​Chapter 1: "If You Are the One"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT MATCHMAKING
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方式    (fāng shì) way; method
  • 这个新方式很有趣。我会继续做研究。= This new approach is very interesting. I will continue to do research
  • ​[TEXTBOOK] 于是很多人开始考虑用别的方式投资理财了。

非诚勿扰    (fēi chéng wù rǎo) "If You Are the One" [literally: If not sincere then do not disturb]​
  • 《非诚勿扰》是我最喜欢的电视剧！= “If You Are the One” is my favorite TV show!
  • 真心找朋友。非诚勿扰。= Sincerely looking for a match. Serious inquiries only.

​老太太    (lǎo tài tai) elderly lady​
  • 她常帮老太太过马路。好善良！= She often helps elderly ladies cross the road. How kindhearted!

突然    (tū rán) sudden; unexpected​
  • 突然 is an adjective. It can be used as an adverbial, a predicate, or a complement following 得.
  • 没想到姑妈的想法突然变了。= Who would have imagined Aunt would suddenly change her mind. [adverbial]
  • 刚才天气很好，可是突然下起雨来。= The weather was fine just now, but all of a sudden it started to rain. [adverbial]
  • 这件事很突然，我一点准备也没有。= This thing was too sudden. I wasn’t prepared for it at all. [predicate]
  • 他病得太突然了，我根本没想到。= He became ill without warning. I had had no idea whatsover. [complement]
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TRAIN: write 3 sentences using the following grammar structure:
  • 突然

PAIR ACTIVITY: how do you manage your money? Discuss the following questions.
  • 说说你平常花钱花在什么上？
  • 炒股风险高不高？
  • 你觉得自己是个省吃俭用的人还是个随便乱花钱的人？
  • 解释 ”省钱“ 和 ”存钱“的不同。
  • 存钱的利息是由什么决定的？（challenge question)
  • 炒股一定能赚钱吗？

SPEAK: discuss your favorite method of matchmaking/dating. Have you been successful using this method in the past?

DATING PROFILES: make an online dating profile for your partner! Interview your partner first (in Chinese), then prepare a profile (in Chinese) for them to use on a dating website. Write about what they're looking for in a potential boyfriend/girlfriend, key personality traits, favorite hobbies, why they chose this method of matchmaking, etc.

WRITE: write an advice column to people who are looking for love. Answer these questions: 1) 年轻人应该用什么方式找男朋友／女朋友（比如：交友网站，学校活动，等等）？2）看中了一个人以后，应该用什么方式介绍你自己？

​WRITE: respond to the following question: 如果你看中一种生活方式， 可以努力的去实现。 如果你看中一个人，要考虑对方的感受。没有诚实的心，和真实的感情，不应该打扰对方， 简称为“非诚勿扰”。你们觉得“非诚勿扰”中说的诚实的心和真实的感情一定会长久吗？长久的真情和短暂美好的感情哪一个更适合人类？
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 方式，非诚勿扰，老太太，突然
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Translate: Who could have imagined that my aunt would suddenly change her mind!
  • TARGET: no grammar mistakes.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 这个新方式很有趣。我会继续做研究。
  • 所以很多人开始考虑用别的方式投资理财了。
  • 真心找朋友。非诚勿扰。
  • 没想到姑妈的想法突然变了。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about methods of matchmaking.
  • Talk about things that suddenly happen.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 2: "Meet the Parents"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT GENERATIONS
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想法    (xiǎng fǎ) idea; opinion​
  • similar to “ 主意” but the usage is a little more broad
  • [TEXTBOOK] 原来后天就要去签购房合同了，没想到姑妈的想法突然变了。Originally, they were going to sign the purchase agreement the day after tomorrow. Who could have imagined it? My aunt suddenly changed her mind.

老年    (lǎo nián) old age​
  • [TEXTBOOK] 一个老太太存了三十年钱，利息很少，钱增加得很慢，到了老年才买了一套房子 = An old lady who saved her money for thirty years. The interest rate was very low; her money increased very slowly. It wasn’t until she was very old that she bought an apartment.

