Appointments by Phone, Mandarin Chinese, Novice Low-mid
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 pathwaysprojecct@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)
Appointments by Phone (Novice-Low)
Description:
In this activity, students will practice answer the phone and having a conversation in Chinese, using mannerisms common in Chinese. They will practice trying to make plans with someone over the phone, explaining their schedule, and politely accepting or declining an invitation.
Proficiency Level:
Novice Low
Keywords:
China, real-world practice, greetings, introductions, phone calls, invitations, appointments, hello, Chinese
NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements:
- I can in my own and other cultures answer greetings over the phone
- I can explain when I have available time in my schedule
- I can politely accept or decline invitations
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
- Standard 4.1 - Students demonstrate understanding of the nature of language through comparisons of the Chinese language with their own
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 1.3 - Function appropriately in diverse contexts within the target culture.
- CONN 1.2 - Relate information studied in other subjects to the target language and 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. Phone number exercise- Students will warm up for the main activity by going around the class, introducing themselves to a partner, and then asking for a phone number. Students are welcome to make up names, ages, and phone numbers if they would like.
3. Each student will take a paper and pen, and find a partner in the class. Each student will then ask each other a few basic introduction questions and write down their responses. Students should repeat this process until they have about 5 or so responses, depending on the size of the class.
你叫什么名字？What is your name?
你今年多大了？How old are you?
你的电话号码是多少？What is your phone number?
Main Activity
- Ask students to pair off into partners. With cards facing down so students cannot see the images ask each group to choose a card at random.
- Each pair will then pretend to call one another on the phone to plan to meet to do the activity shown on the card. Students should discuss the time, place, date, who else might be there, or any other information they might find relevant to the activity. There is a slide with suggested prompts on the google slideshow.
- An example of an interaction between students could be:
"喂，你好！我想请你去喝咖啡。星期四七点半好吗？在我们学校的咖啡店好不好？"
"Hello? I would like to invite you out for a coffee. Is Thursday at 7:30 a good time? Does the coffee shop on campus work?"
Encourage students to reject invitations from their partners and give reasons why they are unable to attend. - Rotate partners and/or rotate the cards they pull and practice different scenarios.
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 in my own and other cultures answer greetings over the phone
- I can explain when I have available time in my schedule
- I can politely accept or decline invitations
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...