Chapter 6: "Keep Cool"

HOW TO SLEEP ON CHINESE TRAINS
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上铺    (shàng pù) [n] upper berth (in a sleeper car)

中铺    (zhōng pù) [n] middle berth (in a sleeper car)

下铺    (xià pù) [n] lower berth (in a sleeper car)

关    (guān) [v] to close
  • 关门 = to close the door

枕头    (zhěn tou) [n] pillow

打呼噜    (dǎ hū lu) [VO] to snore

Sentences:
  • 那里每个小房间里有两个上铺，两个下铺，床比较软也比较大，房间的门可以关上。
  • 我在上铺，上铺比下铺和中铺安静一点，晚上可以睡个好觉。床上有毯子和枕头，很干净。
  • 我们没有买软卧票，还因为怕别人睡觉打呼噜。你想想，在这么小的房间里，关上门，如果有人不停地打呼噜，你还能睡得着觉吗？​
Lesson
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​SPEAK: imagine you are planning a trip to Yunnan by traveling there on a long-distance train. Discuss which berth is best in order to get a good night's sleep: upper berth, middle berth, or lower berth.

WRITE: write a letter to your Chinese pen pal, telling them about your terrible experience on a Chinese sleeper train.
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 上铺，中铺，下铺，关，枕头，打呼噜
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Culture: Describe a hard sleeper and a soft sleeper train car, and compare the differences.
  • TARGET: no grammar mistakes.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 我喜欢软卧，那里每个小房间里有两个上铺，两个下铺，床比较软也比较大，房间的门可以关上。
  • 硬卧车比软卧车更挤。我在上铺，上铺比下铺和中铺安静一点，晚上可以睡个好觉。床上有毯子和枕头，很干净。
  • 我们没有买软卧票，还因为怕别人睡觉打呼噜。你想想，在这么小的房间里，关上门，如果有人不停地打呼噜，你还能睡得着觉吗？​
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Compare the living conditions in "soft sleeper" vs. "hard sleeper" carriages.
  • Talk about sleeping on Chinese trains.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 7: "Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles"

HOW TO PASS THE TIME ON CHINESE TRAINS
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顿    (dùn) [MW] measure word for number of meals
  • 一顿饭 = one meal
  • 这是餐车。我们在餐车上吃了一顿饭，那里的饭，我觉得又贵又难吃。

盒饭    (hé fàn) [n] box lunch
  • 那里的饭，我觉得又贵又难吃，不如买盒饭或者方便面。

方便面        (fāng biàn miàn) [n] instant noodles

打牌    (dǎ pái) [VO] to play cards
  • 火车上好无聊，没事儿干。咱们打牌吧。

讲    (jiǎng) [v] to speak; to explain; to tell

故事    (gù shì) [n] story
  • 讲故事 = to tell a story​
Lesson
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SPEAK: imagine you are planning a trip to Yunnan by traveling there on a long-distance train. Discuss things you can do to pass the time while you're traveling on a Chinese sleeper train.

WRITE: write a letter to your Chinese pen pal, telling them how you passed the time during the long journey to Yunnan aboard a Chinese sleeper train.
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 顿，盒饭，方便面，打牌，讲故事
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 这是餐车。我们在餐车上吃了一顿饭，那里的饭，我觉得又贵又难吃，不如买盒饭或者方便面。
  • 我特别爱参加旅行团。我们能一边走，一边听导游讲故事，非常有意思。
  • 火车上好无聊，没事儿做。咱们打牌吧...
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about eating on Chinese trains.
  • Talk about things to do on Chinese trains.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 8: "House of Flying Stones"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT YUNNAN'S STONE FOREST
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昆明    (kūn míng) Kunming [capital of Yunnan]
  • 导游介绍说云南是一个省，在中国的西南部，省会是昆明。

石林    (shí lín) The Stone Forest [a place in Yunnan near Kunming]
  • 第一天我们游览了石林。这是一张石林的照片。
  • 石林的样子千奇百怪。我们在石林里一边走，一边听导游讲那些石头的故事，非常有意思。
  • 石林给我们留下了很深的印象。

石头    (shí tou) [n] stone; rock; pebble

树林    (shù lín) [n] woods; forest
  • 石林有很多颜色很深的石头，远看就像树林一样。

千奇百怪    (qiān qí bǎi guài) [成语] strange in myriad ways
  • 奇怪 = strange, 千 = one thousand, 百 = a hundred
  • literally, "one thousand stranges, one hundred stranges"
  • 石林的样子千奇百怪。The appearance of the Stone Forest (rocks) are all different and bizarre.
Lesson
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Click for the LEARNING SLIDES
Practice
SPEAK: imagine you are planning a trip to Yunnan. Discuss whether or not you want to visit the Stone Forest from Kunming.

WRITE: write a letter to your Chinese pen pal, telling them about your day trip to the Stone Forest.
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 昆明，石林，石头，树林，千奇百怪
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 导游介绍说云南是一个省，在中国的西南部，省会是昆明。
  • 第一天我们游览了石林。这是一张石林的照片。
  • 石林有很多颜色很深的石头，远看就像树林一样。
  • 石林的样子千奇百怪。我们在石林里一边走，一边听导游讲那些石头的故事，非常有意思。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about Kunming and Yunnan's Stone Forest.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 9: "Under the Hawthorn Tree"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT NATURAL SCENERY
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美丽    (měi lì) [adj] beautiful
  • 美丽的风景 = beautiful scenery
  • 导游介绍说云南是一个省，在中国的西南部，省会是昆明。云南自然风景很美，有山有水，这里住着很多少数民族。

留(下)    (liú xia) [v+(c)] to leave behind; to stay behind
  • NOTE: similar to 剩(下) but emphasizes a lingering action or impression
  • 中国的火车，导游和云南美丽的风景，都给天明留下很深的印象。

深    (shēn) [adj] profound; deep

印象    (yìn xiàng) [n] impression
  • Often used in these structures:
    • A对B的印象很好/不好/很深 ＝ "A has a good/bad/deep impression of B"
    • B给A留下很好/不好/很深的印象 ＝ "B leaves A a good/bad/deep impression"
    • 有/没有印象 ＝ "have/don't have an impression or recollection"
  • 云南给我留下了很深的印象 = Yunnan gave me a very deep impression
  • 石林给我们留下了很深的印象。
Lesson
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TRAIN: write 3 sentences using the following sentence structure:
  • 留(下)...印象​

SPEAK: imagine you are planning a trip to Yunnan. Talk about the natural scenery in Yunnan that you expect to leave a deep impression on you.

WRITE: write a letter to your Chinese pen pal, telling them about the beautiful natural scenery of Yunnan.
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 美丽，留(下)...印象，深
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Translate: Yunnan left on me a very deep impression.​
  • TARGET: no grammar mistakes.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 中国的火车，导游和云南美丽的风景，都给天明留下很深的印象。
  • 石林给我们留下了很深的印象。
  • 导游介绍说云南是一个省，在中国的西南部，省会是昆明。云南自然风景很美，有山有水，这里住着很多少数民族。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about Yunnan’s natural scenery.
  • Talk about things that have made a deep impression on you.
  • 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:
    • Compare and contrast "soft sleeper" vs. "hard sleeper" vs. "hard seat" carriages.
    • Talk about life aboard a long-distance Chinese train.
    • Talk about traveling through Yunnan (including Kunming and the Stone Forest).
    • Talk about your impressions of Yunnan’s natural scenery.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.
​
BONUS CHALLENGES:
  • ​GODLIKE: Achieve a 100% score on all mastery challenges—zero mistakes!