动物 (dòng wù) - Animals

Study the flashcards on Quizlet, and then answer the following question in Chinese.  Your answer needs to have both Pinyin and characters. (10 points)  Don't forget your name!

你喜欢什么动物？

Use Quizlet to study all animals on the list, there will be a quiz (21 points) after the break.

Homework Assignment for Today (Level 2)

Go over all animal vocabulary on the website listed below, pick 3 animals (the animals we haven’t learned in class) to study, prepare a presentation to teach all 3 words to the class on Monday, Dec.19.  At the end of your presentation, the whole class should know all 3 words when you quiz them.  In other words, the whole class will be able to read all 3 words in characters and say the words accurately as well.  You will be graded based on a rubric (see below).  The presentation should be less than 4 minutes.  You will be told to stop at 4 minutes.  I suggest you to try your mini lesson at home, so that you know how to use your time effectively to finish your lesson on time and meet all requirements. 
 

Note: You WON’T earn any points for presenting the animals we have already learned in class.  You will earn a zero for not presenting in class on Monday and it can’t be made up.  Please be prepared!

http://www.nciku.com/theme/detail?catg2ID=21&initial=&page=1

Rubric for Peer-teaching (35 points total)

1.       3 different animals (The ones that haven’t been taught in class before.) have been presented. (3 points)

2.       The characters and Pinyin of all 3 words have been presented. (6 points)

3.       Illustrations are included in the presentation. (6 points)

4.       A quiz has been given to assess class’s understanding on all 3 words.  For example, when you show a picture, can the class tell you the Chinese name of that animal with 100% accuracy? (6 points)

5.       The presentation is understandable and organized. (9 points)

6.       The presentation is less than 4 minutes. (5 points)

If you have any questions, email me.

Have fun learning!

北京欢迎你

十二生肖的故事 shí èr shēng xiào de gù shì

How many animals did you find in this video?  Try to list them all out.  For each animal you get it right, you will earn two extra credit points.  Your answers must be in characters!  Don't forget your name.  If you leave your name in characters, you will earn another two points.

十分钟让你知道中国

How much do you know about China?  Watch this video to find out.

What do you know about China now?  Comment on this post and earn 2 extra credit points per comment! (The same answers will only be counted once and remember to leave your name in Pinyin after your answer.  If you can type your name in Chinese, you will earn 3 extra points towards your final points!)

Word of the day - 每日一词 Měi Rì Yì Cí

xià tiān
夏天
summer

Xià tiān lái le.
夏天来了。
Summer is here.

chūn tiān 
春天
spring

qiū tiān
秋天
fall

dōng tiān
冬天
winter

Word of the day - 每日一词 Měi Rì Yì Cí

chéng gōng
成功
successful

Nǐ hěn chéng gōng.
你很成功。
You are very successful.

Word of the day - 每日一词 Měi Rì Yì Cí

shǔ jià
暑假
summer vacation

shǔ jià jiù yào kāi shǐ le.
暑假就要开始了。
Summer vacation is coming.

Word of the day - 每日一词 Měi Rì Yì Cí

yǔ
雨
rain (n.)

Jīn tiān de yǔ xià dé hěn dà.
今天的雨下得很大。
It's raining really heavily.

You have to watch this!

He is only 22.

Word of the day - 每日一词 Měi Rì Yì Cí

máng
忙
busy

Wǒ zuì jìn hěn máng.
我最近很忙。
I have been really busy lately.

Chinese Kids Song - 中国儿歌 zhōng guó ér gē

Shàng Xué Gē

上学歌

Going to School

Tài yáng dāng kōng zhào,

太阳当空照,

Huā ér duì wǒ xiào,

花儿对我笑,

Xiǎo niǎo shuō: zǎo zǎo zǎo,

小鸟说:早早早,

Nǐ wèi shén me bēi shàng xiǎo shū bāo?

你为什么背上小书包?

Wǒ qù shàng xué xiào,

我去上学校,

Tiān tiān bù chí dào,

天天不迟到,

Ài xué xí, ài láo dòng,

爱学习,爱劳动,

Zhǎng dà yào wèi rén mín lì gōng láo!

长大要为人民立功劳!

Word of the day - 每日一词 Měi Rì Yì Cí

dòng wù
动物
animals

Dòng wù yuán lǐ yǒu hěn duō dòng wù.
动物园里有很多动物。
There are a lot of animals in the zoo.

Word of the day - 每日一词 Měi Rì Yì Cí

dǎ suàn
打算
plan to

Wǒ dǎ suàn xīng qī sān qù chī zhōng guó zì zhù cān
我打算星期三去吃中国自助餐。
I plan to go eat Chinese buffet on Wednesday.

