Lotus Chinese
Summer Learning (Chines Level 1)
1. Building up your vocabulary with the Duolingo app.
This is a free app. Download Duolingo on your cell phone or computer, and set aside 10 minutes a day for Chinese. Duolingo is good for fundamentals, helping students recognize words and read basic phrases.
2. Learn authentic Chinese by watching Chinese film clips
3. Learn Chinese through songs
One of the most fun ways to learn and practice your Mandarin Chinese is by learning Chinese songs! Choose one of the following songs and learn to sing in the summer.
1.) "Sorry, my Chinese is not good"
It is sung by The Transition Band from America. The melody is good and the lyric is simple to sing. https://youtu.be/2XTBwvi0h2E?si=n-_URQUTREim31RT
2.) Chinese Song: A Jasmine Flower
Jasmine flowers are beloved flowers in China. It is not only the look of the flowers but also their fragrance that thrill Chinese people. There is a famous folk song in China -A Jasmine Flower. It has gained popularity in China and abroad. It dates back to the Qing dynasty.
https://youtu.be/ItPX_lJjyPE?si=TkdYwA2kc3BNZXwe
3.) Chinese Song: Where are my friends
https://youtu.be/QpuBkpUr2fQ?si=YXFuXQgqSPRWkGki
4. Watch Videos to help you understand Chinese culture
1.) "Hello China"
This is a very popular video series that can be used in language classes. Each video is available on YouTube and includes information about an aspect of Chinese culture and history, plus a Chinese character to learn to write. Cultural Topics include China, the Great Wall, Music, Dance, Confucius, calligraphy, Chinese painting, Chinese opera, masks, inventions, printing, gunpowder, paper, compass, and much more.
Hello China video series - YouTube
2.) Movie: Monkey King: Hero is back
This movie is based on one of the Four Classical Novels of Chinese literature- Journey to the West.
Summer Learning (Chinese Level 2)
1. Continue to Build up your vocabulary with the Duolingo app.
2. Continue to learn authentic Chinese by watching Chinese film clips
3. Learn Chinese through songs
Choose one of the following songs and learn to sing in the summer
1.) The Moon represents my heart.
https://youtu.be/iF2T3ljmESs?si=MvUSm14ng5jqndYl
2.) Friends.
https://youtu.be/dBL6EGD4-uE?si=1ZjIlRDEKVs3YlBS
3.) xué māo jiào 学猫叫 Learn to Meow.
https://youtu.be/MAMjOhxj4E4?si=jYjGS3wfzaiZIaZu
4. Learn Chinese through TV Dramas
家有儿女(Home with kids) Season 1.
《家有儿女》第一季 Home With Kids Season 1【超清1080P完整版】 - YouTube
I recommend this drama because
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this drama is about the life of a modern family in Beijing in the 2000s, so you can use the words and expressions from this drama.
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There are a pair of parents and three kids in this family, so they will cover the most common topics about our daily lives. Also, because there are kids in this family, they will use words and expressions which are easy to be understood by kids.
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The characters in this drama speak relatively slowly and clearly because there are kids in the family.
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You have a lot of episodes to watch in this drama. There are four seasons for this drama. For Season 1, 2, and 3, each has 100 episodes. Season 4 has 67 episodes.
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For students under Chinese level 3, you probably can’t understand a lot, but you can open the English subtitles.
Thus, I highly recommend the 家有儿女 (Home with kids) for you to learn the colloquial Chinese.
5. Continue to Watch the Video series "Hello China" to help you understand Chinese culture.
"Hello China"Hello China is a selection of 100 short videos that focus on words that represent the essence of traditional Chinese culture, reflect its extensive and profound nature from different angles, and help people overseas better understand China and Chinese culture.
Hello China video series - YouTube