Episodes

  • PC014 Rehearsal_Asking and stating destinations

    PC014 Rehearsal_Asking and stating destinations
    Jul 20 2022
    In this episode, we rehearse three acts. Act 1 On the street, you come across your Chinese friend whom you meet on a regular basis. Friend: 欸，小波。你去哪儿啊？(āi, Xiǎobō 。Nǐ qù nǎér a ？) Me: 我去办一点事。你呢？(Wǒ qù bàn yīdiǎn shì 。Nǐ ne ？) Act 2 Class is over. Ask your classmate where she is going to see whether you are heading in the same direction. Me: 你去哪儿啊？(Nǐ qù nǎér a ？) Classmate:我去____(Wǒ qù____)。 Act 3 State that you are going to the same destination: 我也去____(Wǒ yě qù ____)。
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    5 mins
  • PC014 Where are you going?

    PC014 Where are you going?
    Jul 20 2022
    Have you ever heard your friends complain that their Chinese neighbors in China were "nosy" because they liked to ask about destinations when coming across each other in the neighborhood? Well, the Chinese neighbor doesn’t really expect you to tell them your destination. But why do they ask? Listen to this episode to find out the reason. You will learn to respond to the question in different contexts. You will also learn to state some common destinations on campus.
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    13 mins
  • PC013 Rehearsal_Meeting a friend at Starbucks

    PC013 Rehearsal_Meeting a friend at Starbucks
    Jul 19 2022
    This episode helps you rehearse three acts. Act 1 Respond to what you hear in Chinese as quickly as you can as if you are in a conversation. After the pause, you will hear a sample response provided by your classmate. Act 2 You are at a Starbucks in Beijing, waiting for your friend Lili whom you have not met for a while. You would like to buy her a coffee in return for her helping you get settled. Now, Lili comes, about 20 minutes late. Act 3 Now you are at the counter and it's your turn to order. You decide to have the same drink as Lili, so you order two of the drink Lili ordered.
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    7 mins
  • PC013 Review 2: Meeting a friend at Starbucks

    PC013 Review 2: Meeting a friend at Starbucks
    Jul 19 2022
    In this episode, we go over the things you learned to do in Chinese so far. Below is a list of the things you have learned. As you listen, check off the ones that you can immediately recall. 1. Excitedly greet a friend you have not seen for a while: _________ 2. Ask the friend how she has been recently:_________ 3. State that you have been quite busy: _________ 4. State that your spouse been the same as before: _________ 5. Ask what she wants to drink: _________ 6. State that you want a coffee: _________ 7. Ask your friend whether they want a large cup or a small one: _________ 8. State that you want a hot Americano: _________ 9. Ask your friend how their studies have been going: _________ 10. State that your studies have been alright, not too busy:_________ 11. Ask your friend whether they find Chinese difficult: _________ 12. State that you find Chinese a little difficult: _________ 13. Ask your friend whether they have cats: _________ 14. Ask them how many cats they have:_________ 15. State that you don't have cats but you have dogs: _________ 16. State that your parents have been too tired: _________ 17. Ask your friend if they have any younger siblings: 18. State that you do not have younger siblings but you have an elder sister: _________
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    7 mins
  • PC012 Rehearsal_ordering drinks

    PC012 Rehearsal_ordering drinks
    Jul 16 2022
    Supplementary vocab: 1. Latte (拿铁/nátiě) 2. Cappuccino (卡普奇诺/kǎpǔqínuò) 3. Mocha (摩卡/mókǎ). 4. Macchiato (玛奇朵/ mǎqíduǒ). In this episode, we rehearse five acts. Act 1 Order the same drink your friend orders: 我也要…… (Wǒ yě yào ……)。 Act 2 Correct the barista by saying that you are ordering one more cup. Barista: 您要一杯拿铁，是吗 (Nín yào yì bēi nátiě, shì ma)？ Me: 不是，我要两杯拿铁 (Bú shì, wǒ yào liǎng bēi ná tiě)。 Act 3 Correct the barista by saying that you ordered the opposite size. Barista: 您要一个大杯星冰乐，是吗 (Nín yào yígè dàbēi xīngbīnglè，shì ma )？ Me: 不是，我要一个小杯星冰乐 (Bú shì，wǒ yào yígè xiǎobēi xīngbīnglè)。 Act 4 Take the order: 喝什么 (Hē shénme)? and ask your customer whether they want a large one or a small one: 大杯的，还是小杯的 (Dàbēi de, háishì xiǎobēi de)？ Act 5 Ask your customer whether they want the hot version or the iced version: 热的，还是冰的 (Rè de, háishì bīng de)？
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    9 mins
  • PC012 Ordering at Starbucks

    PC012 Ordering at Starbucks
    Jul 16 2022
    Ordering drinks in Chinese is easy as long as you know how to say the item you want to order. In this episode, you will learn to say some of the items on Starbucks' menu. Don't worry about memorizing all the menu items now; just try to remember what you like to order. 1. coffee (咖啡/kāfēi) 2. Americano (美式咖啡/Měishì kāfēi) 3. green tea (绿茶/lǜ chá） 4. black tea (红茶/hóng chá) 5. Frappuccino (星冰乐/xīng bīng lè) 6. large (大杯/dà bēi)；medium(中杯/zhōng bēi)；small (小杯/xiǎo bēi) 7. hot (热的/rè de); iced (冰的/bīng de)
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    11 mins
  • PC011 Rehearsal_Responding to embarrassing comments

    PC011 Rehearsal_Responding to embarrassing comments
    Jul 15 2022
    In this episode, we rehearse three acts. Act 1 Your Chinese friend comments on your weight. Respond to her comment by redirecting the topic: Friend: 好久不见了！你胖了一点。(Hǎojiǔ bú jiàn le ！ nǐ pàng le yìdiǎn 。) Me: 是吗？你最近怎么样啊？(Shì ma? Nǐ zuìjìn zěnmeyàng a?) Act 2 Explain that your work or study has kept you too busy or exhausted: 哎呀，我工作太忙了（āiya, wǒ gōngzuò tài máng le ）。哎呀，我学习太累了( āiya, wǒ xuéxí tài lèi le 。)。 Act 3 Your friend makes an assumption about your situation. Confirm their assumption but downgrade itto not worry her. Friend: 你工作挺忙的吧(Nǐ gōngzuò hěn máng ba) ？ Me: 嗯，有一点忙(En, yǒuyìdiǎn máng)。
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    5 mins
  • PC011 Oh, you've put on weight!

    PC011 Oh, you've put on weight!
    Jul 15 2022
    In China, it’s natural to comment on someone’s appearance in a direct way, but you might find it embarrassing. In this episode, you will learn ways to respond to such embarrassing comments.
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    11 mins