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3.1: Lesson 2 Overview - Origins and Language

  • Page ID
    66556
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    In lesson 1, you learned how to greet someone and ask their name.  This week, we'll learn more basics for introductory conversations, such as how to ask which country someone comes from and what languages they speak.  Here is a link to the Lesson 2 "Origins and Language" page, and below is a short guide with suggestions on how to study it this week.

    Start with the Lesson Dialogues 

    Start out by reading and listening to the three short example dialogues presented in this lesson:

    Just like you did for Lesson 1, you should study these dialogues in three stages:

    1. First, be sure to click the "Show Translation" and "Show Pinyin" buttons, so that you can follow along easily.  Then, press the play button and listen while reading.  Do this several times.  After listening and reading along for probably 2 to 5 times, you should have a good idea of what the speakers are saying, since the English translation has been displayed next to the transcript.  Try to finish this first step by Monday.
       
    2. Once you have a good idea of the meaning, press the button titled "Hide Translation".  Then, listen while reading the pinyin, and speak along with the dialogue.  Again, do this several times.  After listening and speaking along about 5 to 10 times, you will be ready to press the "Hide Pinyin" button.  You will probably be doing this step around the middle of this week.
       
    3. Finally, after listening and reading along, and eventually reading while speaking along, you should review the dialogue by listening and reading only the Chinese characters.  At this final stage, you will read only the Chinese characters and hide both the pinyin and English translation.  Aim to reach this level of mastery by about Friday this week. 

    After you've finished all three of these stages of study, you can continue to review these dialogues over the next several weeks, displaying and reading only the Chinese characters if possible.  You should go back to lesson 1 and review the dialogues there while listening and reading the characters, to refresh your memory.

    As part of your review of each of these dialogues, be sure to click the sections at the bottom titled "Vocabulary" and "Exercises" for reference and for self-assessment of your understanding.

    Practice Reading & Learn Key Phrases 

    After you feel somewhat comfortable with at least one or two of the dialogues above, move along to the following sections of this lesson:

    Try speaking aloud the examples given in these sections.

    Learn Key Grammar Points 

    This lesson covers some basic grammar points that you should know in order to use the vocabulary you're learning this week effectively.  Toward the end of this week, study the following sections on grammar:

    I will introduce these grammar points in more detail, with additional examples, in the Class Forums section of our Laulima site this week.  In those discussion threads, you can raise any questions that you have about the grammar in this lesson.  Posting questions in the class forums is optional, and not required each week.

    Review Pronunciation & Writing Tips 

    Review the sections on pronunciation of a- finals and basic writing strokes in lesson 2.  If you don't find this content to be an easy review, please email me polley@hawaii.edu to let me know what parts you are having difficulties with.

    Self-Assessment Exercises

    Finally, after you have finished studying the content for this lesson, try out each of these self-assessment exercises:

    You should aim to finish these exercises probably by Friday this week, or early next week.  They are not graded.  If you find any of these exercises difficult, please contact me with questions, or post your questions in the class forums, or go back to the relevant section of the lesson and review as necessary.


    This page titled 3.1: Lesson 2 Overview - Origins and Language is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Carl Polley (裴凯).

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