Word of the day - 每日一词 Měi Rì Yì Cí

xīng qī tiān
星期天
Sunday

Míng tiān shì xīng qī tiān.
明天是星期天。
Tomorrow is Sunday.

**************************************

Pattern: 星期 + number

xīng qī yī
星期一
Monday

xīng qī èr
星期二
Tuesday

xīng qī sān
星期三
Wednesday

xīng qī sì
星期四
Thursday

xīng qī wǔ
星期五
Friday

xīng qī liù
星期六
Saturday

xīng qī tiān
星期天
Sunday

Notes:
You can also use 星期日 (xīng qī rì ) for Sunday.  This is a more formal way to say it and you will only see 星期日on the calendar.

Word of the day - 每日一词 Měi Rì Yì Cí

jǐn zhāng
紧张
nervous

Nǐ wèi shén me hěn jǐn zhāng?
你为什么很紧张？
Why are you so nervous?

Word of the day - 每日一词 Měi Rì Yì Cí

mǎ mǎ hū hū
马马虎虎
so so

Zhè cì kǎo shì wǒ kǎo dé mǎ mǎ hū hū.
这次考试我考得马马虎虎。
I did so so on this exam.

古天乐 Gǔ Tiān Lè - 男朋友 nán péng yǒu

Although this song is in Cantonese which seems kind of odd to put it in my "Mandarin Chinese Classroom".  But.., we can still do some reading practice, right? (The real reason is that I really love this song.)  :D Enjoy the melody. :P 

nán péng yǒu

男朋友 

boyfriend

光良 Guāng Liáng - 第一次 dì yī cì

One of his best songs, enjoy! :)

dì yī cì

第一次

first time

Word of the day - 每日一词 Měi Rì Yì Cí

yòu
又
again

Yòu xià yǔ le
又下雨了。
It's raining again.

Chinese Kids Story

Xiǎo Kē Dǒu Zhǎo Mā ma 
小蝌蚪找妈妈
Little Tadpoles are looking for their mom

Source: http://www.cultural-china.com/

Shanghai Animation Film Studio

Released in 1961

Awards:

• Silver Sail Awards for short films at the 14th Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland
• Children’s Film Awards at the 4th Annecy International Animation Festival in France
• Honorable prize at the 17th Cannes International Film Festival in France
• The first prize at the 3rd Zagreb World Festival of Animated Films in Yugoslavia
• The second prize at the 4th International Children and Youth’s Festival at the Center Georges Pompidou in France
• Best Cartoon Awards at the 1st Chinese Film "Hundred Flowers" Festival

Plot outline:A school of tadpoles were born. “Who is our mom?” Then, an interesting and affecting mom-searching journey started. After mistaking goldfish, crab, tortoise and even a big catfish for their mother, the tadpoles eventually found their real mom - frog. The story tells that where there is a will there is a way. It is also kind of a film on popular science.

The water-ink animations of China in the 1950s and 1960s were treasures in the world’s animation field. Little Tadpoles Look for Mamma was one of the representative works. It originates from the fish and shrimp figures drawn by Qi Baishi, which established the art foundation of the film. The opening of the film is very “Chinese.” With the opening of a simple but elegant album of traditional Chinese paintings, a sequestered lotus pond appeared into the scene, creating a delicate and expressive water-ink world against the backdrop of melodious ancient musical instrument and lute. This film breaks the limits of the single-line animated mode. Without edge lines, it builds a graceful and vivacious artistic conception. It won a lot of international laurels.

This is a really classic Chinese kids story.  Enjoy!

(1)

(2)

Word of the day - 每日一词 Měi Rì Yì Cí

ān jìng
安静
quiet

Tú shū guǎn zhēn ān jìng.
图书馆真安静。
The library is really quiet.

Zhōng Guó huān yíng nǐ 中国欢迎你 Welcome to China!

Your visual tour to China!

Zhōng Guó 中国 China

huān yíng  欢迎 welcome

Learn How to say: Red, Green and Yellow

This is an interesting and helpful video to help you (age 4-6) learn how to say three basic colors in Chinese.  Enjoy!

Word of the day - 每日一词 Měi Rì Yì Cí

yǒu yì si
有意思
interesting

Xué zhōng wén hěn yǒu yì si.
学中文很有意思。
Learning Chinese is very interesting.

