本週上課內容  Class Summary

• 自我介紹  Getting to Know Each Other

• 學生資料卡填寫  Fill out student information

• 學習雜記 & 契約 Learning Journal & Contract

• 漢語拼音 單韻母 & 聲母 Pinyin Initials & Finals

本週作業  Homework

1. 唯一必做的家庭作業 The Only Mandatory Homework
   敲定第一版學習契約 Finalize the 1st edition of learning contract
   a. Share the learning contract draft with one or both parents.
   b. Make any necessary adjustment.
   c. Both the student and at least one parent sign the learning contract.
   d. Bring back the signed learning contract to 9/14/2024 class.
   
   

2. 拼音練習 (隨意) pinyin review practices (optional)
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VluIogMhXqU What is Pinyin?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgHelJXrBzM  An Introduction to Tones
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91RVKGKzRlA Say Chinese Initials and Finals
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRaHXPDIV-4 Master Chinese Tones in 1 Minute

下週計劃及注意事項  Teaching Plan Next Week

• Begin Lesson 1, Week 1, if textbooks arrive.

• Second Review of Pinyin.

• Exchanges on the Learning Contract.

給家長的話 Notes to Parents

• 請爲孩子準備一個三孔的資料夾，作爲收納作業本和其他教材
  Please prepare a 3-ring binder for organization of workbooks and other learning materials.

• 帶經審核並簽署的第一版學習契約 Bring the first edition of reviewed and signed learning contract.

• 帶需要的文具
  Bring writing utensils, textbook and homework sheets of lessons 1-5 only (OK to leave HW sheets for lessons 6-10 home).

本週上課內容  Class Summary

• Continued to

  • Know each other.

  • Explore & share what we all have learned and retained from previous grade/school/classes.

  • Review of 漢語拼音: 單韻母, 聲母, etc. Pinyin Initials, Finals, etc.

  • Importance of Tones in Mandarin Pronunciations

    • chōu Slap vs. chǒu Ugly vs. chòu Stinky 

    • shuìjiào Sleep vs. shuǐjiǎo Dumplings

    • xióngmāo Panda vs. xiōngmáo Chest Hair

• All about 中秋節 zhōngqiū jié the Mid-Autumn Festival

  • The Origin Story of the Mid-Autumn Festival

  • Sampling or Experience of

    • 月餅 yuèbǐng Mooncakes (from 億萬兩月餅 Billionaire Mooncakes in TW) 

    • 柚子 yòuzi Pomelos

    • 柚子帽 yòuzi mào Pomelo Hats

  • Tastes & Flavors: 

    • 鹹 xián SALTY

    • 酸 suān SOUR

    • 甜 tián SWEET

    • 苦 kǔ BITTER

    • 辣 là SPICY

  • Top 3 Moon Cycles: 

    • 新月 Xīn yuè New Moon

    • 半月 bànyuè Half Moon

    • 滿月 mǎnyuè Full Moon 

• Lunar vs. Solar Calendars

  • Why Mid-Autumn Festival and Lunar New Year on same lunar calendar dates but not in the solar calendar?

• Made & decorated paper lanterns.

本週作業  Homework

1. 拼音練習 pinyin review practices
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VluIogMhXqU What is Pinyin?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgHelJXrBzM  An Introduction to Tones
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91RVKGKzRlA Say Chinese Initials and Finals
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRaHXPDIV-4 Master Chinese Tones in 1 Minute
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmK4YXt5fg8&t=26s Chinese Tones in Depth (20:10)

2.  No written homework since textbooks and homework packets have not all arrived.

下週計劃及注意事項  Teaching Plan Next Week

• Begin Lesson 1, Week 1, if textbooks arrive.

• Bring back the lanterns in 9/14/2024 for teacher go keep safe.

給家長的話 Notes to Parents

• 請爲孩子準備一個三孔的資料夾，作爲收納作業本和其他教材
  Please prepare a 3-ring binder for organization of workbooks and other learning materials.

• 帶需要的文具, 課本和第 1-5 課作業頁（可以將第 6-10 課的作業頁留在家裡）
  Bring writing utensils, textbook and homework sheets of lessons 1-5 only (OK to leave HW sheets for lessons 6-10 home).

