陪孩子成长的艺术
The Art of Guiding Children
StartA Piano Lesson
During winter break, Chen An helps at a children's activity centre and talks with Su Le and Ms. Mei about encouragement.
5 new words
弹钢琴tán gāngqínto play the piano
我父亲带着陈明远的孙子学弹钢琴，我去帮忙整理乐谱。
My father is taking Chen Mingyuan's grandson to learn piano, and I am helping organise the music.
棒bàngexcellent, great
你刚才弹完那一段，孩子们都说真棒。
After you played that section just now, all the children said you were great.
孙子sūnzigrandson
我父亲带着陈明远的孙子学弹钢琴，我去帮忙整理乐谱。
My father is taking Chen Mingyuan's grandson to learn piano, and I am helping organise the music.
寒假hánjiàwinter vacation
寒假你还去儿童活动中心吗？
Are you still going to the children's activity centre during winter break?
父亲fùqīnfather
我父亲带着陈明远的孙子学弹钢琴，我去帮忙整理乐谱。
My father is taking Chen Mingyuan's grandson to learn piano, and I am helping organise the music.
Listen to the conversation
苏乐
寒假你还去儿童活动中心吗？
Hánjià nǐ hái qù értóng huódòng zhōngxīn ma?
Are you still going to the children's activity centre during winter break?
陈安
去。我父亲带着陈明远的孙子学弹钢琴，我去帮忙整理乐谱。
Qù. Wǒ fùqīn dài zhe Chén Míngyuǎn de sūnzi xué tán gāngqín, wǒ qù bāngmáng zhěnglǐ yuèpǔ.
I am. My father is taking Chen Mingyuan's grandson to learn piano, and I am helping organise the music.
梅老师
苏乐，你来弹一首曲子吧，让孩子们听听。
Sū Lè, nǐ lái tán yì shǒu qǔzi ba, ràng háizimen tīngting.
Su Le, come and play a piece for the children.
苏乐
好，不过我有点害羞，怕自己弹得不好。
Hǎo, búguò wǒ yǒudiǎn hàixiū, pà zìjǐ tán de bù hǎo.
All right, but I am a little shy and worry that I will not play well.
陈安
别担心。你刚才弹完那一段，孩子们都说真棒。
Bié dānxīn. Nǐ gāngcái tán wán nà yí duàn, háizimen dōu shuō zhēn bàng.
Do not worry. After you played that section just now, all the children said you were great.
梅老师
听到表扬，他们练起来会更有兴趣。
Tīngdào biǎoyáng, tāmen liàn qǐlai huì gèng yǒu xìngqù.
When they hear praise, they become more interested in practising.
Tap a marked word for its meaning. Tap a line to see the English.
Grammar
听到表扬，他们练起来会更有兴趣。When they hear praise, they become more interested in practising.
Verb/Adj +起来
起来 · “qǐlái”. Directional complement. Start of action or estimation.
听起来很有意思。
Tīng qilai hěn yǒu yìsi.
That sounds very interesting.
Which word means “father”?
Starting the Day
He Tian and Chen An discuss how to help a child through a rushed school morning without turning every reminder into criticism.
8 new words
闹钟nàozhōngalarm clock
今天闹钟一响，你就给孩子打电话了吗？
Did you call the child as soon as the alarm rang today?
响xiǎngto sound, to ring
今天闹钟一响，你就给孩子打电话了吗？
Did you call the child as soon as the alarm rang today?
醒xǐngto wake up
他差点儿没醒，还说要先去厕所洗把脸。
He almost did not wake up, and he said he first needed to wash his face in the bathroom.
赶gǎnto rush for
你们不是要赶去学校体检吗？
Were you not rushing to the school health check?
厕所cèsuǒtoilet
他差点儿没醒，还说要先去厕所洗把脸。
He almost did not wake up, and he said he first needed to wash his face in the bathroom.
批评pīpíngto criticize
我本来想批评他太慢。
弄nòngto do, to manage
我先帮他把书包弄好，再提醒他早点睡。
I will help him get his schoolbag ready first, then remind him to sleep earlier.
管理guǎnlǐto manage
管理好每天的安排，不等于一直催他。
Managing the day’s arrangements does not mean constantly pushing him.
Listen to the conversation
何天
今天闹钟一响，你就给孩子打电话了吗？
Jīntiān nàozhōng yì xiǎng, nǐ jiù gěi háizi dǎ diànhuà le ma?
Did you call the child as soon as the alarm rang today?
陈安
是。他差点儿没醒，还说要先去厕所洗把脸。
Shì. Tā chàdiǎnr méi xǐng, hái shuō yào xiān qù cèsuǒ xǐ bǎ liǎn.
Yes. He almost did not wake up, and he said he first needed to wash his face in the bathroom.
何天
你们不是要赶去学校体检吗？
Nǐmen bú shì yào gǎn qù xuéxiào tǐjiǎn ma?
Were you not rushing to the school health check?