Word of the day - 每日一词 Měi Rì Yì Cí

fù xí
复习
review

Wǒ měi tiān dōu fù xí zhōng wén.
我每天都复习中文。
I review Chinese everyday.

Dish of the week - 本周最佳菜品 Běn Zhōu Zuì Jiā Cài Pǐn

Hóng Shāo Niú Ròu Miàn

红烧牛肉面

Red-cooked (stewed in soy sauce) Beef Brisket with Noodles

It can be a little bit spicy. :P

Happy April Fools' Day!

Yú rén jié kuài lè!
愚人节快乐！

Rén men xǐ huān zài yú rén jié zhuō nòng qí tā rén.
人们喜欢在愚人节捉弄其他人。
People like to trick other people on April Fools' Day.

Word of the day - 每日一词 Měi Rì Yì Cí

chēng
称
weigh

Nà gěi wǒ chēng liǎng jīn mó gū ba.
那给我称两斤蘑菇吧。
Then, just give me two jin of mushrooms.

Note: 1lb = .907 jin (catties); 1 jin = 1.103 lbs
           

周杰伦 Zhōu Jiélún/Jay Chou - 蜗牛 Wō Niú/Snail

Although I'm not a big fan of Jay Chou, this song is a really good one.  That's why I'm sharing it here with all of you. 

Should or shouldn't
Forget about my heavy shell
Searching for where I can find a blue sky
Following the gentle wind and lightly float
The wounds that I have don't feel painful
I want to one step at a time proceed climbing upwards
Waiting for sunshine, I quietly looked at its face
The small sky
Has big dreams
The heavy shell is wrapped round the gentle adoring look
I want to one step at a time proceed climbing upwards
On the highest point
Riding on a blade of leaf I fly forward
The small sky
The tears and the sweat that has dropped
There has to be a day when I have a sky that belongs to me
I want to one step at a time proceed climbing upwards
On the highest point riding on a blade of leaf
Fly forward
Let wind blow dry
The tears and the sweat that has dropped
I want to one step at a time proceed climbing upwards
Waiting for sunshine, I quietly looked at its face
The small sky
Has big dreams
I have a sky that belongs to me
Let wind blow dry
The tears and the sweat that has dropped
There has to be a day when I have a sky that belongs to me

(From Jay Chou Studio)

Word of the day - 每日一词 Měi Rì Yì Cí

lǎo
老
old

Jīn tiān de qín cài bú tài xīn xiān, tài lǎo le.
今天的芹菜不太新鲜，太老了。
Today's celery is not too fresh, it's too old.

Word of the day - 每日一词 Měi Rì Yì Cí

xīn xiān
新鲜
fresh

Mó gū kàn shàng qù hěn xīn xiān.
蘑菇看上去很新鲜。
The mushrooms look pretty fresh.

Word of the day - 每日一词 Měi Rì Yì Cí

bì yè
毕业
graduate

Wǒ míng nián wǔ yuè bì yè.
我明年五月毕业。
I will graduate next May.

Word of the day - 每日一词 Měi Rì Yì Cí

yōu xiù
优秀
excellent

Wǒ yǒu hěn duō yōu xiù de xué shēng.
我有很多优秀的学生。
I have a lot of excellent students.

Learn how to pronounce Z,C,S, ZH, CH, SH in Chinese.

Is this helpful?

Chinese Kids Song - 中国儿歌 zhōng guó ér gē

zhǎo péng yǒu

找朋友

Finding Friends

zhǎo ya, zhǎo ya, zhǎo péng yǒu.

找呀，找呀，找朋友。

zhǎo dào yí gè hǎo péng yǒu.

找到一个好朋友。

jìng gè lǐ, wò wò shǒu, nǐ shì wǒ de hǎo péng yǒu.

敬个礼，握握手，你是我的好朋友。

zhǎo ya, zhǎo ya, zhǎo péng yǒu.

找呀，找呀，找朋友。

zhǎo dào yí gè hǎo péng yǒu.

找到一个好朋友。

xiào xī xī, diǎn diǎn tóu, dà jiā dōu shì hǎo péng yǒu.

笑嘻嘻，点点头，大家都是好朋友。

Chinese Kids Song - 中国儿歌 zhōng guó ér gē

liǎng zhī lǎo hǔ

两只老虎

Two tigers

liǎng zhī lǎo hǔ

两只老虎

liǎng zhī lǎo hǔ

两只老虎

pǎo dé kuài

跑得快

pǎo dé kuài

跑得快

yì zhī méi yǒu yǎn jīng

一只没有眼睛

yì zhī méi yǒu wěi bā

一只没有尾巴

zhēn qí guài

真奇怪

zhēn qí guài

真奇怪

Word of the day - 每日一词 Měi Rì Yì Cí

sāi chē
塞车
traffic jam

Měi tiān zǎo chén 271shàng dōu sāi chē.
每天早晨271上都塞车。
There is a traffic jam on 271 every morning.