孙子    (sūn zi) son's son; grandson​
  • [TEXTBOOK] 姑妈退休前省吃俭用存了一笔钱，要留给孙子孙女上大学用。

孙女    (sūn nǚ) son's daughter; granddaughter
  • [TEXTBOOK] 姑妈退休前省吃俭用存了一笔钱，要留给孙子孙女上大学用。​
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SPEAK: discuss your grandparents. How many children do they have? Do they have any other grandchildren? Where do they live? How old are they? Discuss the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren.

READING: read the Chairman's Bao article, "10岁男孩摆地摊挣钱 给爷爷奶奶买冰水". Then answer the following questions.
  1. What is the boy doing this summer?
  2. How is he helping his grandparents?
  3. Has he been successful at his task, and if so, how?
  4. Would you say the article's grandparents and grandson have a good relationship? Why or why not?

​WRITE: write a short essay responding to the following question: 老太太在老年的时候， 会开心孙子或孙女经常去看望她。这样，她就不会孤独。家人的关心和爱护会帮助老年人生命更长。你们会经常去看望你们的爷爷奶奶吗？

​WRITE: look at the following picture of an extended family. Write a short story about their day out.
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 想法，老年，孙子，孙女
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 原来后天就要去签购房合同了，没想到姑妈的想法突然变了。
  • 一个老太太存了三十年钱，利息很少，钱增加得很慢，到了老年才买了一套房子。
  • 姑妈退休前省吃俭用存了一笔钱，要留给孙子孙女上大学用。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about your different ideas or opinions.
  • Talk about the generational relationship between grandchildren and grandparents.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 3: "Last Hope"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
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理财    (lǐ cái) to manage money
  • 妹妹从小到大都没学会理财，今天一定又是来借钱。= Growing up, my little sister never learned how to manage her finances. Today she is definitely coming to borrow money again.
  • [TEXTBOOK] 改革开放以后，他们中间不少人开始考虑投资理财的问题。= After the start of the Reform and Opening Up, many people began to think about how to invest and manage their money.

财产    (cái chǎn) property, assets​
  • 要好好照顾自己的财产，要么吃亏就惨了。= One must take good care of one’s own assets, or one might suffer disaster.
  • 老人留下的财产被三个儿女瓜分了。= The property left behind by the elderly one was divided up by her three daughters. 

节俭 (jié jiǎn) thrifty, frugal [adj]
  • opposite of 浪费 (làng fèi = to waste)
  • 中国老百姓一般都比较节俭，所以不少家庭有存款。= Ordinary Chinese people are generally very frugal. That’s why many families have savings in the bank.

省吃俭用    (shěng chī jiǎn yòng) to be frugal with food and other living expenses​
  • This is a 成语 (chéng yǔ = traditional 4-character idiom with a story behind it)
  • 省 = to save/reduce, 吃 = food，俭 = frugal ，用 = expenses, outlays
  • 爸爸总提醒我：省吃俭用才能保护未来的幸福。= Dad always reminds me: only by living frugally can one protect one’s future fortune.
  • [TEXTBOOK] 姑妈退休前省吃俭用存了一笔钱，要留给孙子孙女上大学用。= Before retiring, my aunt scraped and saved some money and planned to leave it for her future grandson or granddaughter’s college education.
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DEBATE: discuss the following statement: "把钱省下来投资，不如舒舒服服地享受生活。" 你同意吗？Take a strong position on each side!

​WRITE: think through the best ways to manage your assets. Write a list of at least 10 good practices.

