| 1-2 |
In class, in addition to curricular and administrative matters (calendar, syllabus, flashCube, etc.), you will encounter your first conversational material 'sight unseen'—topics such as names and titles, simple questions and responses (from Unit 1). In addition, you will be introduced to the tones and initials of Chinese and the pinyin system of transcription used to write them (from the lesson on Sounds and Symbols). At home: start to read Background and Sounds and Symbols up to 0.4 (rhymes), doing the exercises as you go. Skip ahead to the beginning of Unit 1 and read up to 1.7. This first assignment should help you consolidate some of what you have been practicing sight unseen, in class. |
| 3 |
Finish reading Background (pp a - n). Review through 0.3 in Sounds and Symbols, re-doing the exercises. You should be able to list the 12 surnames in 0.2.4, and recite from memory the chart of initials on 0.3.1. Continue with 0.4 on the rhymes, focusing on those issues covered in exs - 4, 5, 6. Unit 1: Review up to 1.7 and do ex. 1. Skip to 1.11.1 (tones) and learn to recite from memory the first six 'tone combos'. |
| 4 |
Review Background and Sounds and Symbols so far. Then continue with Sounds and Symbols from 0.5 to the end, doing the parts of ex. 7. Unit 1: Consolidate through 1.6, then continue through 1.7 (action verbs), including the mini conversations. The pinyin exercises on flashCube (initials, rhymes, tones) provide useful contrasts and combinations for learning both the sound of Chinese and the pinyin symbols. |
| 5 |
Review Sounds and Symbols well, redoing the exercises. You should also be able to cite the examples of the tonal shift of bu in 0.5.3. Continue with Unit 1, sections 1.8 and 1.9. The 'closing phrases' under 1.9.4 need particular attention. |
| 6-7 |
Review Background, Sounds and Symbols and Unit 1 (and note 1.10, the scenario) for Test 1 on Day 8. Make sure that you have learned how to write the material in pinyin with tones. Begin Chars 1. |
| 8 |
In class: Test 1 (oral/written) on Background, Sounds and Symbols and Unit 1. At home, read Chars 1 through 1.5; practice the strokes and stroke order, naming the strokes as you write. (Grid paper for writing characters can be downloaded from this site.) Learn to write the numbers in characters, and to recite the multiplication tables (ex 1). |
| 9 |
Continue with Chars 1 through 1.6 (dates) and 1.7 (days), doing exs 2 and 3. Preview 1.8 (surnames) and read to the end of Chars 1. |
| 10 |
Consolidate Chars 1 and practice writing with correct stroke order. Preview Unit 2, 2.1 (pronunciation) and 2.2 (adverbs). Students get Chinese names this week. |
| 11 |
Chars 1, learn the characters for surnames and do exs 4 and 5. Consolidate the first sections of Unit 2, and go on to 2.3 (more SVs). Look ahead to the main dialogue (2.9 'at the airport'). Practice with names and titles. Second set of tone combos (2.11.3). |
| 12 |
Study Unit 2 through 2.4 (nouns), doing ex 2. Preview the 'rhymes and rhythms' at the end of the unit. Tones combos I and II (2.11.3). Practice character writing by making tables (along the lines of Chars 1, ex 5). |
| 13 |
Continue with Unit 2, through 2.5 (identity) and 2.6 (names and titles), doing exs 3 and 4(a,b). |
| 14 |
Section 2.7 in Unit 2 (location and existence), plus ex 5. Continue to practice writing characters. Review Sounds and Symbols, as needed. Tone combos I and II (2.11.3). |
| 15 |
Unit 2 through the main dialogue (2.9). Do ex 6(a,b). Finish reading Unit 2. [Practice dialogues on flashCube using the ALT-right arrow function.] |
| 16 |
Review Unit 1 and Unit 2, plus Chars 1. Unit 2 ex 7(a,b). |
| 17 |
Test #2 covering Sounds and Symbols, Unit 1 and Unit 2, Chars 1. Preview Chars 2. |
| 18 |
Chars 2, set #1, through 2.1.1 and ex 1(a,b); preview set #2 with exercises. Review Units 1 and 2 material, and consolidate the dialogue(s). |
| 19 |
Chars 2, learn set #2 and read through 2.2; do ex 2. Review Unit 2, especially location and existence and the main dialogue. |
| 20 |
Chars 2, simplified characters (2.3) and ex 3. Read to the end of Chars 2. Review Units I and II, tone combos, etc. |