陈安
对，护士给他打针前要做检查。我本来想批评他太慢。
Duì, hùshi gěi tā dǎ zhēn qián yào zuò jiǎnchá. Wǒ běnlái xiǎng pīpíng tā tài màn.
We were. The nurse needed to do a check before giving him an injection. I nearly criticised him for being too slow.
何天
管理好每天的安排，不等于一直催他。明天先准备好书包，千万别再迟到。
Guǎnlǐ hǎo měitiān de ānpái, bù děngyú yìzhí cuī tā. Míngtiān xiān zhǔnbèi hǎo shūbāo, qiānwàn bié zài chídào.
Managing the day’s arrangements does not mean constantly pushing him. Prepare his schoolbag first tomorrow, and make sure he is not late again.
陈安
我明白了。我先帮他把书包弄好，再提醒他早点睡。
Wǒ míngbai le. Wǒ xiān bāng tā bǎ shūbāo nòng hǎo, zài tíxǐng tā zǎodiǎn shuì.
I understand. I will help him get his schoolbag ready first, then remind him to sleep earlier.
Grammar
我先帮他把书包弄好，再提醒他早点睡。I will help him get his schoolbag ready first, then remind him to sleep earlier.
把+ Noun +弄+ Adj
弄 · “nòng”. General verb 'to do/make/handle'.
把房间弄干净。
Bǎ fángjiān nòng gānjìng.
Make the room clean.
明天先准备好书包，千万别再迟到。Prepare his schoolbag first tomorrow, and make sure he is not late again.
千万+要/别+ Verb
千万 · “qiānwàn”. Adverb 'by all means/must'. Strong advice.
千万别迟到。
Qiānwàn bié chídào.
Be sure not to be late.
Fill the gap我本来想____他太慢。
Find Out First
Chen An and Su Le decide how to respond when a child says that homework has been left at home.
5 new words
打针dǎ zhēnto give/get an injection
护士hùshinurse
表扬biǎoyángto praise
千万qiānwànmust, be sure to
怀疑huáiyíto suspect
他说自己没带作业，我怀疑他是故意不带的。
He said he had not brought his homework, and I suspect he deliberately left it behind.
Listen to the conversation
陈安
刚才是谁在门口敲门？
Gāngcái shì shéi zài ménkǒu qiāo mén?
Who was knocking at the door just now?
苏乐
是小朋友。他说自己没带作业，我怀疑他是故意不带的。
Shì xiǎopéngyou. Tā shuō zìjǐ méi dài zuòyè, wǒ huáiyí tā shì gùyì bú dài de.
A child was. He said he had not brought his homework, and I suspect he deliberately left it behind.
陈安
先别说他在骗我们。他也许只是把作业放错地方了。
Xiān bié shuō tā zài piàn wǒmen. Tā yěxǔ zhǐshì bǎ zuòyè fàng cuò dìfang le.
Let us not say that he is trying to deceive us yet. Maybe he simply put the homework in the wrong place.
苏乐
那我们怎么做才合适？
Nà wǒmen zěnme zuò cái héshì?
Then what would be the right way to deal with it?
陈安
让他把经过说清楚，再一起想办法。孩子有时怕被批评，才会说假话。
Ràng tā bǎ jīngguò shuō qīngchu, zài yìqǐ xiǎng bànfǎ. Háizi yǒushí pà bèi pīpíng, cái huì shuō jiǎhuà.
Let him explain what happened, then think of a solution together. Children sometimes tell lies because they are afraid of being criticised.
苏乐
这样听起来很有意思，也比马上下结论好。
Zhèyàng tīng qǐlai hěn yǒuyìsi, yě bǐ mǎshàng xià jiélùn hǎo.
That sounds worthwhile, and it is better than jumping to a conclusion.
Grammar
这样听起来很有意思，也比马上下结论好。That sounds worthwhile, and it is better than jumping to a conclusion.
Subject +来+ Verb
来 · “lái”. Used before verb to indicate intention or invitation.
你来弹一首曲子吧。
Nǐ lái tán yì shǒu qǔzi ba.
You come and play a tune.
Which word means “to suspect”?
Making the Room Work
A short article on arranging a learning space where children can focus and feel comfortable.
7 new words
故意gùyìintentionally
敲qiāoto knock
整理zhěnglǐto tidy up
合适héshìsuitable
一节课安排三十分钟左右比较合适：时间太短，孩子还没有进入状态；时间太长，他们又容易累。
About thirty minutes is a suitable length for one class: if it is too short, children have not settled into it; if it is too long, they become tired.
骗piànto deceive
儿童értóngchildren
给儿童上活动课时，环境也会影响他们的心情。
When children take part in an activity class, the environment affects their mood as well.
