​Chapter 1: "The Second Coming​"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT CHANGES
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毛泽东 (Máo Zé Dōng) Mao Zedong [personal name]    
  • Mao Zedong was a Chinese communist revolutionary and founding father of the People's Republic of China, which he ruled as an autocrat from its establishment in 1949 until his death in 1976.

变化    (biàn huà) [n] change; [v] to change
  • NOTE: 变化 as a verb does NOT take any object; it is an intransitive verb
  • 这些年南京的变化的确很大，我以前骑自行车上班，现在也开起车来了。
  • 中国其他地方也这样，变化真的很大。
  • 历史的脚步声。来中国以前爸爸让我找他上的哪个中学。一会儿我给他发微信，告诉他南京变化太大。

​变    (biàn) [v] to change
  • NOTE: 变 as a verb does NOT take any object; it is an intransitive verb
  • 好啊！ 不管中国怎么变，南京怎么变，肚子饿了要吃没变。

变成    (biàn chéng) [v] to change into
  • NOTE: 变成 DOES take direct objects; it is a transitive verb

看起来    (kàn qǐ lái) [vc]; it looks like...; it seems...; it appears...​
  • 看＝verb (to see)，起来＝compound directional complement
    • can be used before or after the subject​
  • Introduces a conclusion or opinion based on a previously stated fact or previously described situation.
  • Examples:
    1. 你这么高兴，看起来一定有什么好事。
    2. 听你刚才那么说，看起来你儿子是假的活动你都已经安排好了。
    3. 我还得学五门课，看起来这个学期比毕不了业了。
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SPEAK: talk about your hometown (or previous places you've lived). When you go back home, do you find everything familiar or unfamiliar?

​WRITE: Write a paragraph describing how Shanghai has changed based on the following image: 
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 毛泽东，变化，变成，看起来
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 这些年南京的变化很大。    
  • 那儿已经变成了一个购物中心，完全不是爸爸说的那个样子了。
  • 中国怎么变，南京怎么变，肚子饿了要吃没变。
  • 你这么高兴，看起来一定有什么好事。
  • 听你刚才那么说，看起来你儿子是假的活动你都已经安排好了。
  • TARGET: no more than 2 mistakes, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Explain who Mao Zedong is, and his significance.
  • Talk about changes.
  • Talk about the rapid speed of changes. 
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 2: "Strangers"

HOW TO EXPRESS SURPRISE
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​没想到    (méi xiǎng dào) [phrase] "didn't expect [that...]"
  • "Sub＋没想到＋statement"
  • 张天明和丽莎上个学期末申请到中国学中文，原来以为时间会来不及，没想到学校很快就同意了。
  • 爸爸常常说南京是个很安静的城市，没想到这么热闹！

想象    (xiǎng xiàng) [v] to imagine; [n] imagination    
  • 我以前想象的中国 = my previously imagined China
  • 这跟我以前想象的中国完全不一样。This is totally different than the China I used to imagine. 

从来    (cóng lái) [adv] from past till present; always; at all times
  • NOTE: 从来 can work in the positive, but it is more often followed by a word of negation like 不 or 没. This is used to express that you NEVER DO something (as a habit, or as a rule), or that you HAVE NEVER DONE something (it's not a part of your life experience).
  • In either usage, 从来 (cónglái) may be shortened to just 从 (cóng) in casual speech.
  • 从来＋(都) ＝ ALWAYS (from the beginning)...
  • 从来＋不 ＝ NEVER (from the beginning)...
  • 从来＋没(有) = NEVER HAD (from the beginning)...​

从来不...
  • When you follow 从来 with 不, you are expressing that you NEVER DO something as a HABIT, or as a RULE. It's often used as a way to refuse something, as in "I never drink."
  • Structure: "Sub＋从来＋不＋[Verb Phrase]"
  • NOTE: Because a "从来不" sentence refers to ongoing habits, there is NO aspect particle (i.e. 了，过，or 着).
  • Examples:
    • 1. 她从来不喝酒。＝ She never drinks.
    • 2. 我女朋友从不给我打电话。＝My girlfriend never gives me a call. [来 has been omitted here]
    • 3. 这个人很奇怪，他从来不笑。= This person is very strange. He never laughs.

从来没(有)...
  • When you follow 从来 with 没(有), you are expressing that you HAVE NEVER DONE something (it's not a part of your life experience). You're talking about the past now, because you're talking about what you haven't done before, so 没有 (i.e. the past negation structure) is appropriate.
  • Structure: "Sub＋从来 ＋没(有)＋Verb＋过＋Object"
  • NOTE 1: Because you're making a statement about your life experience, you should always use the aspect particle 过 (and NOT 了).
  • Examples:
    • 1. 你从来没有想过这个问题吗？= Have you never thought about this question?
    • 2. 她从来没见过她妈妈。= She has never met her mother.
    • 3. 你们从来没有听说过这个地方吗？= Have you never heard about this place before?
    • 4. 我从来没听说过 = I never had heard [of this] before
    • 5. 我的外国朋友从来没过过端午节，也从来没吃过粽子。
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TRAIN: write 3 sentences each for the following grammar structures:​
  • 从来不...
  • 从来没(有)...

SPEAK: talk about life at your school. How is it different from your previous imagination? What surprised you?

