review & speak
You made the effort of going through the story — this is what makes it stick before the next one washes it out: engage with the words and patterns, then produce them out loud.
Beginner · en→zh
1 · Vocabulary — the story's new words
The words this story used that are new at its level, sorted by meaning (Ctrl/Cmd+F to search). Save any of them to your word list — 20 new words here.
2 · Grammar — patterns from the story
superlative — 最 + Adj. (the most)最 + Adj.
Zhège «zuì» tián.
这个«最»甜。
This one is the sweetest.
time — …以前 (before …)[time/action] + 以前
Chī fàn «yǐqián» xǐ shǒu.
吃饭«以前»洗手。
Wash your hands before eating.
aspect — completed action (verb-suffix 了)V + 了
Wǒ qù «le» shìchǎng.
我去«了»市场。
I went to the market.
modifier link — 的 joins a modifier to a nounModifier + 的 + Noun
jiā fùjìn «de» shìchǎng
家附近«的»市场。
the market near home
word order — time word precedes the verbSubj. + Time + V
Wǒ «jīntiān» qù shìchǎng.
我«今天»去市场。
I'm going to the market today.
adverb — 也 (also, too)Subj. + 也 + V
Wǒ «yě» xǐhuan chá.
我«也»喜欢茶。
I like tea too.
comparison — A 比 B + Adj.A + 比 + B + Adj.
Jīntiān «bǐ» zuótiān rè.
今天«比»昨天热。
Today is hotter than yesterday.
verb — 喜欢 + V/N (to like)喜欢 + V / Noun
Wǒ «xǐhuan» zhège shìchǎng.
我«喜欢»这个市场。
I like this market.
verb/prep — 给 (give; do for someone)给 + person + (thing / V)
Wǒ «gěi» nǐ mǎi kāfēi.
我«给»你买咖啡。
I'll buy you a coffee.
possession / existence — 有 (to have, there is)Subj./Place + 有 + Noun
Shìchǎng lǐ «yǒu» hěn duō rén.
市场里«有»很多人。
There are a lot of people at the market.
adjectival predicate — 很 + Adj (no 是 with adjectives)Subj. + 很 + Adj.
Jīntiān «hěn» rè.
今天«很»热。
It's hot today.
3 · Practice A — build your own sentence
Use each pattern on your own life. Say it out loud, then peek at one valid version.
最 + Adj.
Say which holiday is the most important.
[time/action] + 以前
Say what you do before the festival.
V + 了
Say you bought a lot of things.
A + 比 + B + Adj.
Compare dumplings and rice.
给 + person + thing
Say who gives the children red envelopes.
Place + 有 + Noun
Say what is inside a red envelope.
4 · Practice B — translate, then check
Your language → the language you're learning, using the story's words and patterns.
5 · The speech — say it out loud
A ~1-minute speech, not a monologue — the arc (open → explain → example → opinion → contrast → close) is what makes it sound human. Study the one help bank first; then pick an angle and say each line in the language you're learning, out loud — no cues next to the lines on purpose. ✨ = new for these speeches; everything else is review from the story.
help bank · key vocabulary
help bank · connectors — the glue, in talk order
help bank · grammar patterns
THE MOST✨最 + Adj.
春节是最重要的节日。— The Spring Festival is the most important holiday.
BEFORE (a time / action)✨[time/action] + 以前
春节以前，我们打扫房间。— Before the Spring Festival, we clean the rooms.
DID (completed)✨V + 了
我们买了很多东西。— We bought a lot of things.
TIME COMES BEFORE THE VERBSubj. + Time + V
晚上，全家一起吃年夜饭。— In the evening, the whole family eats dinner together.
A IS TASTIER THAN B✨A + 比 + B + Adj.
饺子比米饭好吃。— Dumplings are tastier than rice.
GIVE TO SOMEONE✨给 + person + thing
大人给孩子红包。— Adults give children red envelopes.
THERE IS / HAVEPlace + 有 + Noun
红包里有钱。— There is money inside the red envelope.
now perform it — pick an angle · all 5 use the one bank above, no new words
Your own family's Spring Festival — what you do at New Year.
the speech — say each line in the language you're learning
① Open — say what your topic is
1.Today I want to talk about the Spring Festival.
2.The Spring Festival is China's most important holiday.
② Explain — what you do
3.Before the festival, we clean the house.
4.We also buy a lot of things.
③ Example — New Year's Eve dinner
5.In the evening, the whole family eats together.
6.We eat fish, and we also eat dumplings.
④ My opinion — why it is good
7.I think the Spring Festival is very lively.
8.The whole family is together.
⑤ But — the other side
9.But before the festival we are very busy.
10.There is a lot to do.
⑥ Close — a question + wrap-up
11.So, do you like the Spring Festival?
12.Thank you, everyone!
⚠ stuck? model answers — try first, peek last