Theme 1: Rights and Responsibilities

Voting and Civic Responsibilities

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Express opinions and preferences about voting and civic responsibilities.
• Participate in sustained exchanges relating to voting and civic responsibilities.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Comprehend written and oral information relating to voting and civic responsibilities.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Communicate main ideas and supporting details about voting and political issues.
• Produce and present situations, both spontaneous and rehearsed, which highlight community responsibilities.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Discuss voting practices in Chinese-speaking countries.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Identify contributions of political figures from Chinese-speaking countries to the world.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare policies and practices regarding voting and civic responsibilities in Chinese-speaking countries with those in the U.S.

Communication Across Communities

• Investigate voting practices in Chinese-speaking countries via native Chinese-speakers in the community, in print media, or on the Internet.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Conditional
• Commands
• Terminology for expressing obligation

 

Chores

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Ask and give a detailed description of household chores and responsibilities.
• Participate in sustained conversation about household chores and responsibilities.
• Exchange information about chores in various time frames (past, present, future).

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Comprehend instructions related to household chores and responsibilities such as labels, advertisements, and instructions on products.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Produce detailed spoken and/or written presentations about household chores and responsibilities of various family members.
• Produce and present situations that highlight one's personal responsibilities.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Explore traditional attitudes towards household responsibilities in various Chinese-speaking countries.

Connections, Comparisons, and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Make connections with responsibilities in other classroom situations, such as cleaning up in art or cooking class and putting away equipment in science and physical education.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast household responsibilities of U.S. teenagers with teenagers' responsibilities in Chinese-speaking countries.

Communication Across Communities

• Access information about household responsibilities via the Internet or print media.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to expressing feelings and opinions

Theme 2: Future Plans and Choices

Education Plans

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Discuss educational plans, giving details such as course of study and long-range goals.
• Participate in sustained exchanges on educational plans in relation to future career goals.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Understand information published by universities or study-abroad programs in Chinese-speaking countries, such as brochures, letters, catalogues, and web sites.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Write or speak about educational opportunities after high school, giving details about courses of study and long-range goals.
• Produce and present situations which highlight future educational plans and long-range goals.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Discuss the educational systems in Chinese-speaking countries.
• Discuss job training and apprenticeship programs in Chinese-speaking countries.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Identify connections between the study of Chinese and career opportunities in other disciplines.
• Explain how the continued study of Chinese improves verbal skills, abilities, and academic performance.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast post-secondary education systems in the U.S. and in Chinese-speaking countries, including the importance and value of a college degree, testing programs leading to college, admission to schools and career paths to follow based on programs studied.
• Compare the use of the future tense and the subjunctive when discussing future plans.

Communication Across Communities

• Access information about opportunities for study abroad programs, using such resources as the school's career center, public library, and the Internet.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary for expressing intentions
• Future tense
• Progressive tenses

 

Careers and Jobs

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Ask and answer questions on preferences and plans concerning job or career choices.
• Ask for and give information regarding job or career choices.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Comprehend information related to finding a job, such as classified ads, applications, and interview questions.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Give details and/or inquire about job opportunities and career paths.
• Present material related to careers and jobs, such as culturally-authentic stories, poems and skits.
• Present job descriptions and qualifications.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Discuss attitudes towards work and workplace policies and practices in Chinese-speaking countries.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Recognize connections between the study of Chinese and job or career choices in the fields of math, science, medicine, technology, business, marketing, etc.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare attitudes towards work and workplace policies and practices in Chinese-speaking countries with those in the U.S.
• Compare formulaic expressions used in English and in Chinese in formal business letters.

Communication Across Communities

• Locate and share information on the use of Chinese in various professions, workplaces or businesses.
• Locate and discuss information found on the Internet or in print media about job opportunities in Chinese-speaking countries.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary for writing a formal letter
• Vocabulary relating to professions, personal background and the workplace.
• Vocabulary for expressing indecision
• Vocabulary for requesting information
• Vocabulary for relating intentions
• Vocabulary for giving advice

Theme 3: Teen Culture

Fashion and Clothes

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Exchange ideas about clothing preferences and personal style, giving details such as patterns, fabrics, and fit.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Comprehend spoken and written information on clothing and personal style presented in advertisements, articles, or Internet sites.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Describe clothing, and fashion styles, both present day and from another time period.
• Produce and written presentations on the influence of fashion on teen culture.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Discuss modern and traditional dress in Chinese-speaking countries.
• Discuss attitudes towards fashion and traditional dress from various cultures in Chinese-speaking countries.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Make connections between types of clothing worn in geographic locations in the U.S. and Chinese-speaking countries.
• Recognize differences between sizes of clothing in the U.S. and Chinese-speaking countries.
• Relate knowledge of fashion and clothing issues to information learned in classes such as history, economics and marketing.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast typical clothing in the U.S. and in Chinese-speaking countries.
• Identify Chinese clothing and fashion terms used in English and vice-versa.
• Compare and contrast attitudes toward fashion in the U.S. and in Chinese-speaking countries.

