​Chapter 1: "Dying of Cancer"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT THE CAUSES OF CANCER
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吸烟    (xī yān) to smoke a cigarette
  • 不吸烟，不喝酒，早睡早起。
  • 我偶尔吸烟。

偶尔    (ǒu ér) occasionally [adv]
  • 我偶尔吸烟。

癌症    (ái zhèng) cancer
  • 癌症使我显得很不好看。

不必    (bú bì) need not; not have to 
  • “必” is short for “必须” (bì xū = to need [to do smth])
  • 买衣服只考虑便宜当然不好，但是也不必非买名牌的不可。
  • 李文很想去美国留学，所以请丽莎做她的英文家教，这样丽莎就不必付房租了。    Li Wen would very much like to go to America to study, so she asked Lisa to be her English tutor. This way Lisa won’t have to pay rent.
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RESEARCH: what is the leading cause of death in mainland China? Do some research; write a paragraph detailing your findings.

TRAIN: write 3 sentences using the following grammar structure:​
  • 不必

​SPEAK: discuss the perils of smoking cigarettes. Would you ever smoke? Why or why not?

WRITE: write a letter of complaint to a big cigarette company such as Marlboro, complaining about the negative side effects of smoking cigarettes.
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 吸烟，偶尔，癌症，不必
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • A：我偶尔吸烟。
  • B：不吸烟，不喝酒，早睡早起。
  • 李文很想去美国留学，所以请丽莎做她的英文家教，这样丽莎就不必付房租了。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Discuss the pros and cons of smoking.
  • Talk about the causes of cancer.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 2: "Do I Accept My Fate? Fight to the Death!"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT THE VALUE OF LIFE
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科学    (kē xué) science; scientific, rational
  • 可见是有科学道理的 = It’s obvious that this is a scientific rationale

重视    (zhòng shì) to attach importance to; to think much of
  • 公司很重视我姐夫，又给他加工资了。
  • 我爸爸现在最重视的事情是我的学习。
  • 中国人真重视家庭团员！
  • 中国人真重视锻炼身体啊！Chinese people really attach importance to exercising.

即使...也...    (jí shǐ...yě) even if... but...
  • structure: 即使 statement 1, 也 statement 2
  • 即使... presents a hypothetical situation/extreme scenario, and the 也... structure indicates a result/conclusion reached despite the hypothetical scenario.
  • In other words, even in an extreme hypothetical, you're still going to do something anyway. 即使...也... is often used to describe a firm [sometimes irrational] commitment or a necessary action.

​Examples:
1. 即使你非常忙，也一定要吃早饭。= Even if you're really busy, you still need to eat breakfast.
2. 即使熬夜不睡觉，我也要把这篇文章写完。= Even if I have to stay up all night, I will still finish writing this article
3. 我啊，即使不吃东西只喝水，也会胖。= For me, even if I didn't eat anything and just drank water, I'd still put on weight.
4. 他的事业非常成功，但是太忙。即使是感恩节，也在办公室工作。= He's been very successful in his career, but he's too busy. Even if it's Thanksgiving, he still has to work in the office.
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TRAIN: write 3 sentences each using the following grammar structure:
  • 即使...也...

SPEAK: discuss the things that are important to you. Why do you attach importance to these things?

WRITE: pick a topic of your choice. Write a short report describing why you're interested in it, and why it's important to you.
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 科学，重视，即使...也...
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Translate: Even if you're really busy, you must still have breakfast!
  • TARGET: no grammar mistakes.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 我每天早晨出去散步，看见到处都是运动的人。中国人真重视锻炼身体啊！
  • 中国人真重视家庭团员！
  • 即使你非常忙，也一定要吃早饭。
  • 你不同意吗？可见是有科学道理的。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about science.
  • Talk about things that you value (or not).
  • Talk about following through on commitments despite obstacles [using 即使...也...].
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 3: "The Power of Crossfit"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT EXERCISE
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健身房    (jiàn shēn fáng) fitness center; gym
  • 美国人一般去健身房锻炼身体。

锻炼    (duàn liàn) to work out; to exercise
  • 美国人一般去健身房锻炼身体。
  • 中国人真重视锻炼身体啊！

只要...就...    (zhǐ yào...jiù...) only if/as long as...then...
  • 只要 introduces a necessary condition for the result expressed by the word or phrase following 就.
  • "只要... [Condition], (sub +) 就 + [Result]..."

