Grade 7 Mandarin Chinese GETTING AROUND - Writing – Guided Writing Notes
Guided Writing — GETTING AROUND (Writing)
Subject: Mandarin Chinese — Target age: 12 (Kenya). Focus: grammar for writing short, clear texts about getting around (directions, transport, places).
Specific learning outcomes
- Enumerate key words and phrases in varied contexts (bus stop, market, school).
- Compose simple texts logically and coherently using correct Mandarin grammar.
- Enjoy writing clearly and neatly: use sentence frames and check grammar before final copy.
1. Useful keywords & short phrases (characters + pinyin + meaning)
- 公交车站 / 公車站 — gōngjiāo chē zhàn — bus stop
- 小巴 / minibus — xiǎo bā — matatu / mini-bus (Kenyan context: “matatu”)
- 市场 — shìchǎng — market
- 学校 — xuéxiào — school
- 怎么走？— zěnme zǒu? — How do I get there? / How to walk?
- 请问…? — qǐngwèn... — Excuse me / May I ask…?
- 左转 / 右转 — zuǒ zhuǎn / yòu zhuǎn — turn left / turn right
- 一直走 — yìzhí zǒu — go straight
- 在…旁边 — zài... pángbiān — next to
- 在…前面 / 后面 — zài... qiánmiàn / hòumiàn — in front of / behind
- 第一个 / 第二个路口 — dì yī gè / dì èr gè lùkǒu — the 1st / 2nd junction
- 站 — zhàn — stop (bus stop); 站点 — zhàndiǎn — stop/site
- 去 / 来 — qù / lái — go / come
- 能 / 可以 — néng / kěyǐ — can (ability / permission)
- 请 — qǐng — please (polite request)
2. Key grammar points (short explanations and examples)
- Basic word order: S + V + O
Example: 我去市场。Wǒ qù shìchǎng. (I go to the market.)
- Location phrases use 在 + place
Example: 公交车站在学校旁边。Gōngjiāo chē zhàn zài xuéxiào pángbiān. (The bus stop is next to the school.)
- Direction verbs / complements
Use verbs like 走, 转 with complements: 走 + direction, 转 + left/right. Example: 你一直走，然后左转。Nǐ yìzhí zǒu, ránhòu zuǒ zhuǎn. (You go straight, then turn left.)
- Sequence connectors for clear steps
Use: 先 ... 然后 ... 最后 ... Example: 先一直走，然后右转，最后看到市场。Xiān yìzhí zǒu, ránhòu yòu zhuǎn, zuìhòu kàn dào shìchǎng.
- Questions: 怎么走？/ 在哪里？
Example: 请问市场怎么走？Qǐngwèn shìchǎng zěnme zǒu? (Excuse me, how do I get to the market?)
- Use of 能 / 可以 to ask for help or permission
Example: 我可以问路吗？Wǒ kěyǐ wèn lù ma? (May I ask for directions?)
- Time & number grammar (for schedules / stops)
Example: 在第二个站下车。Zài dì èr gè zhàn xià chē. (Get off at the second stop.)
- Negation
Use 不 for habitual/ability negation, 没 for past. Example: 不要走这条路。Bù yào zǒu zhè tiáo lù. (Don't take this road.)
3. Model short texts (with grammar notes)
Dialogue — Asking for directions
A: 请问，学校怎么走？(Qǐngwèn, xuéxiào zěnme zǒu?)
B: 你一直走，到第一个路口左转，学校就在左边。(Nǐ yìzhí zǒu, dào dì yī gè lùkǒu zuǒ zhuǎn, xuéxiào jiù zài zuǒbiān.)
B: 你一直走，到第一个路口左转，学校就在左边。(Nǐ yìzhí zǒu, dào dì yī gè lùkǒu zuǒ zhuǎn, xuéxiào jiù zài zuǒbiān.)
Grammar notes: question word 怎么走 + sequence (一直走 → 到 + place → 转). Place phrase 在 + side (左边).
Short notice / message (to a friend)
我今天下午去市场。先坐小巴到市中心，然后走十分钟就到了。(Wǒ jīntiān xiàwǔ qù shìchǎng. Xiān zuò xiǎo bā dào shì zhōngxīn, ránhòu zǒu shí fēnzhōng jiù dào le.)
我今天下午去市场。先坐小巴到市中心，然后走十分钟就到了。(Wǒ jīntiān xiàwǔ qù shìchǎng. Xiān zuò xiǎo bā dào shì zhōngxīn, ránhòu zǒu shí fēnzhōng jiù dào le.)
Grammar notes: Time phrase (今天下午) at start, sequence 先…然后…, duration with 点钟/分钟.
4. Guided writing steps & sentence frames (use these to draft)
- Step 1 — Brainstorm keywords: list 6 places/words in Chinese (use vocabulary above).
- Step 2 — Choose a purpose: ask for directions / write a message / give directions.
- Step 3 — Use sentence frames to build 3–6 sentences (draft):
- Step 4 — Check grammar: correct word order, correct 在 + place, use of connectors (先/然后/最后).
- Step 5 — Copy final neat version (check punctuation and spacing of characters / pinyin if required).
- 请问，_____ 怎么走？ (Qǐngwèn, _____ zěnme zǒu?)
- 先 _____，然后 _____，最后 _____。
- 在 _____ 旁边 / 前面 / 后面。
- 在第 _____ 个站下车。
- 我可以坐 _____ 吗？ (Wǒ kěyǐ zuò _____ ma?)
- 先 _____，然后 _____，最后 _____。
- 在 _____ 旁边 / 前面 / 后面。
- 在第 _____ 个站下车。
- 我可以坐 _____ 吗？ (Wǒ kěyǐ zuò _____ ma?)
5. Classroom activities (suggested experiences — fit Kenyan context)
- Role-play (Ask & Give directions) — Pairs: one is a visitor at the matatu stage; the other gives directions to the market or school using 3–5 sentences. Emphasize correct sequence words and location phrases.
- Map-writing task — Provide a simple map of a Kenyan town (drawn by teacher). Students write 4 sentences in Chinese describing how to go from school to market. Use 在, 左转/右转, 第N个路口.
- Short message — Write a 3–5 sentence note to a friend: "I will meet you at the bus stop at 3pm. Go straight, then turn right..." Include time, place, and sequence grammar.
6. Practice exercises (with quick answers)
Exercise A — Fill in: 请问，市场_____走？ (Expected: 怎么走)
Exercise B — Order the steps to go to school: 左转 / 你一直走 / 到第一个路口 → Correct order: 你一直走 → 到第一个路口 → 左转.
Exercise C — Translate simple sentence: "Get off at the third stop." → 在第三个站下车。
Exercise B — Order the steps to go to school: 左转 / 你一直走 / 到第一个路口 → Correct order: 你一直走 → 到第一个路口 → 左转.
Exercise C — Translate simple sentence: "Get off at the third stop." → 在第三个站下车。
7. Self-assessment / teacher checklist
- Does the text use 在 correctly with place names?
- Are sequence words used (先/然后/最后) to show clear steps?
- Are direction verbs (走, 转) and complements correct?
- Is the writing neat and readable? (final copy)
- Does the student include at least 4 keywords from the list?
Tip: Encourage students to write first in pinyin to plan grammar, then convert to Chinese characters for the final copy. Use the sentence frames above to keep writing logical and coherent. 🗺️🚌