Traditions and Customs of the Chinese New Year

G. WangJessica HungW. Zhang

2014 Startalk/NHLRC Heritage Teacher WorkshopUCLA, CAJuly 23-27, 2014

Student ProfileGrade Level – 9~12 HLL – both HLL(B) & HLL (N)L2

Language proficiency:Interpersonal speaking – Intermediate LowInterpretive reading – Novice HighPresentational writing – Novice High

Significant exposure to the language in the community- signs, newspaper, commercials, TV shows, and members in senior community center.

Other information about HLL:

Areas of need in HLL1. Presentational Skill2. Formal language3. Writing 4. Connection to the community5. Understanding of the heritage root

Theme: Customs of Chinese New Year

Content Objective: Tap into community resources to learn more about the customs (dos & don'ts) for Chinese New Year

Language Objectives:

1. Understand use of homophones in Chinese New Year celebration.

2. Properly use conjunctions 要不然 (otherwise) & 要是／假如 … 就 （ If…, then)

Resources

• http://finance.takungpao.com.hk/hgjj/q/2013/0208/1273581_7.html

- http://chitchat.hk/cny-whats-all-about/?lang=zh

- - http://finance.takungpao.com.hk/hgjj/q/2013/0208/1273581_7.html

Community resources• Festival event• TV shows• Newspaper• Elderly members in community centers

Unit Plan Day 1 :- Check for prior knowledge (KWL)- Reading authentic material- Highlight known vocabulary- Underline unknown vocabulary and use vocabulary rubric to teach vocab in context- Re-read the passage and practice text-to self connection

Homework: Provide a glossary of key vocabulary and assign homework to use new vocabulary to write sentences about their experience of New Year celebration.

Day 2: 1. Green/red cards to check understanding of

the key points of the reading2. Teach sentence structures 要不然

(otherwise) , 假如 ... 就 (If.., then) by pulling out sentences from the reading

3. Use sentence starter to practice structures. Ex. 假如你年初一掃地 , 你就 ....

4. Complete tasks in three stations to categorize food, activities and rationales, including homophones when applicable.

5. Tier activities to visit the reading for the 3rd time.• reduce the text • change the genre • orally summarize the text

Day 2 Homework: Write down 5 interview questions to gain information about the customs for Chinese New Year

Day 3: Formative assessment:Ss share their interview questions in pairs. They will also check the character writing and the use of grammar for their partner.

Preparing for the interview: - teachers elicit from Ss and create a list of questions - talk about interview etiquette: how to address people, the use of honorifics - conduct practice interview in class - whole class interview one person

Mixed tasks: Students will be paired with mixed abilities in pairs for the interview. (Tasks that require oral output & character writing)

Summative Assessment:

Using the interview information, students will present their finding with an essay, oral presentation, or role play/video.

Presentation needs to include things Chinese people eat, do or cannot do and the related homophones.