🇨🇳AP Chinese AP Cram Sessions 2021

Key Concepts and Vocabulary

• Understand and use common measure words (个, 只, 本, 张)
  • 个 (gè) used for most common nouns (一个人, 一个苹果)
  • 只 (zhī) used for animals (一只猫, 一只狗)
  • 本 (běn) used for bound objects like books and magazines (一本书, 一本杂志)
  • 张 (zhāng) used for flat objects like paper, photos, and tables (一张纸, 一张照片, 一张桌子)
• Learn and apply common idioms and proverbs (水滴石穿, 不到长城非好汉)
• Recognize and understand common Chinese surnames (王, 李, 张, 刘)
• Differentiate between homonyms with different tones (shì: 是 vs. 事 vs. 室 vs. 试)
• Expand vocabulary related to daily life topics (食物, 衣服, 交通, 家庭)
• Understand and use common directional complements (上, 下, 进, 出)
  • Directional complements indicate the direction of an action (走进房间, 跳下水)
• Learn and apply common classifiers for nouns (位 for people, 架 for planes, 辆 for vehicles)

Grammar Points

• Master the use of the particle 了 (le) to indicate completed actions or change of state
  • 了 (le) placed after a verb to indicate a completed action (我吃饭了)
  • 了 (le) placed at the end of a sentence to indicate a change of state (天黑了)
• Understand and apply the ba (把) sentence structure for emphasizing the result of an action
  • Ba (把) sentence structure: Subject + 把 + Object + Verb + Complement (他把作业做完了)
• Differentiate between and correctly use the prepositions 在 (zài), 对 (duì), and 跟 (gēn)
• Learn and apply the use of the particle 过 (guò) to indicate past experiences
• Understand and use the comparative structure with 比 (bǐ) (他比我高)
• Correctly use the adverb 就 (jiù) to indicate an action that happens sooner than expected or to emphasize a point
• Master the use of the conjunction 虽然...但是... (suīrán...dànshì...) to express contrast

Cultural Topics

• Understand and discuss the significance of Chinese festivals (春节, 端午节, 中秋节)
  • 春节 (Chūnjié) Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year, is the most important traditional holiday in China
  • 端午节 (Duānwǔjié) Dragon Boat Festival, commemorates the life and death of the famous Chinese scholar Qu Yuan
  • 中秋节 (Zhōngqiūjié) Mid-Autumn Festival, a time for family reunions and enjoying mooncakes
• Learn about traditional Chinese arts and crafts (书法, 国画, 剪纸)
• Discuss the influence of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism on Chinese culture and values
• Understand the importance of filial piety (孝顺) in Chinese society
• Explore the history and significance of the Great Wall of China (长城)
• Learn about the Chinese zodiac animals and their associated characteristics
• Discuss the impact of the One-Child Policy on Chinese society and family structure

Listening Comprehension Strategies

• Practice active listening by focusing on key words and phrases
• Anticipate the context and content of the listening passage based on the prompt or question
• Take notes while listening to help retain important information
• Listen for transitional words and phrases to follow the structure of the passage (首先, 然后, 最后)
• Practice listening to a variety of accents and speaking styles to improve comprehension
• Use context clues to infer the meaning of unfamiliar words or phrases
• Listen for main ideas and supporting details to answer comprehension questions

Speaking Practice Tips

• Engage in regular conversation practice with native speakers or language partners
• Focus on proper pronunciation and tones to improve clarity and understanding
• Use circumlocution techniques to express ideas when lacking specific vocabulary
• Practice using filler words and phrases to maintain fluency (那个, 就是, 我觉得)
• Incorporate newly learned vocabulary and grammar structures into speaking practice
• Participate in role-play activities to simulate real-life situations and dialogues
• Record and listen to your own speaking to identify areas for improvement
• Practice speaking on a variety of topics to expand your comfort zone and vocabulary range

Reading Comprehension Techniques

• Preview the text by reading the title, subtitles, and any provided questions to establish context
• Skim the passage to identify the main idea and overall structure
• Use reading strategies such as scanning for specific information and inferring meaning from context
• Break down complex sentences into smaller parts to understand the grammatical structure
• Identify key vocabulary words and phrases that convey the main points of the passage
• Make connections between the text and your prior knowledge to enhance understanding
• Summarize the main points of the passage in your own words to check comprehension
• Practice reading texts from various genres and difficulty levels to improve reading skills

Writing Skills and Formats

• Understand and apply the principles of Chinese sentence structure (Subject-Verb-Object)
• Learn and use common cohesive devices to improve the flow and coherence of writing (因为...所以..., 不但...而且...)
• Practice writing in various formats such as letters, essays, and short stories
• Use a variety of sentence structures and lengths to create engaging and dynamic writing
• Incorporate descriptive language and sensory details to enhance the quality of writing
• Develop a clear thesis statement and support it with relevant examples and evidence
• Use appropriate transitional words and phrases to link ideas and paragraphs (此外, 总之, 换句话说)
• Proofread and edit writing for grammar, vocabulary, and organizational errors

Exam Strategies and Time Management

• Familiarize yourself with the format and types of questions on the AP Chinese exam
• Practice time management by allocating specific amounts of time for each section of the exam
• Read questions carefully and underline key words to ensure understanding
• Eliminate obviously incorrect answer choices to narrow down options
• Make educated guesses when unsure of an answer, as there is no penalty for incorrect responses
• Prioritize questions based on their point value and your confidence in answering them
• Use any remaining time to review and check your answers for accuracy and completeness
• Maintain a positive attitude and focus throughout the exam, taking short mental breaks as needed