​Chapter 5: "Know Them By Their Fruits"

HOW TO DESCRIBE CHINESE HOLIDAY TRADITIONS
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扫墓    (sǎo mù) to sweep the tombs [VO]

风筝    (fēng zhēng) kite

粽子    (zòng zi) "zongzi"
  • a pyramid-shaped dumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves    

赛龙舟    (sài lóng zhōu) to race dragonboats [VO]

Sentences:
  • 农历五月初五端午节··· 吃粽子，赛龙舟！
  • 清明节到了。大家都去扫墓，放风筝。​
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SPEAK: take turns describing the holiday traditions for 端午节 and 清明节.

WRITE: write a letter to your Chinese pen pal, telling him/her how you plan to celebrate 端午节 and 清明节.
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 扫墓，风筝，粽子，赛龙舟
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 农历五月初五端午节··· 吃粽子，赛龙舟！
  • 清明节到了。大家都去扫墓，放风筝。​
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about Tomb Sweeping Day​, including dates and major traditions.
  • Talk about the Dragon Boat Festival, including dates and major traditions.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 6: "A Lamp Unto My Feet"

HOW TO DESCRIBE MORE HOLIDAY TRADITIONS
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鞭炮    (biān pào) firecrackers    

月饼    (yuè bǐng) mooncake

月亮    (yuè liàng) moon

登山    (dēng shān) to climb a mountain [VO]

团圆    (tuán yuán) to reunite [as a family]

诗    (shī) poem
  • 念诗 = to read a poem (aloud)

​Sentences:
  • 过春节放鞭炮。我们也买了很多，咱们也出去放吧。
  • 八月十五中秋节··· 全家团圆，吃月饼，赏月。好完美的月亮！
  • 重阳节相信大家都会去登山。
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SPEAK: take turns describing the holiday traditions for 中秋节 and 重阳节.​

WRITE: write a letter to your Chinese pen pal, telling him/her how you plan to celebrate 中秋节 and 重阳节.
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 鞭炮，月饼，月亮，登山，团圆，诗
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 过节放鞭炮。我们也买了很多，咱们也出去放吧。
  • 八月十五中秋节··· 全家团圆，吃月饼，看月亮。好漂亮的月亮！
  • 重阳节的时后，大家都会去登山。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about the Mid-Autumn Festival​, including dates and major traditions.
  • Talk about the Double Ninth Festival, including dates and major traditions.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 7: "That Ye Love One Another"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT THE CHINESE NEW YEAR PERIOD
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过年    (guò nián) to celebrate the Chinese New Year

春节    (chūn jié) Spring Festival; Chinese New Year [农历正月初一]    

除夕    (chú xī) Chinese New Year's Eve [农历十二月二十九]    

元宵节    (yuán xiāo jié) Lantern Festival [农历正月十五]    
幸福    (xìng fú) happy [adj]; happiness [n]

Sentences:
  • 大家过年好！
  • 过年了，舅舅、舅妈给你们红包。
  • 今天是除夕，也就是春节的前一天。
  • 还有正月十五元宵节···    
  • 柯林看见墙上贴着一张不大的红纸，纸上写着一个汉字，他认识，那是 "幸福" 的 "福" 字，可是贴倒了。
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SPEAK: discuss the Chinese New Year period, chronologically. Have you ever celebrated it? Why is Chinese New Year so important in Chinese culture?

WRITE: write a paragraph comparing between Chinese New Year and the Gregorian New Year (元旦节). 
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 过年，春节，除夕，元宵节，幸福
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 大家过年好！
  • 今天是除夕，也就是春节的前一天。
  • 元宵节是正月十五。    
  • 柯林看见一张不大的红纸，纸上写着一个汉字，他认识，那是 "幸福" 的 "福" 字。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about the Chinese New Year period (including the dates of the three major holidays within it).
  • Explain the centrality of Chinese New Year in Chinese culture.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 8: "Parable of the Prodigal Mother"

HOW TO TRAVEL DURING CHINESE NEW YEAR
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春运    (chūn yùn) Chunyun; Spring Festival travel season [n]
  • 春＝春节＝Spring Festival，运=to transport
  • NOTE: This is a period of travel in China with extremely high traffic loads around the time of the Chinese New Year. The period usually begins 15 days before the Lunar New Year's Day and lasts for around 40 days.​

​顺利    (shùn lì) smoothly; without a hitch
  • 为你们在新的一年里找工作顺利、学习进步干杯！    

V+起来    (qǐ lái) "in terms of" [complement]
  • "verb＋起来＋adjective"＝to look at, discuss, or comment on something from the point of view of "V".
  • NOTE: 起来 is a result complement used in many different grammatical contexts. Here, 起来 is being used to express the speaker's judgement. The subject seems "adjective" when the action of the verb is performed.
  • > 这个手机用起来很方便。= This cell is so convenient to use. [In terms of using it, it's very "convenient"]​
  • > 他看起来很友好。= He looks friendly. [In terms of looks, he seems friendly.]
  • > 他们住的小区环境很好，房子是一套三房两厅两卫的公寓，家具都很新、很漂亮，每个房间都很干净，住起来很舒服。[Every room is very clean and very comfortable to live in]​
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WRITE: write a letter to your Chinese pen pal, asking him/her about the phenomenon of "春运". Will s/he be traveling home during Chinese New Year?

SKIT: in a group, write a dialogue between two friends studying abroad in China. Memorize your skit and perform in front of the class!
  • They want to travel during the Chinese New Year holiday.
  • But due to 春运, it will be difficult.
  • Discuss how to avoid the worst of 春运 during your upcoming travels.
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 春运，顺利，(住)起来
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Rule (in English): Explain the "...起来" structure and describe when it's used. Give at least two examples.
  • Translate: Every room is very clean and very comfortable to live in. [...起来]
  • Translate: Dumplings are delicious to eat [...起来], but not east to make [...起来].​
  • TARGET: no more than 1 grammar mistake.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 在中国，大家都想回家过年，所以春运交通(jiāo tōng=transportation)压力很大。
  • 希望你们在新的一年里找工作顺利！
  • 他看起来很友好。
  • 房子是一套三房两厅两卫的公寓，家具都很新、很漂亮，每个房间都很干净，住起来很舒服。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Discuss how to best travel during Chinese New Year.
  • Discuss how to do things smoothly.
  • 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:
    • Describe the major Chinese holidays (including dates, food, etc.)
    • Explain the centrality of Chinese New Year in Chinese culture.
    • Discuss how to best travel during Chinese New Year.
    • Discuss your favorite and least favorite holidays.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.
​
BONUS CHALLENGES:
  • ​GODLIKE: Achieve a 100% score on all mastery challenges—zero mistakes!