Grade 7 Mandarin Chinese MY SURROUNDINGS - Listening and Speaking – Oral Expression Notes
Mandarin Chinese — MY SURROUNDINGS: Oral Expression (Age 12, Kenya)
- a) Identify familiar and unfamiliar words in a variety of contexts.
- b) Express views and opinions using acquired vocabulary.
- c) Appreciate the importance of using appropriate words for effective communication.
Grammar focus for Oral Expression
- Basic word order (SVO): Subject + Verb + Object. Example: 我喜欢水果。 (Wǒ xǐhuān shuǐguǒ.) — I like fruit.
- Yes/no questions with particle 吗 (ma): 你喜欢吗？(Nǐ xǐhuān ma?) — Do you like it?
- Open questions: 什么 (shénme), 谁 (shéi), 在哪儿/哪里 (zài nǎr / nǎlǐ), 怎么样 (zěnmeyàng).
- Opinion phrases: 我觉得 (wǒ juéde), 我认为 (wǒ rènwéi), 我觉得...因为... (because = yīnwèi)
- Degree words: 很 (hěn), 非常 (fēicháng), 有一点儿 (yǒu yìdiǎnr), 比较 (bǐjiào)
- Negation: 不 (bù) for general verbs/adjectives; 没 (méi) for past actions/possession.
- Modal verbs: 要 (yào) want, 想 (xiǎng) think/want, 能 (néng) can/able, 会 (huì) can/skill.
- Question strategies when a word is unfamiliar: 请问这是什么意思？(Qǐngwèn zhè shì shénme yìsi?) — May I ask what this means?
- Politeness: 请 (qǐng), 请问 (qǐngwèn), 谢谢 (xièxie), 对不起 (duìbuqǐ), 您 (nín) formal "you".
Useful vocabulary — My surroundings (characters / pinyin / English)
学校 xuéxiào — school
市场 shìchǎng — market
家 jiā — home
街道 jiēdào — street
公园 gōngyuán — park
老师 lǎoshī — teacher
同学 tóngxué — classmate
家人 jiārén — family
小贩 xiǎofàn — vendor (market seller)
水果 shuǐguǒ — fruit
蔬菜 shūcài — vegetables
天气 tiānqì — weather
猫 māo / 狗 gǒu — cat / dog
牛 niú / 鸡 jī — cow / chicken
How to identify unfamiliar words (oral strategies)
- Ask politely: 请问，这个词是什么意思？(Qǐngwèn, zhège cí shì shénme yìsi?) — Please, what does this word mean?
- Ask for repetition: 可以再说一遍吗？(Kěyǐ zài shuō yí biàn ma?) — Can you say it again?
- Ask for a simpler word or example: 能不能用简单的词解释？(Néng bu néng yòng jiǎndān de cí jiěshì?)
- Use context: Listen to nearby words to guess meaning (e.g., 水果/苹果 suggests the word is a fruit).
- Confirm meaning with yes/no question: 这是苹果吗？(Zhè shì píngguǒ ma?) — Is this an apple?
Model dialogues (grammar highlighted)
Vendor — 小贩, Student — 学生
小贩：这些苹果很好，很甜。 (Zhèxiē píngguǒ hěn hǎo, hěn tián.) — These apples are good, very sweet.
学生：请问，这个多少钱？(Qǐngwèn, zhège duōshǎo qián?) — How much is this?
小贩：每斤十块。 (Měi jīn shí kuài.) — Ten per jin.
学生：我觉得有点儿贵。 (Wǒ juéde yǒu yìdiǎnr guì.) — I think it's a bit expensive.
Grammar notes: 我觉得 + opinion. 很 / 有一点儿 show degree. Use 请问 for polite questions.
学生A：老师，这个词怎么说？(Lǎoshī, zhège cí zěnme shuō?) — Teacher, how do you say this word?
老师：这个叫“蔬菜”。(Zhège jiào "shūcài".) — This is called "shūcài" (vegetables).
学生A：我不太懂，能再解释吗？(Wǒ bù tài dǒng, néng zài jiěshì ma?) — I don't quite understand, can you explain again?
老师：蔬菜就是你吃的青菜、番茄等。 (Shūcài jiùshì nǐ chī de qīngcài, fānqié děng.) — Vegetables are things like greens and tomatoes.
Grammar notes: 怎么说 asks how to say. 我不太懂 softens the statement. 就是 clarifies definition.
同学A：你家附近的公园怎么样？(Nǐ jiā fùjìn de gōngyuán zěnmeyàng?) — How is the park near your home?
同学B：公园很漂亮，很安静。我喜欢在那里运动。 (Gōngyuán hěn piàoliang, hěn ānjìng. Wǒ xǐhuān zài nàlǐ yùndòng.) — The park is beautiful and quiet. I like exercising there.
Grammar notes: 怎么样 to ask for opinion/state. 我喜欢 + verb to say preference.
Suggested oral practice activities (fit to Kenyan context)
- Roleplay: Market bargaining. Student A is a 小贩, Student B is a customer. Use: 请问，这个多少钱？ 我觉得... 有一点儿贵。 Practice polite phrases and opinions.
- Guess-and-ask: Teacher shows pictures (fruit, cow, chicken, classroom). Students say what they know; if unknown, ask 请问这是什么意思？ or 这个怎么说？
- Opinion circle: Each student answers: 你觉得学校食堂的饭怎么样？(Nǐ juéde xuéxiào shítáng de fàn zěnmeyàng?) — Use 我觉得 / 我认为 and give a reason with 因为.
- Guided interview: Pair students; ask about family and neighborhood. Use questions: 你家有几口人？家里有宠物吗？(How many people in your family? Do you have pets?)
- Intensity drills: Practice adjectives with 很, 非常, 有一点儿. Teacher gives an object; students respond quickly: 热 (hot) → 很热 / 有一点儿热.
Assessment (oral)
- Ask each learner to respond to 3 prompts (market / classroom / neighborhood) using: a short question if they don't know a word, one opinion sentence (我觉得...), and one polite phrase.
- Mark: correct use of particles (吗, 呢), opinion phrase structure, degree words, and politeness (请, 谢谢).
Teacher tips
- Model full sentences first (Chinese characters + pinyin + English) then ask students to repeat.
- Encourage learners to ask if they don’t know a word: praise the question (e.g., “请问，这是什么意思？”) — this meets outcome (a).
- Correct gently: focus on using the correct opinion structure (我觉得...) rather than perfect tones at first.
- Use real Kenyan contexts (market, school canteen, home compound animals) to make vocabulary memorable.
- 请问，这个词怎么说？(Qǐngwèn, zhège cí zěnme shuō?) — How do you say this word?
- 请问，这是什么意思？(Qǐngwèn, zhè shì shénme yìsi?) — What does this mean?
- 我觉得...(因为...)。(Wǒ juéde... (yīnwèi...)) — I think... (because...)
- 你觉得怎么样？(Nǐ juéde zěnmeyàng?) — What do you think?
- 这是...吗？(Zhè shì... ma?) — Is this ... ?
End of notes — use dialogue practice and roleplays to achieve the three specific outcomes: identify unknown words, express opinions with learned grammar, and practise choosing polite/appropriate words for effective communication.