本週上課內容  Class Summary

• Continued to get to know each other

  1. More new students joined us

  2. What's my zodiac

  3. 1 thing that you haven't shared about yourself

• Another Review of Pinyin

  1. 聲母shēngmǔ 與 韻母yùnmǔ [initials & finals]

  2. 國語guóyǔ  注音zhùyīn  符號fúhào  與yǔ  漢語hànyǔ 拼音pīnyīn [zhùyīn vs. pīnyīn]

  3. 韻符yùn fú↓  聲符shēng fú→ [symbols of rhymes & sounds]

• Captured Meanings of Feelings via Colors & Emotions via Facial Expressions

  1. Feeling Wheel

  2. Emotion Chart

• Concluded the unit on Mid-Autumn Festival

• Compared and contrasted

  1. Moon [月yuè亮liàng] vs. Sun [太tài陽yáng]

  2. Cakes [糕gāo] vs. Cookies [餅bǐng] vs. Pies [派pài]

  3. Moon Cakes [月yuè餅bǐng] vs. Sun Cookies [太tài陽yáng餅bǐng] vs. Wheel Cake [車chē 輪lún餅bǐng]

     • Sampling of Moon Cakes [月yuè餅bǐng] on 9/14/2024

     • Sampling of Sun Cookies [太tài陽yáng餅bǐng]  & Wheel Cake [車chē 輪lún餅bǐng] by vendor Catmint Wheel Cake on 9/21/2024

本週作業  Homework

No written homework since textbooks and homework packets have not all arrived.

下週計劃及注意事項  Teaching Plan Next Week

• Continue to review Pinyin

• Introduce Lesson 1

• Who is 孔夫子 Kǒng fūzǐ  Confucius?

給家長的話 Notes to Parents

• Please make sure that your student(s) eat some lunch with quality protein before class.

本週上課內容  Class Summary

• What holiday or whose birthday is observed on September 28? [教師節 jiào shī jié Teacher Appreciation Day]

• Who was 孔夫子 Kǒng fūzǐ  Confucius? [Ted Talk, 4:29] via sounds only as Teacher Lai's laptop didn't work.

  1. Guess how old would Confucius be on September 28, 2024? [2,725 years old]

  2. Ways to Identify "time in history"

     • BCE = Before the Current Era

     • BC = Before Christ

     • AD = Anno Domini", which is Latin for "Year of Our Lord" 

• Review of the Literary Concepts

  1. synonyms 同義異字 tóngyì yìzì

     • 教師 jàoshī  [teacher] vs. 與 老師 lǎoshī  [teacher]

  2. homophones 同音異字 tóngyīn yìzì

     • 樹木 shùmù [tree] vs. 與 數目 shùmù [amount/number]

• 部首 Chinese Radicals, The Building Blocks of Chinese Characters (5:18)

  1. What words learned from MZHY Textbooks 1 - 3 are exactly the same as their radicals

     • MZHY Book 1 Vocabularies & Radicals

     • MZHY Book 2 Vocabularies & Radicals

• Introduction of Textbook 3, Lesson 1 Vocabularies

  1. 王 Wáng (2nd tone)

  2. 文 Wén (2nd tone)

  3. 許 Xǔ (3rd tone)

  4. 川 chuān (1st tone)

  5. 半 bàn (4th tone)

  6. 站 zhàn (4th tone) - the word that class got to "embody" as a 2-person team

• Bonus Words/Concepts

  1. 仙xiān人rén掌zhǎng [cactus/cacti]

  2. 仙xiān人rén/ 仙xiān女nǚ[fairy (neutral/female)]

本週作業  Homework

1. Watch all the videos that review the pinyin from week 2.

2. Watch the TED Talk Video at least once: Who was 孔夫子 Kǒng fūzǐ  Confucius?  

3. Complete homework packet page 1 and top 1/2 of page 2  (distributed in class or download HERE)
   NOTE: Please do NOT print the entire homework packet as students will receive the packet in 10/5/2024 class.

下週計劃及注意事項  Teaching Plan Next Week

• The textbook, vocabulary flashcards and homework packets will be distributed during 10/5/2024 class.

• Continue MZHY Lesson 1, Week 1 Materials.

