié) Mid-Autumn Festival [农历八月十五]

重阳节    (chóng yáng jié) Double Ninth Festival [农历九月初九]

*China has “Eight Great Festivals” (中国八大传统节日). Here are the other festivals (*BONUS WORDS*):

*七夕节*    (qī xī jié) Qixi Festival [农历七月初七]

*冬至节* (dōng zhì jié) Winter Solstice [12月21~23日]

More Info on the 8 Traditional Chinese Holidays: 
Sentences:
  • 农历五月初五端午节···    
  • 中秋节有点像美国的感恩节，是一家人团圆的节日。
  • 清明节和重阳节是中国传统节日。
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SPEAK: discuss major Chinese traditional holdays. What do you know about these holidays? Have you ever celebrated them? When do they occur?

WRITE: write one paragraph introducing the following holidays:  清明节，端午节，中秋节，and 重阳节.
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 清明节，端午节，中秋节，重阳节，*七夕节*，*冬至节*
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:​
  • Culture: Identify the correct dates in the traditional Chinese calendar for at least four Chinese holidays.
  • TARGET: no mistakes.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 农历五月初五端午节···    
  • 中秋节有点像美国的感恩节。
  • 清明节和重阳节是中国传统节日。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Describe the dates of the major traditional Chinese holidays.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

 MINIBOSS #1: ACT 1 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 moving on after a painful loss or other event.
    • Talk about major American holidays.
    • Talk about major Chinese holidays.
    • Date Chinese holidays using the traditional Chinese calendar.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.
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BONUS CHALLENGES:
  • ​GODLIKE: Achieve a 100% score on all mastery challenges—zero mistakes!