WRITE: write a short essay responding to the following question: 懂得如何理财是一件重要的事情， 这样才不会浪费财产资源。在中国，省吃俭用一向是很多老人的生活习惯，与有多少钱 (财产)没有关系。你们有多少钱会觉得幸福，幸福和钱有关吗？
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 理财，财产，节俭，省吃俭用
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 妹妹从小到大都没学会理财，今天一定又是来借钱。
  • 改革开放以后，他们中间不少人开始考虑投资理财的问题。
  • 老人留下的财产被三个儿女瓜分了。
  • 中国老百姓一般都比较节俭，所以不少家庭有存款。
  • 姑妈退休前省吃俭用存了一笔钱，要留给孙子孙女上大学用。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about managing money and property.
  • Talk about being thrifty and frugal.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 4: "Mahjong Forever"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT GAMBLING
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赚钱 (zhuàn qián) to make money; to make a profit
  • used very similar to "挣钱"
  • 这两天只要炒股就赚钱，所以变主意了，不想买房子了。 A few days ago my aunt heard that some of them [her friends] had made money every time they flipped stocks. So she changed her mind, and doesn’t want to buy the apartment anymore.

​麻将    (má jiàng) mahjong​
  • 麻将是一个很流行的游戏。大家都会打。= Mahjong is a very popular game. Everyone knows how to play.
  • [TEXTBOOK］姑妈退休以后常跟以前在一起工作的老姐妹们打打麻将，聊聊天儿。

打麻将    (dǎ má jiàng) to play mahjong​
  • 打麻将赌博真的吸引了我的兴趣。= Gambling on mahjong really attracted my interest.

笔    (bǐ) measure word for sums of money
  • 这笔钱千万不能乱花。= This money must not be spent recklessly.
  • [TEXTBOOK] 姑妈退休前省吃俭用存了一笔钱，要留给孙子孙女上大学用。= Before retiring, my aunt scraped and saved some money and planned to leave it for her future grandson or granddaughter’s college education.
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SKIT: in a group, write a dialogue between two gamblers. Memorize your skit and perform in front of the class!
  • You are the world's best gambler, and your partner is the world's worst gambler.
  • You must teach your partner how to gamble.

MONEY INTERVENTION: your friend is a spendthrift. He/she wants to manage his/her money better, so you sit down with him/her and try to help him/her do it. First, ask your friend some questions about his/her spending (see questions below). You may want to ask your friend to write down his/her answers. 
  1. 你爸爸，妈妈每个月给你多少零用钱？
  2. 你每个月打工挣多少钱？
  3. 收入一共：___________元
  4. 你每个月吃饭（在学校，叫外卖）花多少钱？
  5. 你每个月买衣服花多少钱？
  6. 你个月玩（看电影，看比赛等等）花多少钱？
  7. 你每个月卖东西（书，碟，电脑游戏）花多少钱？
  8. 支出（zhī chū=expenses）一共：___________元

Now go over the answers with your friend and see how he/she can make ends meet.
  1. 每个月吃饭不要超过 ___________元
  2. 每个月买衣服不要超过___________元
  3. 每个月卖东西不要超过___________元
  4. 每个月玩不要超过___________元

WRITE: respod to the following question: 小王攒了一笔钱， 拿去打麻将， 还去las vegas赌，后来钱没有剩余多少。他的家人很生气。如果你们有一笔钱， 会怎么做?

WRITE: disaster! You recently discovered the game of mahjong, and you gambled away all of your savings. Write a letter to your parents explaining the situation.
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 赚钱，打麻将，一笔钱
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 这两天只要炒股就赚钱，所以变主意了，不想买房子了。
  • 麻将是一个很流行的游戏。大家都会打。
  • 姑妈退休以后常跟以前在一起工作的老姐妹们打打麻将，聊聊天儿。
  • 这笔钱千万不能乱花。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about making money and generating profits.
  • Talk about the fun of playing mahjong.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

 MINIBOSS #1: ACT 1 REVIEW

Picture
Pika, Pika! Can you beat me?
Mastery Challenge 1 (Vocabulary and Grammar): ​
​Mastery Challenge 2 (Speaking):
  • ​​Perform the following conversation tasks:​
    • Discuss methods of wealth management.
      • Talk about being thrifty and frugal.
      • Talk about making money and generating profits.
      • Talk about managing property.
      • Talk about leaving behind money for grandchildren.
      • Brainstorm different ideas or opinions.
    • Talk about playing mahjong.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.
​
BONUS CHALLENGES:
  • ​GODLIKE: Achieve a 100% score on all mastery challenges—zero mistakes!