​Chapter 9: "Rough Beast of Beijing"

HOW TO DESCRIBE NEW YEAR'S EVE TRADITIONS
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年夜饭    (nián yè fàn) Chinese New Year's Eve dinner    

​剩(下)    (shèng xià) to remain; to leave a surplus; to be left over [verb + complement]
  • 这你知道吗? 年夜饭一定要有鱼，而且不能都吃了，要剩下一些。    

年年有余    (nián nián yǒu yú) every year has surplus [成语]
  • 年＝year，年年=every year，有＝to have，余＝surplus, extra
  • NOTE 1: The theory behind eating but not finishing a plate of fish during the Chinese Year's Eve dinner is that "年年有鱼" (every year has fish) sounds like "年年有余" (every year has surplus). Chinese culture has MANY lucky or taboo practices based on homonyms--words that sound similar or identical but have different meanings. See "福倒了" in this lesson for a similar idea.
  • 你没听说过吗？"年年有鱼"，"年年有余" 呀。"鱼" 跟 "余" 发音一样，"余" 有剩下的意思。    
  • "年年有鱼，年年有余"，是 "剩下钱" 吗？哈！中文真有意思。
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SPEAK: discuss different Chinese New Year's Eve traditions.

WRITE: write a paragraph explaining the usage and significance of the phrase "年年有余" during New Year's Eve dinner.
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 年夜饭，剩(下)，年年有余
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:​
  • 这你知道吗? 年夜饭一定要有鱼，而且不能都吃了，要剩下一些。    
  • 你没听说过吗？"年年有鱼"，"年年有余" 呀。"鱼" 跟 "余" 发音一样，"余" 有剩下的意思。  
  • "年年有鱼，年年有余"，是 "剩下钱" 吗？哈！中文真有意思。​
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Describe Chinese New Year's Eve Dinner.
  • Explain why fish is always eaten on New Year's Eve.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 10: "The Rice Is Not to the Swift"

HOW TO DESCRIBE MORE NEW YEAR'S TRADITIONS
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春节晚会    (chūn jié wǎn huì) Spring Festival Gala [abbreviated to "春晚"]
  • 晚会    (wǎn huì) = evening party
  • This is a hugely anticipated and popular five-hour long variety program aired on China's national CCTV network on Chinese New Year's Eve. It is the most watched television program in the world.
  • 柯林，现在很多很多中国家庭都像我们一样，一边吃年夜饭，一边看春节晚会。

倒计时    (dào jì shí) to count down
  • 倒 (dào) = backwards, to go backwards
  • 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！

​拜年    (bài nián) to wish someone a happy Chinese New Year; to pay a New Year's call
  • 舅舅、舅妈，我们给你们拜年了！
  • 不过，我想先给爸爸妈妈打手机拜年，再给天明，丽莎发短信拜年。
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SPEAK: discuss different Chinese New Year's traditions. How do they compare to Gregorian New Year's traditions?

WRITE: write a diary entry describing your first Chinese New Year's experience.
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 春节晚会，倒计时，拜年，本来
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Translate: I originally wanted to make a reservation at the restaurant, but there are no seats left.
  • TARGET: no mistakes.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 柯林，现在很多很多中国家庭都像我们一样，一边吃年夜饭，一边看春节晚会。    
  • 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！    
  • 我想先给爸爸妈妈打手机拜年，再给天明，丽莎发短信拜年。
  • 雪梅上个周末告诉我们你们要来，我本来也想在餐馆订餐，可是没办法，只有在家里吃了。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Describe the Spring Festival Gala.
  • Explain the concept of "拜年," and when to do it.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 11: "In the Valley of the Shadow of Death"

HOW TO DESCRIBE NEW YEAR'S DAY TRADITIONS
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"福" 字    (fú) "good fortune" character

倒    (dào) to turn upside down; to go backwards

福倒了    upside down 福
  • NOTE: "福倒了" is pronounced the same as "福到了" (福 has arrived). This is why Chinese people like to paste upside down 福 characters everywhere.
  • Chinese culture has MANY lucky or taboo practices based on homonyms (谐音字 = xié yīn zì)--words that sound similar or identical but have different meanings. See "年年有余" in this lesson for a similar idea.
  • 奇怪，雪梅，这个 "福" 字怎么贴错了，"福" 字倒了。
  • 没贴错。"福倒了"，"福到了"，你想意思多好啊！

贴    (tiē) to paste; to glue

墙    (qiáng) wall
  • 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。    ​

红包    (hóng bāo) red envelope containing money to be given as a gift
  • 发红包 = to send/give a red envelope    
  • 过年了，舅舅、舅妈给你们红包。

*BONUS WORDS*:
*剪纸*    (jián zhǐ) to cut paper [VO]; papercutting [noun]    
*春联*    (chūn lián) Spring Festival Couplet
*扫尘*    (sǎo chén) to sweep dust [VO]    
*舞狮*    (wǔ shī) lion dance [n]    
*舞龙*    (wǔ lóng) dragon dance [n]
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SPEAK: brainstorm together to come up with a list of the most important Chinese New Year's Day traditions.