WRIITE: imagine you are visiting Shanghai for the first time since 1990, and you are surprised by what you see. Write a letter to your parents, telling them about your surprise.
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DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 没想到，想象，从来不，从来没(有)
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Rule (in English): compare and contrast the structures "从来", "从来不", and "从来没". Give examples of each.
  • Translate: She never drinks [as a habit/rule].
  • Translate: I've never heard of this [ever before].
  • TARGET: no more than 1 grammar mistake.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 张天明和丽莎上个学期末申请到中国学中文，原来以为时间会来不及，没想到学校很快就同意了。
  • 这跟我以前想象的中国完全不一样。
  • 她从来不喝酒。
  • 我从来没听说过。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Express surprise at an unforeseen turn of events.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 3: "Days Gone Bye"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT CHANGING LIFESTYLES
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交通    (jiāo tōng) [n] transportation    
  • 中国有许多交通问题。

饮食    (yǐn shí) [n] food and drink; cuisine    
  • 中国饮食文化很特别。

建筑    (jiàn zhù) [n] architecture, building    
  • 不会的。南京还是保留了很多有中国特色的东西。比如说建筑，南京最有中国特色的是夫子店，那儿还有吃的、喝的、玩儿的...
  • 南京一边是一栋栋高楼大厦，一边是一座座传统建筑，站在这儿，我好像听到了一种声音。

服装    (fú zhuāng) [n] clothing; apparel
  • 我们不也是两个"老外"吗？哈哈！你看马路对面，美国快餐店，日本银行，法国服装店...
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WRITE: a Chinese youth has moved from the countryside to Shanghai. S/he wants advice on how to modernize his/her lifestyle. Write him/her a letter giving this advice.

SKIT: in a group, write a dialogue on the following prompt. Memorize your skit and perform in front of the class!
  • Two elderly people are 100 years old!
  • Complain about everything that has changed since you were young: transportation, food and drink, architecture, clothing, etc.​
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​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 交通，饮食，建筑，服装
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 南京有很多传统的建筑。
  • 你看...中国现在日本的服装店越来越多！
  • 中国有许多交通问题。
  • 中国饮食文化不但很特别，而且很有名。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Compare the architecture, cuisine, clothing, and transportation of different cultures or time periods.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

​Chapter 4: "Dead Weight"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT CHANGES IN CHINESE ARCHITECTURE
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街    (jiē) [n] street    
  • 表哥见他们很高兴，说愿意当导游，带他们在街上走走，让他们好好儿看看南京。
  • ​爸爸常常说南京是个很安静的城市，没想到这么热闹！你看，大街上到处都是，到处都是汽车。    

高楼大厦    (gāo lóu dà shà) [phrase] "high buildings and large mansions", i.e. skyscrapers
  • NOTE: 高＝high，楼＝tall building，大＝big，厦＝mansion
  • 南京一边是一栋栋高楼大厦，一边是一座座传统建筑，站在这儿，我好像听到了一种声音。

​座    (zuò) [MW] measure word for buildings, tall mountains, etc.
  • 一座座传统建筑    rows and rows of traditional buildings [reduplicated MW]

栋    (dòng) [MW] measure word for buildings
  • 一栋栋高楼大厦    rows and rows of skyscrapers [reduplicated MW]

*一 + Reduplicated Measure Words*
  • A measure word can be reduplicated to mean "without exception, all inclusive."​
  • However, if you add "一" in front of a reduplicated measure word, the new structure describes a large grouping of identical or similar, yet distinctly individual objects.
  • This structure is similar in meaning to 很多, but different because 很多 only describes quantity, while the reduplicated measure word suggests "a large grouping" or "a large collection."
  • STRUCTURE: "sub + verb + 一 + MW + MW + object"
  • Examples:
    • 1. 桌子上摆着一盘盘水果，一瓶瓶可乐。＝ On the desk is placed plates and plates of fruit, bottles and bottles of soda.
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TRAIN: write 3 sentences using the following grammar structure:​
  • 一 + Reduplicated Measure Words

SKIT: in a group, write a dialogue between an elderly Chinese person and a young Chinese person in Beijing. Memorize your skit and perform in front of the class!
  • The elderly person is comfortable with traditional Chinese architecture.
  • The young person loves the look of all the new skyscrapers...

​WRITE: write a caption for the following image (taken in Shanghai):
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​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 街，高楼大厦，一座座，一栋栋
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • BONUS (Rule): in English, explain the "一 + Reduplicated MW" structure. Describe the grammar pattern and give examples in context.
  • BONUS (Translate): Nanjing on the one hand has structure upon structure of skyscrapers [Reduplicated MW], and on the other hand there are rows upon rows of traditional buildings [Reduplicated MW].
  • TARGET: no grammar mistakes.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • ​表哥见他们很高兴，说愿意当导游，带他们在街上走走，让他们好好儿看看南京。
  • 爸爸常常说南京是个很安静的城市，没想到这么热闹！你看，大街上到处都是，到处都是汽车。
  • ​南京一边是一栋栋高楼大厦，一边是一座座传统建筑，站在这儿，我好像听到了一种声音。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about changes in Chinese architecture.
  • Talk about skyscrapers.
  • 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 the different changes in China since 1978.
    • Talk about changes in Chinese architecture, cuisine, clothing, and transportation.
    • Talk about the rapid and surprising speed of these changes.
    • Talk about things you don't do [using 从来没/不...].
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.
​
BONUS CHALLENGES:
  • ​GODLIKE: Achieve a 100% score on all mastery challenges—zero mistakes!