| 21 |
Preview Unit 3 and learn through 3.2.2. Practice rote material, e.g., money (3.7.2), days of the week (3.7.5) and dates (3.7.6). Recite the rhymes (3.12). |
| 22 |
Unit 3, NSEW (3.2.3) and ex 1, plus 3.2.4 dialogues; keep practicing rote material, plus siblings (3.7.7). |
| 23 |
Consolidate Unit 3 so far. Continue with 3.3 and 3.4 (thanking, refusal, don't, etc.). Pinyin practice (3.10). Continue to read and write characters regularly. |
| 24 |
Unit 3 through 3.5 (location), with ex 3. Review 3.4 especially. Pinyin practice. Distinguishing words (3.10). |
| 25 |
Unit 3, why and because (3.6), with ex 4. Preview the main dialogue (3.9). |
| 26 |
Unit 3, amounts (3.7) and ex 5. Learn the main dialogue (3.9) and do ex 7. Review all of Unit 3, as well as Character lessons. Test #3 is on Day 28. |
| 27 |
Review of Unit 3, particularly 3.8.3 and 3.8.4, and the main dialogue. |
| 28 |
Test #3 on Units 1-3 and Chars 1-2 (reading).> |
| 29 |
Preview Unit 4, especially clock time (4.2.2), years (4.5) and introductions (4.8). Daily practice greeting people with titles, such as manager, CEO (4.7). Chars 3, Set 1, introduced by reading 3.1.2 and Set 2, by way of reading 3.2.2. Practice naming the radicals. |
| 30 |
Unit 4 tone contrasts (4.1); form of address (esp. 4.7.5); clock time, meals and stating the time of daily events (4.2); introductions (4.8)—building up a sense of Unit 4. Continuing with Chars 3, set 1 in more detail, reading and writing. |
| 31 |
Unit 3 review, by way of the conversational scenario. Unit 4 breakfast times, drinks, times of classes (4.2.3) and ex 1. Chars 3, set 2 in more detail, reading and practice writing. |
| 32 |
Unit 4, DE patterns (4.3) and ex 2; more details of clock time. Names in detail (4.4) and forms of address (4.7). Chars 3, sets 1 and 2 and ex 1. |
| 33 |
Pinyin dictation and tone combos. Unit 4 years (4.5) and subjects of study (4.6). Chars 3, focus on simplified characters (3.3.2), and discussion (3.4). |
| 34 |
Unit 4, times of events (4.2.3); subjects of study (4.6), ex 4; and forms of address (4.7), ex 5. Char 3, reading and writing, plus review of Chars 1 and 2. |
| 35 |
Unit 4, times of events (4.2.3); titles and ex 5, 6; introductions (4.8); preview of the main dialogue (4.9); ex 7 (foreign words in Chinese). |
| 36 |
Unit 4, main dialogue and review Unit 4 highpoints (4.11). Chars 3 simplified reading. |
| 37 |
Review through Unit 4 and Chars 3. |
| 38 |
Test #4 to the end of Unit 4 and Chars 3. |
| 39 |
Consolidate: Unit 4, perform main dialogue until fluent. Unit 5 tone contrasts (5.1) and 'or' (5.2). Chars 4, set 1 by way of dialogues (4.1.2) and the table of ex 1. |
| 40 |
Unit 5 'or' (5.2), ex 1, 'At the beginning of class' (5.3) and verbs of cognition (5.6). Chars 4, set 1 again, and preview set 2. |
| 41 |
Unit 5 'V+de' (5.4) and consolidate 5.2 and 5.3. Chars 4, continue with set 2. |
| 42 |
Unit 5 so far, Chars 4, ex 2 (everyone should write this out). Preview music and musicians (5.5) and destination and purpose (5.7 and 5.8), ex 5. Daily pinyin and pronunciation exercises. |
| 43 |
Unit 5, ex 2; review Music (5.5) verbs of cognition (5.6) and consolidate destination and purpose expressions (5.7 and 5.8). Preview main dialogue (5.12). Review Chars 4. |
| 44 |
Unit 5, 'in the past' (5.9) and 'And' (5.10), plus ex 6. Review of Unit 5 so far. Work with main dialogue (5.12). |
| 45 |
Chars 4, set 2 details and reading. Unit 5, continue with sports (5.11) and the main dialogue (5.12). |
| 46 |
Chars 4, set 2 ex 3 (part-a, at least, should be written out by everyone). Unit 5, consolidate the main dialogue (5.11). Review all 15 tone combos, and pinyin practice. |
| 47 |
Unit 5, exs 7 and 8. Review Unit 5 and Chars 4 for test 5. |
| 48 |
Test #5 on Unit 5, Chars 4, as well as earlier material. |
| 49 |
Practicing conversational material with Chinese guests. Chars 4.4, 'Talking about characters' and other discussion. |
| 50 |
Performing your conversational scenarios. |
| 51 |
Instead of class: Oral interviews, 5 minute conversations with a teacher. |
| 52 |
Wrap up: Chinese rap, song and festivities. |