• Begin to Prepare for "a Talk or a Story of Self to Share"

  • In-class on 11/2/2024 [mandatory for the entire class]

  • Intramural on 11/16/2024 [optional but strongly encouraged]

  • CACA on TBD [by invitations only]

  • Introduction of the Storytelling to Others vs. Public Speaking

  • Review of speech topics by age

給家長的話 Notes to Parents

• Parents & Teacher Conference on 10/12/2024 and/or 10/19/2024, please save the date & more TBD.

本週上課內容  Class Summary

• Received and organized textbook, homework packets and vocabulary booklets.

• Continued Lesson 1

  1. Text 1: Wáng Xiǎo Máo kàn bàozhǐRead Newspapers 王小毛看報紙

     • Collaboratively shared what was heard from the video (bubble activity)

     • Who/What/How/Why

     • Listening & Speaking Practice

  2. Pop Quiz/Assessment with Open Book

     • 站 zhàn (4th tone) 

     • 王 Wáng (2nd tone)

     • 文 Wén (2nd tone)

     • 半 bàn (4th tone)

     • 川 chuān (1st tone)

     • 許 Xǔ (3rd tone)

     • Bubbles:

       1. Mandarin Word/Character

       2. Pinyin

       3. Vocabulary Part 1

       4. Vocabulary Part 2

       5. Drawing/Image Representation of the word in the first bubble or vocab in bubbles 3 & 4

       6. Feedback from classmate 1

       7. Feedback from classmate 2

  3. Gourds, Melons, Oh My!

     • Is there a melon from all 4 directions? None from North.

       1. 南náng 瓜guā [pumpkins]

       2. 西xī 瓜guā [watermelons]

       3. "冬dōng"瓜guā ["winter"* melons]

       4. 北 běi 瓜guā [acorn squashes/ornamental gourds]

     • What's correct? [1]

       1. 冬dōng瓜guā

       2. 東dōng瓜guā

     • Who does not like watermelons (3)?

     • Sampling of Watermelons, deferred to 10/12/2024.

• Bonus Words/Concepts

  1. 方向 fāngxiàng [directions], Mandarin speaking typically in the following order

     • 東 dōng [East]

     • 西 xī [West]

     • 南 nán [South]

     • 北 běi [North]

  2. N.E.W.S. = info from North, East, West, & South

  3. 東 dōng 西 xī [stuff, things]

     • 這zhè 是shì 什shén 麼me (東 dōng 西 xī)? What's this (thing)?

本週作業  Homework

1.  Watch Lesson 1 text 1 video at least 3 times

   • 1st time, watch and listen carefully

   • 2nd time, follow story on page 6 of textbook.

   • 3rd time, read aloud along the video (or turn off the sounds on video).

2. Complete homework page/pages [HWp./pp.]

   • Entire HWp.1 and top of page 2, if not already completed.

   • Bottom of HWp. 2.

   • Entire HWp.3 (see textbook pp 6 & 8 for help)

   • Top of HWp.5: making sentences

     • 許xǔ多 duō [Textbook p.9 (top)]

     • 半bàn 天 tiān [TXTp.9 (bottom)]

下週計劃及注意事項  Teaching Plan Next Week

• Lesson 1 Continues

  • Text 2: Usefulness of Writing (TXTp.7)

  • Story: Importance of Punctuations. (TXTpp.12-15)

• Other materials via learners' expressed interests or teachable moments.

給家長的話 Notes to Parents

1. Parent Teacher Conference for L4 is tentatively scheduled to be
   2:40 - 3:30pm, Saturday, 12 Oct 2024.
   Room 115 [disregard room # in MHCS newsletter as we have been confirmed to be in 115]

2. Please help your student safekeep the homework packet pages 91 - 193 at home for next school year 2025 - 2026 (should be in a plastic bag). 

本週上課內容  Class Summary

• Text 2: xiě zì hěn yǒuyòng 寫字很有用, Textbook page 7

  • Who/What/How/Why

  • Listening & Speaking Practice

• Vocabularies and Grammar, pp 9-10

• Bonus Word(s)/Concept(s)

  • How to Address Cousins from side of

    1. Mother

       • 表 biǎo

         • 哥gē/兄xiōng

         • 弟dì

         • 姊zǐ

         • 妹mèi

    2. Father

       • 堂 táng

         • 哥gē/兄xiōng

         • 弟dì

         • 姊zǐ

         • 妹mèi

本週作業  Homework, updated @round 0830, 10/13/2024.

