​Chapter 1: "A Mysterious Signal"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT INFORMATION
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消息    (xiāo xi) news; message; information [n]
  • 我没有他的消息 ＝ I don’t have news of him.
  • 我刚看网上的消息说，中国男足昨天赢了世界冠军队。

​​奴隶    (nú lì) slave
  • 奴隶社会 ＝ slave society
  • 奴隶主 ＝ slave owner (主[zhǔ]＝主人＝owner／master)

​工厂    (gōng chǎng) factory
  • 工＝工人，工作；厂＝factory
  • 一些工厂和公司还没有做到男女同工同酬。

​相信    (xiāng xìn) to believe; to trust
  • 你必须相信我！＝ You must trust me！
  • 我不相信，网上乱说吧？
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WRITE: write a letter of complaint to the owner of the factory where you work.

WRITE: write a letter to your Chinese pen pal about some bad news you just received.

​WRITE: respond to the following question: 某人在某天得到某个消息，这个消息让他她很困难去理解。你们曾经得到过让你很困难理解的消息吗？
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 消息，奴隶，工厂，相信
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 我刚看网上的消息说，中国男足昨天赢了世界冠军队。
  • 这是一个奴隶社会！
  • 你必须相信我！
  • 我不相信，网上乱说吧？
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about sorting and analyzing information.
  • Talk about what you can believe in.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 2: "Horror: The Evils of Slavery"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT SOCIAL STATUS
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地位    (dì wèi) position; status
  • Obama的社会地位比我高＝ Obama’s social status is higher than mine.
  • 在历史上，中国是一个重男轻女的社会，妇女的家庭地位和社会地位都比男人低得多。

​家务    (jiā wù) household chores, household duties
  • 我每天都做家务事＝ Every day I do household chores.
  • 舅舅什么家务都不做。

妇女 (fù nǚ) women [has social and political connotations] 

超过    (chāo guò) to exceed; to surpass
  • subject A 超过 subject B
  • 我们要超过我们以前的地位 = We will surpass our previous status
  • 也有一些女性超过一般男人。不过他们在女性中毕竟只是少数。
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DETECTIVE: find and fix the mistakes (highlight to see the correct answer):
  • 日本的人口不如美国的人口多。美国的人口超过多。
  • Answer: 美国的人口超过日本人笨的人口。(sub A 超过 sub B, must be nouns/noun phrases)

SPEAK: discuss the status of women in traditional Chinese and American society.

SPEAK: discuss the chores you each have to do at home.

WRITE: respond to the following question: 旧时候，工人在工厂工作，奴隶为奴隶主工作，奴隶主大多是种植园主。奴隶没有地位。工人为谁工作？
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 地位，家务，妇女，超过
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 在历史上，中国是一个重男轻女的社会，妇女的家庭地位和社会地位都比男人低得多。
  • 舅舅什么家务都不做。
  • 我们要超过我们以前的地位。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about the social status of different people.
  • Talk about household chores.
  • Talk about exceeding status or expectations.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 3: "The Palace of Eternal Bliss"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES
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皇帝    (huáng dì) emperor 
  • Both men and women can be "皇帝" in Chinese.
  • Female emperors can be more specifically referred to  as 女皇.

女皇    (nǚ huáng) female emperor
  • 女＝women，皇＝皇帝(huáng dì)＝emperor

机会    (jī huì) opportunity [n]
  • 奴隶没有教育机会＝ Slaves don’t have educational opportunities.
  • 特别是在城市里，女孩子和男孩子一样有受教育和参加工作的机会。

只有...才... (zhǐ yǒu... cái) only if... then…
  • The structure 只有...才... indicates that only under a certain condition can a particular result be reached.
  • It's often used to emphasize a special exception to a rule or condition.
  • "只有... [Condition], (sub +) 才 + [Result]..."

Examples:
1. 只有你去请这位教授，他才回来。= This professor will come only if you invite him.
2. 我只有不去上课的时候，才能来你家帮助你练习写汉字。= Only when I'm not in class can I come to your house to help you practice writing Chinese characters.
3. 只有过春节的时候，从农村到城市打工的人才能回家和孩子团圆。= Only during Chinese New Year can people from rural areas who work in the cities go home to reunite with their children.
4. [舅舅是个大球迷]，只有在看电视里的足球比赛的时候才什么家务都不做。 = [Uncle is a big soccer fan,] the only time when he won't do any housework is if there's a soccer game on TV.

Compare: 只有...才... vs. 只要... 就...
  • These structures seem similar, but in fact there are fundamental differences in usage and emphasis:
  • “只有...才...” is often used to emphasize a special exception to a rule or condition
    “只要...就...” is often often used to express a wish or emphasize a hopeful possibility
  • Ex: 只要身体健康就好！= As long as the body's healthy, then that's good!
  • Ex: 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.
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TRAIN: write 3 sentences using the following grammar structure:
  • ​只有...才...

