​Chapter 5: "The Immortal Mummies of Egypt"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT RETIREMENT
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广场 (guáng chǎng) public square
  • 天安门广场 = Tiananmen Square
  • 时代 (shí dài) 广场 = Times Square​

广场舞 (guáng chǎng wǔ) public square dancing
  • 广场 = public square，舞=跳舞
  • In the PRC, "广场舞" is an exercise routine performed to music in squares, plazas or parks of the nation's cities. It is popular with middle-aged and retired women who have been referred to as "dancing grannies" (大妈). Due to its low cost and ease of participation, it has been estimated to have over 100 million practitioners.
  • See Wikipedia for more info.
  • 他们有的跳广场舞，有的打太极拳。Some of them dance in public squares, and some practice tai chi.

夫妻    (fū qī) husband and wife

​退休    (tuì xiū) to retire; retirement
  • 房东夫妻二人都已退休。
  • “丽莎，你看大树下边，我爸，我妈正在跟那些退休老人打太极拳呢！”= Look, under the big trees my mom and dad are practicing tai chi with those retirees.
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SPEAK: discuss plans for your future retirement. When do you want to retire? Where? Do you think you'll be healthier/happier after you retire?

PAIR ACTIVITY: imagine that your parents and your partner's parents want to retire together. Together, draft a retirement plan that will accommodate both sets of parents.

WRITE: write a response to the following statement: "我觉得我以后的退休生活就应该比年轻时更精彩，以前是有钱的时候没时间，有时间的时候没有钱，现在我都有了，所以正是享受生活的时候。" 你同意吗？为什么是／否？
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 广场，广场舞，夫妻，退休
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 他们有的跳广场舞，有的打太极拳。
  • 房东夫妻二人都已退休。
  • 难怪你的身体这么健康，身材这么好。
  • TARGET: no mistakes, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about public squares in China and activities held there.
  • Talk about retirement.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 6: "The Mummy's Sinister Secret"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT LOSING WEIGHT
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减肥    (jiǎn féi) to lose weight

胖    (pàng) fat
  • 李文：你一点儿都不胖，还需要注意饮食吗？    You don’t have one ounce of fat on you. Do you still need to pay attention to your diet?
  • 晚饭就要少吃一点，不然会越来越胖，因为离上床睡觉的时间太近了。Have a small dinner. Otherwise you’ll put on more and more weight, because it’s too close to bedtime.

​瘦    (shòu) skinny
  • 晚饭就要少吃一点，不然会越来越胖，因为离上床睡觉的时间太近了。Have a small dinner. Otherwise you’ll put on more and more weight, because it’s too close to bedtime.
  • 注意饮食不等于减肥。我认为只要身体健康就好，胖瘦并不重要。    Paying attention to your diet is not the same as losing weight. I think as long as you are healthy then you’re fine. Weight isn’t so important.

饱    (bǎo) full [appetite]
  • 吃饱 = to eat fully [i.e. to be full or satiated]
  • 我吃饱了 = “I’m full!”
  • 午饭要吃饱，因为下午还要学习和工作。
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SPEAK: discuss the best method of losing weight. Diet? Exercise? A combination of both? What are the obstacles to losing weight? Why do so many people want to lose weight? What are the benefits? What are the dangers of too much dieting?

WRITE: write an advice column on the topic of losing weight.
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 减肥，胖，瘦，饱
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 你一点儿都不胖，还需要注意饮食吗？
  • 晚饭就要少吃一点，不然会越来越胖，因为离上床睡觉的时间太近了。
  • 注意饮食不等于减肥。我认为只要身体健康就好，胖瘦并不重要。
  • 午饭要吃饱，因为下午还要学习和工作。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Discuss the pros and cons of dieting.
  • Discuss your eating habits.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 7: "Master Maharishi Of India"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT YOGA
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早晨    (zǎo chén) morning; early morning
  • 这些早晨锻炼的人们，成为北京特别的“风景”，使这个城市显得非常有活力。= These people who exercise every morning have become a special part of the Beijing “landscape.”

