Asking About Nationality, Mandarin Chinese, Novice Low
Please Note: Many of the activities on the Pathways Project OER Repository were created by upper-division students at Boise State University and serve as a foundation that our community of practice can build upon and refine. While they are polished, we welcome and encourage collaboration from language instructors to help modify grammar, syntax, and content where needed. Kindly contact pathwaysproject@boisestate.edu with any suggestions and we will update the content in a timely manner. — The Pathways Project
About the Boise State World Languages Resource Center (WLRC) Language Activity Repository
The activities provided by the Boise State World Languages Resource Center (WLRC) serve as foundational activities which can be adapted by any language and scaled up or down on the proficiency scale. Many of these activities offer an English Version that is “language-agnostic” to provide language instructors from around the country a platform to remix these instructional materials, infusing them with their target language and culture! The activities within the Pathways Project OER Repository seek to help students solidify their interpersonal speaking and interpretive skills through task-based situations or communicative activities. These activities should be facilitated in the target language for approximately 90% (or more), per the recommendation of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.
How to use the WLRC Repository’s Activities:
1. Use the Activity as is:
Before you begin:
- Most activities are 30 minutes in duration, unless otherwise specified.
- Be sure to read through the activity description, and review the list of required materials. You will notice that the activity materials are also highlighted in yellow throughout the activity instructions.
If you have any suggestions about grammar, syntax, and content, please kindly contact pathwaysproject@boisestate.edu.
2. Remix for Your Language Classroom:
When you are ready to begin remixing the activity, in order to adapt it for the needs of your language classroom, simply click the blue “Remix This Resource” button at the top of your screen. This will then take you to a screen with a NEW, editable version of this activity. The text provided in purple is a suggestion of what you might say to your students in the target language, and may be altered for different levels and age groups. All activities have “NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do” statements, a warm-up, a main activity, and a wrap-up.
Many of the activities include printable cards and other instructional materials such as Google Slideshows. If you would like to make changes to these materials for your classroom, follow the instructions below:
- Google Slideshows:
- To begin, go to File -> Copy to create an editable version of the slideshow.
- Once finished with your changes, please complete the following steps to share:
- Click on Share
- Who Has Access
- Ensure link sharing is on and allow external access.
- Materials Saved as PDF: Please email pathwaysproject@boisestate.edu and we will provide you with an editable copy. Please allow up to two business days for a response. For YouTube videos and other websites, hyperlinks are provided.
3. Adapt for Another Language:
- See the linked English Version at the top of the activity (English Version may not be available for all activities)
Asking About Nationality (Novice-Low)
Description:
In this activity, students will practice asking someone they meet where they are from and their nationality. Students will start by asking each other what country they are from, and then each student will be given a country card at random. Students will then practice asking and answering questions about various nationalities.
Keywords:
China, real-world practice, greetings, introductions, nationalities, meeting new people, hello, Chinese
NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements:
- I can identify the names of several countries and nationalities
- I can say where I am from and ask someone where they are from
- I can decide if a statement is right/wrong and provide a simple answer
NCSSFL-ACTFL World-Readiness Standards
- Standard 1.1 - Students engage in conversations, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions in Chinese
- Standard 1.2 :Students understand and interpret written and spoken language on a variety of topics in Chinese.
- Standard 2.1 - Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the practices and perspectives of the cultures of the Chinese-speaking world
Idaho State World Language Standards:
- COMM 1.1 - Interact and negotiate meaning (spoken, signed, written conversation) to share information, reactions, feelings, and opinions
- COMM 2.1 - Understand, interpret, and analyze what is heard, read, or viewed on a variety of topics.
- CLTR 1.1 - Analyze the cultural practices/patterns of behavior accepted as the societal norm in the target culture.
- COMP 1.1 - Observe formal and informal forms of language.
- COMP 2.2 - Compare and contrast appropriate gestures and oral expressions in the target culture with the learner’s culture.
Materials Needed:
iPad or Computer (projector)
Warm-up
1. Begin by introducing the Can-Dos for today’s activity and spend some time to review appearances.
2. Introduce the Google Slide presentation introducing how to ask someone about their nationality
- Students will be introduced to the correct way of how to ask someone their nationality by being introduced to some public figures from Chinese and English speaking countries
Main Activity
- Students will begin by asking each other what country and state they are from. Starting with the lab instructor, turn to a student
“我是美国人。 我也是 （state）人。你呢？你是哪国人？”
"I am American. I am from (state). How about you? What country are you from?" - Go around the group, making sure everyone is able to answer with “我是（country and state）人。 你呢？” "I am from (country and state). How about you?" be sure to include the state they are from.
- After everyone has answered, put the country cards out on a table and scramble them up. Depending on size of lab group, remove a few of the cards in order to force duplicates. Ask everyone to choose a card.
- Everyone looks at their cards, and then go around the group and state what countries everyone is from based on the card they chose. Do this in the question-answer format from the first step. Pick someone at random to use as an example and ask group “ NAME 是哪国人？” "NAME is from which country?"going around the group a few times to make sure students are paying attention. If you have several students who said they are from the same countries, ask something like “谁也是美国人？" "Who is also American?" or “BLANK 是中国人吗？” "Is BLANK from China?" Repeat as many times as you'd like.
Wrap-up:
- Review how to ask someone where they are from
- Explain the "Spoken Mandarin Chinese fun facts" from the last slide of the presentation to help show culture.
End of lab:
• Read Can-Do statements once more and have students evaluate their confidence.
(Use thumbs up/thumbs down or download our student cards.)
• Encourage students to be honest in their self-evaluation.
• Pay attention, and try to use feedback for future labs!
NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements:
- I can identify the names of several countries and nationalities
- I can say where I am from and ask someone where they are from
- I can decide if a statement is right/wrong and provide a simple answer
Where are we? Rate yourself on the weekly Can-Do Statements using this scale: I get it!, I got it!, I kind of get it..., I don't get it...