1.  [priority, ie do this one first if time is limited]
   Continue  to prepare for the 2 Nov 2024 In-Class Speech Presentation.

   • Share and confirm your speech topic with your family.

     1. Speech Topic by Age Category to Choose (if participating in the MHCS school contest on 16 Nov 2024)

     2. If not participating in the MHCS speech contest, student can choose any topic and limit speech to 1.5 minute (minimum) to 2.5 minutes (maximum).

     3. If your student prefers to memorize a poem or a prayer in Chinese, please select from one of the following tp memorize:

        • A Poem for the Swallows (《燕詩》

        • An Inscription Regarding the Yuquan Temple《題玉泉寺》

        • Our Father Prayer《天主經》(Catholic version)

        • The Lord's Prayer 《主禱文》 (Protestant version)

        • If none of the above works for you, please research one that would be about the same length in counts of characters/words or in time (1.5 minutes ~ 2.5 minutes).

   • Put your speech ideas in complete English Sentences.

   • Use Google Translate to obtain a draft of your speech in Mandarin.

   • Make any revision with your parents' help and support.

   • Upload a copy of your speech that includes as many of the following to Teacher Lai ASAP or no later than midnight, Thursday, 17 Oct.

     1. Preferably in WORD or Google doc file format.

     2. Speech in English.

     3. Speech in Mandarin characters with optional pinyin.

2. Complete following homework packet pages & bring to class on 19 Oct, only if the speech draft is done:

   • Previously assigned: HWpp 1-3

   • Assigned this week:

     1. HWpage 4: top (review of story from Textbook 2, Lesson 9, story/video)

     2. HWpages 7-9 (Textbook 3, pp 7 &10)

下週計劃及注意事項  Teaching Plan Next Week

• Continue with Lesson 1 and preparation for speeches.

• Review of materials presented thus far in preparation for the mid-term assessment.

給家長的話 Notes to Parents

• Many thanks to all parents who attended the Parents & Teacher Conference! If you missed it and would like to schedule a separate conference in person (before or after classes) or virtually (via Google meet by appointment only), please contact Teacher Lai directly.

• All students will need to make a speech in class on 2 or 16 Nov, unless they opt to record their speech to upload in the Google folder provided.

• NO MHCS classes on 11/9/2024 due to the NJ Teacher Conventions.

• Please try to text Teacher Lai as early as you can if your student plans to be absent or late to class.

本週上課內容  Class Summary

• 故事/gùshì/Story: 標點符號很重要/biāodiǎn fúhàohěnzhòngyào/Punctuations Are Very Important, Textbook PP 12 - 15.

• Bonus Word(s)/Concepts

  1. Functions and Use of Punctuations

     • 。- 句 號/點 jù hào/diǎn = PERIOD

     • ，- 逗 號/點 dòu hào/diǎn = COMMA

     • ?  - 問號 wènhào = QUESTION MARK

     • !  - 驚號 jīngtànhào = EXCLAMATION MPOINT

     • : - 分號 fēn hào = SEMICOLON

     • 、 -  頓號 dùnhào NO ENGLISH EQUIVALENT

     • ... - 省略號 shěnglüèhào = ELLIPSIS

     • 「 」-  引號 yǐnhào = QUOTATION MARS

  2. Differences between English & Mandarin Punctuations

     • 「 」(Mandarin) vs " " (English)

     • English has no equivalent to 頓號 dùnhào

本週作業  Homework, updated @round 2230, Sunday, 10/20/2024

[IN THE ORDER OF PRIORITY]

1. Review and prepare for the midterm to take place during the first half of 10/26/2024 class.

   • Grading metrics:

     • Students will earn 

       • 5 points for complete responses in Mandarin characters; 

       • 3 points in pinyin; 

       • 2 points in English.

   • Students will need to demonstrate what they have learned during the past 7 weeks.

   • Bring the "bubble sheet" completed during the 10/19 class.

2. Complete & speech draft before starting to memorize the speech. See details from Week 6, 10/12/2024 for more details.

3. Complete the following homework packet pages

   • HW pages bottom of 4 & 5.

   • HW pages 6,  10 - 16 (Textbook 3, pp 7 &10)

下週計劃及注意事項  Teaching Plan Next Week

• Students, parents and teachers are welcomed to wear their costumes of their choice (please follow school guidelines) for a parade and then "TABLE N TREAT" @1400 in the cafeteria.

