GRADE 8 Mandarin Chinese Getting Around- LISTENING AND SPEAKING – Interactive Speaking Notes
Mandarin Chinese — Getting Around: Listening & Speaking
Subtopic: Interactive Speaking (age 13, Kenya)
Specific Learning Outcomes
- a) Recall words, phrases and expressions from varied texts; talk about familiar topics using appropriate volume, tone and pronunciation (note: here we present grammatical forms to structure speech).
- b) Exhibit interest in speaking clearly and confidently on various topics through correct sentence patterns and polite forms.
- c) Address the category of interactive speaking — how to ask, respond, and keep a spoken exchange going (question forms, responses, turn-taking).
What is "Interactive Speaking" (grammatical focus)?
Interactive speaking = using grammars such as question structures, particles, prepositions and modal verbs to ask for information, give directions, make requests and respond in a short conversation.
Key grammar structures for asking/giving directions and interacting
- Yes/No questions with 吗
Example: 请问，公车站在这儿吗？ (Qǐngwèn, gōngchē zhàn zài zhèr ma?) — Is the bus stop here?
- A-not-A question pattern
Example: 这个市场离学校远不远？ (Zhège shìchǎng lí xuéxiào yuǎn bu yuǎn?) — Is the market far from school?
- Question words (wh- questions)
怎么/怎么走 (zěnme / zěnme zǒu) — how / how to get to;
哪里/哪儿 (nǎlǐ / nǎr) — where;
多远 (duō yuǎn) — how far;
什么时候 (shénme shíhou) — when. - Polite request and permission
请问…？ (Qǐngwèn...?) — Excuse me/May I ask...?;
可以/能 (kěyǐ / néng) + verb — may/can I ...?;
Example: 请问，可以告诉我去医院怎么走吗？ (Qǐngwèn, kěyǐ gàosu wǒ qù yīyuàn zěnme zǒu ma?) - Directional prepositions & location phrases
在…旁边、在…对面、在…前面/后面、在…右边/左边、在…附近
Example: 超市在邮局的右边。 (Chāoshì zài yóujú de yòubiān.) — The supermarket is to the right of the post office. - Verbs + directional/resultative complements
去/来/回 + 地点 (qù/lái/huí) — go/come/return to a place;
Verb + 到 (dào) — arrive/reach;
Example: 一直走就到了。 (Yīzhí zǒu jiù dào le.) — Walk straight and you'll arrive. - Sequence and turn-taking words
然后 (ránhòu) — then;
再 (zài) — then/after that;
就 (jiù) — then/right away (shows immediacy);
轮到你了 (lúndào nǐ le) — it's your turn. - Short responses and confirmation
好的 (hǎo de) — okay;
对/不对 (duì / bú duì) — correct/not correct;
是吗？/真的吗？ (Shì ma? / Zhēn de ma?) — Really?
Useful sentence templates (fill-in for practice)
- 请问，______ 在哪儿？ (Qǐngwèn, ______ zài nǎr?) — Excuse me, where is ______?
- ______ 怎么走？ (______ zěnme zǒu?) — How do I get to ______?
- 你可以告诉我去 ______ 的路吗？ (Nǐ kěyǐ gàosu wǒ qù ______ de lù ma?) — Can you tell me the way to ______?
- 往前走 ______ 米，然后在第一个路口左转。 (Wǎng qián zǒu ______ mǐ, ránhòu zài dì yīgè lùkǒu zuǒ zhuǎn.)
- 在 ______ 的旁边/对面/右边/左边。 (Zài ______ de pángbiān/duìmiàn/yòubiān/zuǒbiān.)
Short sample dialogues (grammar-focused)
Dialogue A — Asking for bus stop
A: 请问，公车站怎么走？ (Qǐngwèn, gōngchē zhàn zěnme zǒu?)
B: 往前走，第二个路口右转，然后一直走，公车站就在左边。 (Wǎng qián zǒu, dì èrgè lùkǒu yòu zhuǎn, ránhòu yīzhí zǒu, gōngchē zhàn jiù zài zuǒbiān.)
Dialogue B — Asking distance
A: 请问，图书馆离这里远不远？ (Qǐngwèn, túshūguǎn lí zhèlǐ yuǎn bu yuǎn?)
B: 不太远，走路大约十分钟就到了。 (Bù tài yuǎn, zǒulù dàyuē shí fēnzhōng jiù dào le.)
Suggested activities (age 13, Kenyan context)
- Role-play (pairs): Student A is a tourist in Nairobi asking for directions to the market (市场 – shìchǎng), hospital (医院 – yīyuàn), or bus/matatu stage (车站 – chēzhàn / 公交站). Student B uses the sentence templates and directional phrases to respond.
- Fill-in-the-blank worksheet: provide maps (simple sketch) of a street with labelled places. Students write directions using 往、左转、右转、一直走、在…旁边、就到了。
- Question game: Form groups. One student asks with 请问…怎么走？ The group must answer using at least three grammatical markers (e.g., 往 + direction + 然后 + 就 + location).
- Turn-taking practice: Students practice short exchanges adding confirmations and short responses: 好的、对、是吗?, using them naturally in the dialogue.
Practice prompts (write or speak)
- Write 3 questions you can ask to find a police station and give model answers using directional words.
- Record a 1-minute dialogue (or practice live): One student asks for directions to school; the other gives directions using at least two location prepositions and one resultative complement (到 / 就到了).
- Complete the sentence template: 请问，_______ 在哪儿？ Then answer with: 在 ______ 的旁边 / 对面 / 右边。
Grammar checklist for teacher/learner
- Use 吗 for yes/no questions where appropriate.
- Use 怎么/怎么走 for asking ways and A-not-A for confirmations.
- Use 请问 / 可以/能 for polite requests.
- Use 在…旁边/对面/右边/左边/前面/后面 to give locations.
- Use 往/向 + direction, and 左转/右转, 一直走, 然后, 就 to sequence directions.
- Use verb + 到 / 就到了 to show arrival/result.
Note: Focus on practicing the sentence patterns and question forms above. For Kenyan learners, practice with familiar places (school, market, bus stage, hospital, police station) so grammar connects to everyday contexts.