​Examples:
1. 只要身体健康就好！= As long as the body's healthy, then that's good!
2. 小林租房子，只要环境好就行，其他的他都不在乎。= In looking for an apartment, Little Lin is okay with renting anything as long as the environment is gone. He doesn't care about anything else.
3. 只要你好好儿用功学习，你的中文就一定会进步。= As long as you study diligently, then your Chinese will definitely improve.
4. 很多父母认为，只要孩子平安，健康，就是自己最大的幸福。= Many parents consider their greatest happiness to be the safety and health of their children.
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TRAIN: write 3 sentences using the following grammar structure:​
  • 只要...就... 

SPEAK: discuss the benefits of staying fit. Do you like to exercise? Why or why not? How do you exercise? What's the best method, in your opinion?

WRITE: write a letter to a famous workout guru, asking him/her to help you devise a new fitness routine. Make sure to specify your reasons for wanting to be fit.
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 健身房，锻炼，只要...就...
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Translate: I think as long as you are healthy then you're fine, weight isn't so important.
  • TARGET: no grammar mistakes.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 美国人一般去健身房锻炼身体。
  • 中国人真重视锻炼身体啊！
  • 只要身体健康就好！
  • 很多父母认为，只要孩子平安，健康，就是自己最大的幸福。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Discuss healthy and unhealthy exercise practices.
  • Talk about necessary conditions for a given result [只要...就...].
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 4: "Dr. Oz’s Miracle Journey"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS
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补充    (bǔ chōng) to supplement; to replenish
  • 那你应该尽可能找时间补充营养。

营养    (yíng yǎng) nutrition; nourishment
  • 只要补充好营养，你的癌症就会好。

等等    (děng děng) and so forth
  • 美国人一般怎么锻炼？一般跑步，游泳，打球等等，有些人也去健身房。

随便    (suí biàn) casual; careless; to do as one pleases
  • 不要随便乱吃 = Don’t carelessly and aimlessly eat
  • 我工作忙，没时间好好儿吃饭，常常随便乱吃。
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TRAIN: write 3 sentences using the following grammar structure:​
  • 等等

SPEAK: discuss how seriously you take your nutrition. Do you eat many fruits and vegetables? Do you take vitamins? Why or why not?

WRITE: write a paragraph in response to the following statement: "多喝水，多吃青菜，水果。另外，即使你非常忙，也一定要吃早饭，而且早饭要有营养；午饭要吃饱，因为下午还要学习和工作；晚饭就要少吃一点，因为离上床的时间太近了." 你同意吗？为什么是／否？

WATCH: Watch the video below. Then write a paragraph evaluating the nutrition policy outlined by Bulbasaur (妙蛙种子).
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 补充，营养，等等，随便
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Translate: Americans generally jog, swim, play ball, and so on. Some people also go to the gym.
  • TARGET: no grammar mistakes.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 那你应该尽可能找时间补充营养。
  • 只要补充好营养，你的癌症就会好。
  • 美国人一般怎么锻炼？一般跑步，游泳，打球等等，有些人也去健身房。
  • 我工作忙，没时间好好儿吃饭，常常随便乱吃。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about nutritional supplements.
  • Discuss healthy and unhealthy eating habits.
  • 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 cancer and its causes.
    • Talk about the values that are important to you.
    • Discuss healthy and unhealthy lifestyle practices (such as exercise and eating habits).
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.
​
BONUS CHALLENGES:
  • ​GODLIKE: Achieve a 100% score on all mastery challenges—zero mistakes!