Chapter 5: "The Last"

HOW TO ASK ABOUT AVAILABILITY
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上午        (shàng wǔ) [t]; morning
  • literally, "above noon" (午＝wǔ=noon)
  • 明天上午我有两节课，下午三点要给二年级考试。

下午        (xià wǔ) [t]; afternoon
  • ​literally, "below noon" (午＝wǔ=noon)

上            (shàng); above, previous
  • 上＋ time word ＝ last [time]

下            (xià) below, next
  • 下＋ time word ＝ next [time]

时间        (shí jiān) [n]; time
  • 有时间＝to have (free) time
  • 老师，今天下午您有时间吗？

空儿        (kòng r) [n]; free time
  • 有空儿＝to have free time
  • 您什么时候有空儿？

什么时候？    (shén me shí hòu) when?, what time?
  • The general question word for “when” is 什么时候
    • It is NOT “什么时间”
    • “时间” is used in the phrase “有时间吗？​
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SPEAK: schedule a time to meet up outside of school.

WRITE: Write a dialogue between a teacher and a student. The teacher wants to schedule a meeting, but the student keeps giving excuses for why s/he is unavailable at each time offered.
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 上午，下午，时间，空儿，什么时候？
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 明天上午我有空儿，下午三点没空儿。
  • 老师，今天下午您有时间吗？
  • 您什么时候有空儿？
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Ask to meet someone at a specific time and place.
  • Ask about availability at different times of day [morning, afternoon, night].
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 6: "Justice League"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE
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要            (yào) [mv]; will, be going to, to want to
  • “subject + 要 ＋ verb + object”
    • used to talk about future events
  • 对不起，今天下午我要开会。

开会        (kāi huì) [vo]; to have a meeting
  • 对不起，今天下午我要开会。

以后             (yǐ hòu) [t]; after, later on
  • The word order is ”EVENT + 以后“
    • this is the opposite of English word order!
    • after four o’clock ＝ 四点以后
  • 明天四点以后才有空儿。
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​TRAIN: write 3 sentences each using the following grammar structures:
  1. 要[will]
  2. 以后

SPEAK: talk about the teacher meetings you will be having in the future.

WRITE: an important meeting is coming up. Write a to-do list in preparation for it.
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 要，开会，以后
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Rule: Explain the difference between the two usages of 要 we've learned so far. Give examples of each.
  • Translate: Next week I'm going to take a Chinese (exam), you help me prepare a little.
  • Translate: I'm not free until after 4:00 tomorrow.
  • Translate: After I return I'll give you a phone call.
  • TARGET: no more than 2 grammar mistakes.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 对不起，今天下午我要开会。
  • 明天四点以后才有空儿。
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about the future.
  • Talk about meetings.
  • Talk about what you will do after different events.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

​Chapter 7: "Savior"

HOW TO ASK ABOUT PROBLEMS
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问题             (wèn tí) [n]; question, problem
  • literally, “to ask a question”
  • 我想问您几个问题。

没问题        (méi wèn tí); no problem, no worries
  • literally, “have no problem”
  • 四点半，没问题。

问               (wèn) [v]: to ask
  • 我想问您几个问题。

别+verb      (bié) [adv]; don't
  • 你别聊天儿，你得看书。＝ Don’t chat, you should read the book.

客气        (kè qi); polite

别客气        Don't be polite!
  • A：谢谢您。B：别客气。​
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TRAIN: write 3 sentences using the following grammar structure:​
  • 别+verb

​SPEAK: ask each other about any problems you may be experiencing. Be supportive!

WRITE: Write a dialogue between a teacher and a student. The teacher wants to know if something is wrong.
Mastery
​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 问，问题，没问题，别，客气
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Translate: Don't be polite!
  • TARGET: no mistakes.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 我想问您几个问题。
  • 四点半，没问题。
  • 你别聊天儿，你得看书。
  • A：谢谢您。B：别客气。​
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: role-play the following conversation:
  • PERSON #1:
    • Explain that you have a problem.
    • Thank Person #1 for her help.
  • PERSON #2:
    • ​Ask if Person #1 has a problem.
    • Tell Person #1 not to do something.
    • Graciously decline thanks. 
  • TARGET: at least a 3 on ALL tasks.

Chapter 8: "The Hunt"

HOW TO TALK ABOUT PREVIOUS AND FUTURE WEEKS/MONTHS
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上个             (shàng ge) the previous one
  • literally, “the _____ above”

下个             (xià ge) the next one
  • literally, “the _____ below”

上个周末         last weekend
  • literally, “the weekend above” (envision a physical calendar that runs from top to bottom)

下个周末     next weekend
  • literally, “the weekend below” (envision a physical calendar that runs from top to bottom)

上个星期     last week

下个星期     next week
  • 王朋，我下个星期要考中文，你帮我准备一下，跟我练习说中文，好吗？

上个月        last month

下个月        next month
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SPEAK: talk about things you did/will do in previous and future weeks/months.

WRITE: write out a schedule. List the meetings you've had in the previous weeks/months, as well as the meetings you will have in the coming weeks/months.
Mastery
​​DICTATION: write the Chinese characters, English definition, and pinyin (including tones):
  • 上个周末，下个周末，上个星期，下个星期，上个月，下个月
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.

GRAMMAR: complete the following exercises:
  • Rule: Explain the meanings of "上..." vs. "下...." Describe their literal meanings and also their meaning in the context of time. Give at least six examples of words or expressions that use 上 and 下.
  • Detective (find and fix mistakes): 上个天我没有睡觉。
  • TARGET: no mistakes.

READING: read aloud the following sentences:
  • 王朋，我下个星期要开会。
  • 我上个周末跟朋友看了外国电影，我很喜欢！
  • 你下个月要做什么？
  • 我上个月有很大的问题！
  • TARGET: no more than 1 mistake, including tones.
​
​SPEAKING: perform the following conversation tasks:
  • Talk about previous and future weekends.
  • Talk about previous and future weeks.
  • Talk about previous and future months.
  • 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:
    • Talk about problems and/or questions that you have.
    • Ask about availability at different times of day [morning, noon, night].
    • Talk about previous weekends, weeks, and months.
    • Talk about future weekends, weeks, and months.
  • TARGET: at least a 3 in ALL categories.

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