Word of the day - 每日一词 Měi Rì Yì Cí

pài duì
派对
party

Wǒ mén xiǎng gěi nǐ kāi gè shēng rì pài duì.
我们想给你开个生日派对。
We would like to throw a birthday party for you.

Dish of the week - 本周最佳菜品 Běn Zhōu Zuì Jiā Cài Pǐn

Là Zi Jī

辣子鸡

Chicken with Chili Pepper and Szechuan Pepper

Lots and lots of chili pepper and Szechuan pepper in this dish.  You will really have to "dig in", because all the meat got buried under the peppers.  But...YUM!

là
辣
spicy

Wǒ xǐ huān chī là de.
我喜欢吃辣的。
I like to eat spicy food.


là zi
辣子
red chili pepper

Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yī xiē là zi.
我想买一些辣子。
I want to buy some red chili pepper.


jī
鸡
chicken

Wǒ shǔ jī.
我属鸡。
My Chinese Zodiac is chicken (rooster).

Word of the day - 每日一词 Měi Rì Yì Cí

zì xìn
自信
Confident

Nǐ yīng gāi xué huì gèng jiā zì xìn.
你应该学会更加自信。
You should learn to be more confident.

Chinese Character Animation - Baby laugh

Chinese Character Animation - Weather

Chinese Character Animation - Chinese Zodiac

Using PowerPoint to create fun activities for your Chinese class

Activities can be created by you:

·         Flashcards

o   To start PowerPoint: click on the Start button on the left side of the taskbar; then click Programs; then click Microsoft PowerPoint.

o   Right click on the default slide, go to Layout and select Title and Content. 

o   Left click on the content box and delete the default bullet. 

o   Type in the character(s) you want to review in class.

o   Select the character(s); use the font you want, size depends on how many characters you typed in (suggested size for single character is 300), and center.  Click and hold the edge of the content box and move it up to the center of the page.

o   Guidelines for using “Flashcards”: from easy to hard; from slow to fast.  Not showing the cards in order increases the difficulty.

·         Who’s faster?

o   To start PowerPoint: click on the Start button on the left side of the taskbar; then click Programs; then click Microsoft PowerPoint.

o   Right click on the default slide, go to Layout and select Title and Content. 

o   Left click on the content box and delete the default bullet. 

o   Left click on Insert Table icon and select 3 for the number of columns and rows.

o   Put the mouse cursor on the bottom right or left corner and drag down to make the table bigger.

o   Select the table and add All Borders.

o   Type the characters you want in each box.

o   Select all the characters: use the fond and size you want and center.

o   Guidelines for using “Who is faster?”: have two students come up and the teacher will randomly say one word/character at a time.  Whoever points out the right word/character first wins the turn.

·         Matching

o   To start PowerPoint: click on the Start button on the left side of the taskbar; then click Programs; then click Microsoft PowerPoint.

o   Right click on the default slide, go to Layout and select Two Content. 

o   Left click on the top box to add instruction for “Matching”.

o   Left click on the bottom left box to add different Chinese terms.  Suggested number of terms is 6.

o   Left click on the bottom right box to add either English meanings or Pinyin. 

o   Use Smart Board to show how students would participate in this activity.  Remember to lock the Smart Board in order to make it work like a normal white board.

o   Guidelines for “Matching”: create a few different sets, so everyone in the class will get a chance to participate.  

Activities can be found online:

·         Go to http://people.uncw.edu/ertzbergerj/ppt_games.html. There are a lot of different games that can already be used as your classroom activities.  There is no preparation required for those games.  You just need to have a sheet of vocabulary or review questions in your hand. Select the ones that best suit your class.  The following activities are all whole class participation games.

o   Racing game

o   The Big Wheel

o   Sunken Treasure

o   Align the Stars

o   What's Behind the Box? 

·         If you don’t think the games listed above are the right ones for your class.  You can always go to www.google.com and search for “PowerPoint game templates”.  There are a lot of other options as well. 

·         Overall, finding activities on line would be an easier way to create PowerPoint games for your class than creating the whole game by yourself and it gives you more alternatives as well.

·         Since all the online templates were created by other people, most of them were copyrighted.  You need to be careful when you use them.  If you do end up using them, you should use them in a respectful way.