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 — 11 new words here.
2 · Grammar — patterns from the story
location — 在 + Place (to be at)Subj. + 在 + Place
Tā «zài» shìchǎng.
他«在»市场。
He is 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.
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.
cause (split) — 因为…所以 (because … so)因为 + reason，所以 + result
«Yīnwèi» xià yǔ, «suǒyǐ» wǒ méi qù.
«因为»下雨，«所以»我没去。
Because it rained, I didn't go.
3 · Practice A — build your own sentence
Use each pattern on your own life. Say it out loud, then peek at one valid version.
在 + Place
Say where a famous place is.
很 + Adj.
Say a place is famous.
有 + Noun
Say a place has a long history.
因为…所以
Give a reason and its result.
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
AT (a place)Subj. + 在 + Place
故宫在北京。— The Forbidden City is in Beijing.
DESCRIBING WITH AN ADJECTIVESubj. + 很 + Adj.
故宫很有名。— The Forbidden City is very famous.
HAVE / THERE ISSubj./Place + 有 + Noun
故宫有很长的历史。— The Forbidden City has a long history.
BECAUSE … SO因为 + reason，所以 + result
因为故宫很有名，所以游客很多。— Because the Forbidden City is famous, there are many tourists.
now perform it — pick an angle · all 5 use the one bank above, no new words
Describe a visit to the Forbidden City.
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 Forbidden City.
2.The Forbidden City is in Beijing.
② Explain — what it is
3.The Forbidden City is very famous.
4.It has a very long history.
③ Example — the past
5.For example, in the past emperors lived here.
6.Now it is a place for tourists.
④ My opinion — why it is good
7.I think the Forbidden City is very beautiful.
8.There are a lot of things to see.
⑤ But — the other side
9.But because it is famous, there are many tourists.
10.So you have to go early.
⑥ Close — a question + wrap-up
11.So, do you want to see the Forbidden City?
12.Thank you, everyone!
⚠ stuck? model answers — try first, peek last