Communication Across Communities

• Locate an authentic source of information on fashion and/or traditional dress, such as an individual, Internet site or article.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to wearing and purchasing clothing
• Vocabulary for expressing interest, disinterest and indifference
• Vocabulary for detailed descriptions of clothing, including specific color, pattern and style
• Comparatives and superlatives

 

Leisure Time

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Express preferences and elicit those of others about leisure time activities.
• Exchange points of view and support opinions about leisure time activities.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Demonstrate an understanding of culturally-authentic selections on teen interests from the media of Chinese-speaking countries, such as key pal letters, leisure time advertisements, videos, print or Internet articles, and news features.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Produce well-organized spoken and written presentations with supporting details appropriate to the type of audience and the purpose of the presentation in relation to teenage leisure activities.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Discuss patterns of teen behavior and recreational pastimes in Chinese-speaking countries.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Discuss information learned in courses such as biology about the connection between active pastimes and good health.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast patterns of teen behavior and recreational pastimes in Chinese-speaking countries with those of teens in the United States.
• Identify words related to leisure time activities that are derived from the same root in English and Chinese.

Communication Across Communities

• Expand Chinese language skills and cultural knowledge by viewing programs and videos in Chinese related to leisure time activities in the Chinese-speaking world.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to pastimes, sports and leisure
• Expressions of excitement, disappointment and opinions

Theme 4: The Environment

Nature and Wildlife

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Participate in a sustained exchange about plant and animal life and natural resources in Chinese-speaking countries.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Understand information on nature and natural resources from a variety of sources such as TV, news, atlases, encyclopedias, dictionaries, magazines, newspapers and the Internet.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Create written and/or spoken presentations describing nature and natural resources in Chinese-speaking countries.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Examine the importance of nature and natural resources to a particular region in the Chinese-speaking world.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Share information about nature and natural resources (e.g. flora and fauna, national parks and endangered species) learned in the sciences.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast nature and natural resources in Chinese-speaking countries with those in the U.S.
• Identify cognates related to natural resources.

Communication Across Communities

• Locate and share information from Chinese-language sources on nature and natural resources such as flora and fauna, natural parks and endangered species.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary for natural resources

 

Ecology

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Participate in a sustained conversation about environmental and ecological issues such as pollution, recycling, acid rain, and the destruction of rain forests.
• Ask and give information about environmental and ecological concerns.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Comprehend spoken and written information on environmental and ecological issues as presented in the media.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Communicate problems about and solutions to environmental and ecological issues.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Explain practices related to environmental and ecological issues in Chinese-speaking countries.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Relate knowledge of environmental and ecological issues gained in science, social studies and health classes to information learned in Chinese class.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare environmental practices among various world cultures.
• Identify cognates related to ecological issues.

Communication Across Communities

• Access information on the Internet and environmental and ecological issues in Chinese-speaking countries.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Ecological vocabulary
• Vocabulary related to cities and development (traffic, etc.)
• Expressions related to giving opinions

Theme 5: Humanities

Current Events

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Ask and answer questions concerning current events.
• Express and exchange reactions to current events.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Identify pertinent information when listening to media newscasts or reading selections from written news sources.

Oral and Written Presentation

• Communicate main ideas and supporting details orally and in writing when presenting a current event.
• Produce and explain opinions and reactions to current news events.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Discuss how the viewpoints of people from Chinese-speaking countries are reflected in their news broadcasts and publications.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Relate knowledge of current events gained in social sciences, history, government, and science classes to information learned in Chinese class.

Cultural and Linguistic Comparisons

• Compare and contrast attitudes towards world events of people in the U.S. and in Chinese-speaking countries.

Communication Across Communities

• Locate and use authentic resources in Chinese television news programs, newspapers, magazines, and the Internet to broaden understanding of current events.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to specific current events

 

History, Celebrations and Traditions

Communication

Person-to-Person Communication

• Ask and answer questions about historical events, holidays, and traditions.
• Sustained a detailed conversation about historical events, holidays, and traditions.

Listening and Reading for Understanding

• Comprehend culturally-authentic spoken and written information related to history, holidays and traditions (e.g. articles, information from the Internet, songs, poems and narratives from well-known authors).

Oral and Written Presentation

• Produce a detailed spoken and/or written presentation about a historical event, a traditional celebration, or a holiday.

Cultures

Cultural Perspectives, Practices and Products

• Discuss customs related to celebrations in Chinese-speaking countries.
• Explore the role of traditional elements of celebrations in Chinese-speaking countries, such as music, poetry, and dance.

Connections, Comparisons and Communities

Making Connections Through Language

• Compare and contrast the origins of celebrations in the United States and Chinese-speaking countries.
• Compare and contrast U.S. celebrations such as July 4, Halloween, New Year's, etc., with similar celebrations in Chinese-speaking countries.

Communication Across Communities

• Explore opportunities to participate in an authentic Chinese celebration in the local community.

Related Vocabulary and Linguistic Elements

• Vocabulary related to traditions and celebrations