WRITE: write a paragraph describing and explaining the following image: 
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 福，倒，贴，墙，红包
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 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。    
  • 奇怪，雪梅，这个 "福" 字怎么贴错了，"福" 字倒了。
  • 没贴错。"福倒了"，"福到了"，你想意思多好啊！
  • 过年了，给你们红包。​
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Describe New Year's Day traditions (including giving red envelopes).
  • Explain the significance of the character "福"; describe how Chinese people use it to decorate.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 12: "The Good Samaritan"

HOW TO DESCRIBE LANTERN FESTIVAL TRADITIONS
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元宵    (yuán xiāo) 正月十五；sweet dumplings made of glutinous rice flour
  • 还有正月十五元宵节... 元宵节，吃元宵嘛！

汤圆    (tāng yuán) another word for 元宵
  • 元宵 is the term generally used in Northern China; 汤圆 is the term used in the South. 元宵 and 汤圆 are slightly different but are basically the same thing.
  • 我好爱吃汤圆... 那个圆圆、白白的东西···    

灯笼    (dēng lóng) lantern    
  • 我们一家人一起挂红灯笼。

嘛    (ma) particle used after a statement to emphasize the obvious
  • NOTE: 嘛 suggests that the reasoning behind a statement is self-evident or "the way it should be."
  • 1. 你不喜欢他，不想让他天天来找你，就告诉她嘛。= If you don't like him and don't want him to come looking for you every day, then why don't you just tell him?
  • 2. 你说这句英文不难，那你翻译出来给我看看嘛。= You say that this English sentence is not difficult. Then translate it and prove it to me.
  • 3. 你跟妈妈说清楚嘛，要是上了医学院再想换专业，就难了。= There's nothing I dislike more than dealing with patients, but my mom insists that I go to medical school.

*BONUS WORDS*:
*猜灯谜*    (cāi dēng mí) to guess a Lantern Riddle
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SPEAK: discuss different Lantern Festival traditions.

COMPARE: compare the food eaten during the Lantern Festival with the food eaten during another Chinese holiday of your choice.
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 元宵，汤圆，灯笼，嘛
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 除了除夕和春节以外，还有正月十五元宵节···    
  • 元宵节，吃元宵嘛！吃元宵，那个圆圆、白白的东西···！   
  • 我好爱吃汤圆。
  • 我们一家人一起挂红灯笼。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Describe Lantern Festival traditions.
  • BONUS: explain what "猜灯谜" is, and provide examples.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 13: "Children of God"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT THE CHINESE ZODIAC
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十二生肖    (shí èr shēng xiào) Twelve Zodiac Animals; Chinese Zodiac
  • 生肖 = Zodiac Animal

属X    (shǔ) to belong to [a Zodiac Animal year]

*BONUS WORDS*:
  • *鼠*    (shǔ) rat [zodiac animal]    
  • *牛*    (niú) ox [zodiac animal]    
  • *虎*    (hǔ) tiger [zodiac animal]    
  • *兔*    (tù) rabbit [zodiac animal]    
  • *龙*    (lóng) dragon [zodiac animal]    
  • *蛇*    (shé) snake [zodiac animal]
  • *马*    (mǎ) horse [zodiac animal]    
  • *羊*    (yáng) goat [zodiac animal]    
  • *猴*    (hóu) monkey [zodiac animal]    
  • *鸡*    (jī) chicken [zodiac animal]    
  • *狗*    (gǒu) dog [zodiac animal]    
  • *猪*    (zhū) pig [zodiac animal]    

> you should know YOUR zodiac animal and the CURRENT year
  • see this chart for specific information
  • remember these years are based on the Chinese lunar calendar; those born in January and February take care! Chinese New Year moves between 21 January and February 20 depending on the year.

Sentences:
  • 熊老师属兔。你属什么？你记得其他十二生肖吗？
  • 去年是羊年。今年是猴年。明年是鸡年。后年是狗年。
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LEARN MORE: go online and find more information about the Chinese Zodiac. Write a paragraph summarizing your findings, comparing and contrasting the traditional calendar with the modern Western calendar.

SPEAK: talk about your own Chinese Zodiac Animal. Do you two share the same one? Would you rather have another Zodiac Animal? Why or why not?

WRITE: match the years from 2010 to 2022 with the corresponding Chinese Zodiac Animals, and write them down as a list.
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 十二生肖，属
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Culture: Identify the current Zodiac Year.
  • Culture: Identify your Zodiac Animal.
  • BONUS: Identify all 12 Zodiac Animals IN ORDER (starting with Rat).
  • TARGET: no mistakes.

 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:
    • Describe in detail New Year's Eve traditions.
    • Describe in detail New Year's Day traditions.
    • Describe in detail Lantern Festival traditions.
    • Describe the Chinese Zodiac and your Zodiac Animal.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.
​
BONUS CHALLENGES:
  • ​GODLIKE: Achieve a 100% score on all mastery challenges—zero mistakes!