假jiǎfake, false
Listen to the text
给儿童上活动课时，环境也会影响他们的心情。活动开始前，大家把房间弄干净，把材料放在容易找到的地方。一节课安排三十分钟左右比较合适：时间太短，孩子还没有进入状态；时间太长，他们又容易累。老师不需要把每个孩子都安排得一模一样，而要观察谁需要安静一点、谁需要多一点鼓励。一个安全、整洁的空间，能让孩子更愿意尝试。
Gěi értóng shàng huódòng kè shí, huánjìng yě huì yǐngxiǎng tāmen de xīnqíng. Huódòng kāishǐ qián, dàjiā bǎ fángjiān nòng gānjìng, bǎ cáiliào fàng zài róngyì zhǎodào de dìfang. Yì jié kè ānpái sānshí fēnzhōng zuǒyòu bǐjiào héshì: shíjiān tài duǎn, háizi hái méiyǒu jìnrù zhuàngtài; shíjiān tài cháng, tāmen yòu róngyì lèi. Lǎoshī bù xūyào bǎ měi ge háizi dōu ānpái de yí mú yíyàng, ér yào guānchá shéi xūyào ānjìng yìdiǎn, shéi xūyào duō yìdiǎn gǔlì. Yí ge ānquán, zhěngjié de kōngjiān, néng ràng háizi gèng yuànyì chángshì.
When children take part in an activity class, the environment affects their mood as well. Before the activity begins, everyone can clean the room and put the materials where they are easy to find. About thirty minutes is a suitable length for one class: if it is too short, children have not settled into it; if it is too long, they become tired. A teacher does not need to arrange every child in exactly the same way, but should notice who needs a little quiet and who needs a little more encouragement. A safe, tidy space makes children more willing to try.
Grammar
一节课安排三十分钟左右比较合适：时间太短，孩子还没有进入状态；时间太长，他们又容易累。About thirty minutes is a suitable length for one class: if it is too short, children have not settled into it; if it is too long, they become tired.
Numeral/Time +左右
左右 · “zuǒyòu”. 'Around/approximately'. Number + 左右.
三十岁左右。
Sānshí suì zuǒyòu.
Around 30 years old.
Fill the gap给____上活动课时，环境也会影响他们的心情。When children take part in an activity class, the environment affects their mood as well.
Culture
Mencius's Mother Moves Three Times
The story of 'Mèng Mǔ Sān Qiān' (孟母三迁) tells how Mencius's mother moved their home three times to find a suitable environment for bringing up her child. It emphasizes the importance of a good environment for education.
A Fair Way to Encourage
A reflection on helping children learn from mistakes without giving them harsh labels.
6 new words
左右zuǒyòuaround, approximately
懒lǎnlazy
有的孩子做错一次，就说自己很笨；有的孩子不想开始，就被人叫作懒。
Some children make one mistake and call themselves stupid; some do not want to begin and are called lazy.
笨bènstupid
有的孩子做错一次，就说自己很笨；有的孩子不想开始，就被人叫作懒。
Some children make one mistake and call themselves stupid; some do not want to begin and are called lazy.
粗心cūxīncareless
粗心的时候，可以一起找出原因；完成任务后，也不必太骄傲。
When someone is careless, people can look for the reason together; after a task is completed, there is no need to be too proud either.
骄傲jiāo'àoarrogant, proud
粗心的时候，可以一起找出原因；完成任务后，也不必太骄傲。
When someone is careless, people can look for the reason together; after a task is completed, there is no need to be too proud either.
害羞hàixiūshy
Listen to the text
有的孩子做错一次，就说自己很笨；有的孩子不想开始，就被人叫作懒。这些判断常常太快。粗心的时候，可以一起找出原因；完成任务后，也不必太骄傲。愿意承认问题、认真改正，才是进步。大人说话时要诚实，也要给孩子解释和选择的机会。这样，他们会慢慢相信：犯错并不可怕，重要的是下次做得更好。
Yǒude háizi zuò cuò yí cì, jiù shuō zìjǐ hěn bèn; yǒude háizi bù xiǎng kāishǐ, jiù bèi rén jiào zuò lǎn. Zhèxiē pànduàn chángcháng tài kuài. Cūxīn de shíhou, kěyǐ yìqǐ zhǎo chū yuányīn; wánchéng rènwu hòu, yě bù bì tài jiāo'ào. Yuànyì chéngrèn wèntí, rènzhēn gǎizhèng, cái shì jìnbù. Dàrén shuōhuà shí yào chéngshí, yě yào gěi háizi jiěshì hé xuǎnzé de jīhuì. Zhèyàng, tāmen huì mànmàn xiāngxìn: fàncuò bìng bù kěpà, zhòngyào de shì xià cì zuò de gèng hǎo.
Some children make one mistake and call themselves stupid; some do not want to begin and are called lazy. These judgments are often too quick. When someone is careless, people can look for the reason together; after a task is completed, there is no need to be too proud either. Being willing to admit a problem and correct it carefully is progress. Adults should be honest when they speak, and should give children chances to ask for explanations and make choices. In this way, children gradually learn that making a mistake is not frightening; what matters is doing better next time.
Which word means “around, approximately”?
Write the new characters
0 of 27 written
弹 from 弹钢琴 · to play the piano
Practice
8 questions · about 4 minutes
Pick the meaningListenFill the gapMatchWord order
Finish
Finish the practice to complete this lesson.