• Teacher Owen will substitute in the absence of Teacher Lai who will be away during 26 Oct 2024.

給家長的話 Notes to Parents

• All students will need to make a speech in class on 2 or 16 Nov, unless they opt to record their speech to upload in the Google folder provided.

• NO MHCS classes on 11/9/2024 due to the NJ Teacher Conventions.

• Please try to text Teacher Lai as early as you can if your student plans to be absent or late to class.

本週上課內容  Class Summary

• Mid-term Evaluation, be sure to bring 

  • the textbook

  • the bubble sheet from 10/19/2024 class

• Visit to the library.

• Halloween parade & "Table N Treat"

本週作業  Homework, updated @round 0758, 10/21/2024

1. Continue to prepare for speech in class on 2 Nov.

2. Complete all homework pages for Lesson 1 (pp. 1-18), if not yet done.

下週計劃及注意事項  Teaching Plan Next Week

• Speech Presentations in Class.

• Introduction of Lesson 2.

給家長的話 Notes to Parents

• All students will need to make a speech in class on 2 or 16 Nov, unless they opt to record their speech to upload in the Google folder provided.

• NO MHCS classes on 11/9/2024 due to the NJ Teacher Conventions.

• Please try to text Teacher Lai as early as you can if your student plans to be absent or late to class.

本週上課內容  Class Summary

• Student present in-class speeches.

本週作業  Homework

1.  Complete homework packet pp.

下週計劃及注意事項  Teaching Plan Next Week

給家長的話 Notes to Parents

本週上課內容  Class Summary

本週作業  Homework

1.  Complete homework packet pp.

下週計劃及注意事項  Teaching Plan Next Week

給家長的話 Notes to Parents

本週上課內容  Class Summary

本週作業  Homework

1.  Complete homework packet pp.

下週計劃及注意事項  Teaching Plan Next Week

給家長的話 Notes to Parents

本週上課內容  Class Summary

本週作業  Homework

1.  Complete homework packet pp.

下週計劃及注意事項  Teaching Plan Next Week

給家長的話 Notes to Parents

本週上課內容  Class Summary

本週作業  Homework

1.  Complete homework packet pp.

下週計劃及注意事項  Teaching Plan Next Week

給家長的話 Notes to Parents

本週上課內容  Class Summary

• Continued to prepare for the 1/18/2025 Lunar New Year presentation.

• Experienced homemade and professionally made hand puppets.

本週作業  Homework

1. Learn and memorize song "Prosperous Snake Year"
   video of melodies and lyrics
   lyrics only

2. Start learning and perfecting their lines [no need to memorize but become fluent] available HERE.

下週計劃及注意事項  Teaching Plan Next Week

• Please try best to help your students arrive in classroom 115 by 1230.

• Remind your student to wear comfortable clothing for the hand puppet show and lunar new year rehearsal.

給家長的話 Notes to Parents

• Please help your students have adequate sleep and eat lunch with proteins before each class.

• Help your student pick an outfit for the 18 Jan Lunar New Year Performance: something comfortable and they like.

本週上課內容  Class Summary

•    練習新年表演 New Year Performance Practice & Rehearsal in the auditorium as scheduled.

本週作業  Homework

• Narrators practice and record for the Lunar New Year program.

• All others please become familiar with the lines. SCRIPTS available HERE.

下週計劃及注意事項  Teaching Plan Next Week

•   新年表演 New Year Performance on 18 Jan 2025.

給家長的話 Notes to Parents

• Please help your student decide what they plan to wear to the lunar new year performance (something comfortable and they would like to wear for a festive event.

• Please inform Teacher Lai as early as you can if your student plans to be absent from or late to class.

• Please make sure that your student(s) eat some lunch with quality protein before class.

本週上課內容  Class Summary

•     新年表演 Lunar New Year Performance & Presentations

本週作業  Homework

•     NO HOMEWORK.

下週計劃及注意事項  Teaching Plan Next Week

• Please show up in room 115 as close to 1230 as possible so we can do a final rehearsal.

給家長的話 Notes to Parents

•  Please make sure that your student(s) eat some lunch with quality protein before class.

• Please ensure that your student wear something comfortable and a favorite for a festive event for the lunar new year performance.

• Please inform Teacher Lai as early as you can if your student plans to be absent from or late to class.