WRITE: respond to the following question: 古代，女皇不用做家务，因为她有仆人帮她做家务。女皇也没有机会做家务，因为做家务是仆人的工作。你们有机会做家务吗？

STORY QUEST: As a male slave in the Kingdom of Bliss, write a letter to the female emperor asking special permission to go to university.
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 皇帝，女皇，机会，只有...才...
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Rule (in English): Compare and contrast the structures "只有...才..." and "只要...就...". Give examples of each structure.
  • Translate: [Uncle is a big soccer fan,] the only time when he won't do any housework is if there's a soccer game on TV. 
  • TARGET: no grammar mistakes.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 中国以前有很多的皇帝，也有过女皇。
  • 特别是在城市里，女孩子和男孩子一样有受教育和参加工作的机会。
  • [舅舅是个大球迷]，只有在看电视里的足球比赛的时候才什么家务都不做。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about emperors, male or female.
  • Talk about the importance of opportunity.
  • Talk about those who have and don't have opportunities.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 4: "Ping Pong in Outer Space"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT PING PONG
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队 (duì) team; group
  • 运动队 = athletic team; sports team

队员    (duì yuán) team member
  • 女足队员 ＝ female soccer team member
  • 男足队员 = male soccer team member
  • 我最讨厌那些男足队员了，平常骄傲得不得了，可是比赛的时候老输球。

职业    (zhí yè) occupation; profession; vocation
  • 职业运动员＝professional athlete
  • 我不知道应该选什么职业＝I don’t know what profession to choose.
  • 美国职业女蓝队员的薪水跟职业男篮比，也少多了。

乒乓球    (pīng pāng qiú) Ping-Pong; table tennis
  • 中国乒乓球女队​ = The Chinese women’s ping-pong team.
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RESEARCH: go online and learn more about the history of ping-pong in China. Write a paragraph summarizing your findings.

CLASS INTERVIEW: interview your classmates about their interest in ping-pong.

WRITE: respond to the following question: 很多蓝球队员，打蓝球是他的职业，乒乓球也是。你知道哪些职业运动（蓝球）明星？

​WRITE: write an advertisement, seeking new male and female members of the national Chinese ping-pong team. 
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 运动队，队员，职业，乒乓球
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 我最讨厌那些男足队员了，平常骄傲得不得了，可是比赛的时候老输球。
  • 美国职业女蓝队员的薪水跟职业男篮比，也少多了。
  • 中国乒乓球女队是一个很好的运动队。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about sports teams and members of those teams.
  • Talk about professional athletes.
  • Talk about ping pong.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

​Chapter 5: "A Lesson in History"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT GENDER DISCRIMINATION
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地球    (dì qiú) Earth; planet
  • 地球社会＝Earth civilization
  • 地球村＝global village

歧视 (qí shì) discrimination; to discriminate against
  • 民族歧视 = ethnic discrimination
  • 种族歧视 = racial discrimination
  • 性别歧视 = gender/sex discrimination
  • 歧视妇女 = discriminate against women
  • Ex: 各校在招收新生时，对女生不得歧视。= When each school accepts new students, no discriminate against women is allowed.
  • Ex: 我们不应该歧视那些学习成绩差的同学。= We shouldn’t discriminate against those classmates with poor grades

重男轻女    (zhòng nán qīng nǚ) to privilege men over women
  • This is a 成语。重＝ 重视 (to emphasize)，男＝men，轻＝to slight (verb)，女＝women.​
  • 重男轻女的社会= a society that privileges men over women.
  • 在历史上，中国是一个重男轻女的社会，妇女的家庭地位和社会地位都比男人低得多。= Historically, China was a society that favored men over women. Women's status in the family and in society was much lower than that of men.​

**BONUS WORDS:**
*巴西*        (bā xī)  Brazil
*意大利*   (yì dà lì) Italy
*德国* (dé guó) Germany
*西班牙* (xī bān yá) Spain
*加拿大* (jiā ná dà) Canada
*印度* (yìn dù) India
*俄罗斯* (é luó sī) Russia
*韩国* (hán guó) South Korea
*澳大利亚* (ào dà lì yà) Australia
*埃及* (āi jí) Egypt
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SPEAK: name as many different countries around the world as you can. Which country would you like to visit or live in, and why?

​SPEAK: discuss your views on gender inequality and discrimination. Compare discrimination against women in Chinese and American society.

CLASS SURVEY: walk around the classroom and ask your classmates the following questions about gender relationships:
  • 你觉得在美国（你的国家）男女平等吗？
  • 你家重男轻女吗？
  • 在你家男的（做家务做得多）还是女的做家务做得多？

WRITE: write a manifesto denouncing a patriarchal society of your choice.
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 地球，歧视，重男轻女，*巴西*，*意大利*，*德国*，*西班牙*，*加拿大*，*印度*，*俄罗斯*，*韩国*，*澳大利亚*，*埃及*
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 地球是我们的妈妈，我们是妈妈的孩子，热爱妈妈吧！
  • 我们不应该歧视那些学习成绩差的同学。
  • 在历史上，中国是一个重男轻女的社会，妇女的家庭地位和社会地位都比男人低得多。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Discuss gender discrimination in history.
  • Discuss gender discrimination in modern society.
  • Discuss other kinds of discrimination.
  • 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 trusting different kinds of information.
    • Talk about people's social status.
    • Talk about different opportunities in society.
    • Talk about household chores.
    • Talk about sports teams and professional athletes.
    • Discuss discrimination (including gender discrimination) in society.​
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.
​
BONUS CHALLENGES:
  • ​GODLIKE: Achieve a 100% score on all mastery challenges—zero mistakes!