​Chapter 1: "Let's Go to Mars!"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT GOING PLACES
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想 (xiǎng)    to want to
  • NOTE: "想", "觉得", and "喜欢" are all used differently.
    • 想 = to want to, to have a desire to [do something]
    • 觉得 = to feel that [i.e. to give your opinion about]
    • 喜欢 = to like, to be fond of

去    (qù) to go

所以    (suǒ yǐ) so, therefore

因为...所以...    (yīn wèi... suǒ yǐ...) because... therefore...

Sentences:
  • 这个周末你想做什么？想不想去打球？
  • 那我们去看球，怎么样？... 算了，我去找别人。
  • 那我们今天晚上去看一个外国电影，怎么样？我请客。    
  • 因为昨天你请我吃饭，所以今天我请你看电视。
  • A：那你这个周末想做什么？B：我只想吃饭，睡觉。
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SPEAK: talk about places you want to go, and why. 

WRITE: translate the following sentences into Chinese:
  1. I want to go to your house.
  2. Because her family has twenty people, therefore she doesn't want to go to her house.
  3. What time do you want to go?​
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 想，去，因为...所以...
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Rule: (in English) Explain the differences between "想" and "喜欢". Give examples.
  • Translate: What would you like to do?
  • Translate: Because yesterday you invited me to eat food, so today I invite you to watch a movie.
  • TARGET: no more than 1 grammar mistake.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 你想做什么？想不想去...？
  • 我们去你家，怎么样？  
  • 因为昨天你请我吃饭，所以今天我请你吃饭。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about going places.
  • Talk about desires and plans.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 2: "Hey, What Could Go Wrong?"

HOW TO INQUIRE ABOUT PROBLEMS
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对    (duì) right; correct

对不对？(duì bú duì?) right or not?

昨天    (zuó tiān) yesterday

今天    (jīn tiān) today

明天    (míng tiān) tomorrow

​那    (nà) in that case; then
  • NOTE: this is different from the "那 [that]" meaning we learned in Level 2. "那 [in that case]" is used to connect different sentences.
  • 那我们去看电影，怎么样？= In that case, let's go to see a movie. How’s that?

Sentences:
  • 你也喜欢看书，对不对？
  • 对，有的时候也喜欢看书。
  • 因为昨天你请我吃饭，所以今天我请你看电视。
  • 那你也请王朋，李友，好吗？
  • 那我们明天去看球，怎么样？
  • 那你这个周末想做什么？
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SPEAK: you both feel blue. Ask each other what's wrong, and try to cheer each other up.

WRITE: write a series of text messages between two friends, setting up a time to meet to talk about personal problems.
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 对，昨天，今天，明天，那
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Translate: You like to read, right? [A不A]
  • Translate: Do you like to watch movies? [A不A]
  • Rule: (in English) Explain the differences between the two different grammatical uses of "那." Give examples.
  • Translate: In that case, let's go see a movie. How that's?
  • TARGET: no more than 1 grammar mistake.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 你也喜欢吃中国菜，对不对？
  • 因为昨天你请我吃饭，所以今天我请你吃饭。
  • 那你也请王朋，李友，好吗？
  • 那我们明天去，怎么样？
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Inquire about problems.
  • Talk about desires and plans.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 3: "The Only Man On Mars (1)"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT ACTIVITIES (1)
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Verb Objects
  • Many words in Chinese are "verb-object" compounds. For many purposes they are treated as a single word, but in fact the verb and object are different, and they can be separated or detached.
  • A verb object does not take an additional object. Attributive elements like adjectives or numbers must be inserted between the verb and the object.
  • Examples:
    • 睡觉 > 睡一个好觉
    • 唱歌 > 唱英文歌
    • 跳舞 > 跳中国舞

看    (kàn) to watch; to look; to read
  • verb objects: 看电视 = to watch TV // 看电影 = to watch movies // 看书 = to read books

电视    (diàn shì) television, TV
  • 我喜欢打球，看电视。你呢？

电影    (diàn yǐng) movie
  • 那我们今天晚上去看一个外国电影，怎么样？我请客。

书    (shū) book
  • 你也喜欢看书，对不对？

​睡觉    (shuì jiào) to sleep [verb object]
  • lit. "to sleep a nap"
  • 我只想吃饭，睡觉。
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SPEAK: talk about activities you like and dislike. Give reasons.

WRITE: write an advertisement, seeking a friend who shares the same interests as you.
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 看，电视，电影，书，睡觉
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Rule: (in English) Explain the concept of a "verb object" and why it's important. Give examples of verb objects.
  • TARGET: no mistakes.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 我喜欢看电视。你呢？
  • 你也喜欢看书，对不对？
  • A：你喜欢不喜欢看电视？B：喜欢。
  • 那我们今天晚上去看一个电影，怎么样？
  • 我只想吃饭，睡觉。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about activities that you like and dislike. Explain why.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 4: "The Only Man On Mars (2)"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT ACTIVITIES (2)
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打球    (dǎ qiú) to play ball [verb object]

唱歌    (chàng gē) to sing a song [verb object]

跳舞    (tiào wǔ) to jump a dance [i.e. to dance]
  • lit. "to jump a dance" [verb object]

听    (tīng) to listen

音乐    (yīn yuè) music
  • 听音乐 = to listen to music [verb object]

Sentences:
  • 我喜欢打球，看电视。你呢？
  • 我喜欢唱歌，跳舞，还喜欢听音乐。你也喜欢看书，对不对？
  • 对，有的时候也喜欢看书。
Lesson
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SPEAK: talk about activities you like and dislike. Give reasons.

WRITE: create a poster for an upcoming club fair. Include descriptions and photos of each club's activities.
Mastery
DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 打球，唱歌，跳舞，听音乐
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 我喜欢打球，看电视。你呢？
  • 我喜欢唱歌，跳舞，还喜欢听音乐。你也喜欢看书，对不对？
  • 对，也喜欢看书。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about activities that you like and dislike. Explain why.
  • 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 going places.
    • Talk about your desires and plans.
    • Inquire about problems.
    • Talk about the activities that you like and dislike. Explain why.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 in ALL categories.

BONUS CHALLENGES:
  • ​GODLIKE: Achieve a 100% score on all mastery challenges—zero mistakes!