大树    (shù) big tree
  • 丽莎，你看大树下边，我爸，我妈正在跟那些退休老人做瑜伽呢！= Lisa, look, under the big trees my mom and dad are practicing tai chi with those retirees. Go look for them.

排队    (pái duì) to line up in rows
  • 大树下边，很多人在排队，等着师傅出来。
  • 他们有的跳舞，有的排成队。

瑜伽    (yú jiā) yoga
  • transliteration from English
  • 做瑜伽 = to do yoga
  • 李文：我以为你只喜欢做瑜伽，怎么对太极拳也有兴趣？ I thought you only liked to do yoga. How come you are interested in tai chi, too?
  • 丽莎：太极拳和瑜伽一样，不但对身体有好处，而且动作很美。 Tai chi and yoga are alike. Not only are they good for you, the movements are also very beautiful.
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SPEAK: discuss what you know about yoga. Have you ever tried it? What are the benefits of doing yoga?

WRITE: write a letter to your parents, telling them about your newfound love for yoga - how you got started, where you practice, why you love it so much, etc.

WRITE: make a flyer advertising a mystical yoga retreat. Describe the location, the length of the program, the schedule, activities, what kind of yoga will be taught, etc. Be sure to include photos as well.
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 早晨，大树，排队，瑜伽
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 这些早晨锻炼的人们，成为北京特别的“风景”。
  • 丽莎，你看大树下边，我爸，我妈正在跟那些退休老人打太极拳呢！
  • 大树下边，很多人在排队，等着师傅出来。
  • 我以为你只喜欢做瑜伽，怎么对太极拳也有兴趣？
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about yoga and places to practice it.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 8: "The Transcendent Wisdom"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT EQUALITIES (MATH)
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散步    (sàn bù) take a walk; go for a walk
  • 丽莎每天早晨都出去散步。

与    (yǔ) and; with
  • “与” is a more formal way of saying “和” in written Chinese
  • 生活与健康
  • 女儿与父母住在一起。

A 等于 B     (děng yú) to equal; to be equivalent to; to amount to
  • 吃得健康不等于减肥。
  • 生活等于死。

方面    (fāng miàn) aspect; respect
  • 要想身体好，有很多方面要考虑。
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TRAIN: write 3 sentences each using the following grammar structures:
  • 与
  • A 等于 B

WRITE: write a letter of complaint to your teacher, about a poor grade you received on a recent exam. Use the "A等于B" structure.

WRITE: write a response to this statement: "吃得健康不等于减肥。我认为只要身体健康就好，胖瘦并不重要。" 你同意吗？为什么是／否？

​SKIT: in a group, write a dialogue on the following prompt. Memorize your skit and perform in front of the class!
  • Partner A tries to convince Partner B that s/he needs to lose weight.
  • The other thinks s/he just needs to take it easy and enjoy life.
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 散步，与，等于，方面
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Rule (in English): Compare and contrast the uses of "与"，"和", and "跟".
  • Translate: Li Wen works at a library and lives with her parents. [与]
  • Translate: Paying attention to your diet is not equivalent to losing weight.
  • TARGET: no grammar mistakes.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 丽莎每天早晨都出去散步。
  • 生活与健康很重要。
  • 女儿与父母住在一起。
  • 吃得健康不等于减肥。
  • 我觉得想要身体好，在其他方面也要注意。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about going for walks.
  • Compare equalities (either mathematical or metaphorical).
  • 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:
    • Debate the pros and cons of dieting.
    • Talk about different kinds of exercise, including yoga, walking, and public square dancing.
    • Talk about retirement.
    • Compare equalities (either mathematical or metaphorical).
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.
​
BONUS CHALLENGES:
  • ​GODLIKE: Achieve a 100% score on all mastery challenges—zero mistakes!