Meet a new classmate

Original teaching practice. Read one pattern, cover its model and try the questions before checking the separate answer section. Examples adapted from Chinese Grammar Wiki (AllSet Learning, CC BY-NC-SA) retain the course-reference provenance.

Meet a new classmate

Greet someone, exchange names, and ask about an identity.

Before you start: Start with greetings, names and simple identities. Use the word help when needed.

Build the meaning

Use I / me我wǒvariant of 叫叫jiào…… for your name and I / me我wǒto be / is是shì…… for an identity. Say you你nǐvariant of 叫叫jiàowhat什么shén mename (of a person or thing)名字míng zì？ to ask a name.

Add (yes/no ?)吗ma to a statement to ask a yes–no question. Answer the question given: you你nǐto be / is是shìteacher老师lǎo shī(yes/no ?)吗ma？ – no不是bú shì，I / me我wǒto be / is是shìstudent学生xué shēng。

Useful words in context

• hello你好nǐ hǎo nǐ hǎo – hello. hello你好nǐ hǎo！I / me我wǒvariant of 叫叫jiào林安lín ān。
• name (of a person or thing)名字míng zì míngzi – name. you你nǐvariant of 叫叫jiàowhat什么shén mename (of a person or thing)名字míng zì？
• student学生xué shēng xuésheng – student. I / me我wǒto be / is是shìstudent学生xué shēng。
• teacher老师lǎo shī lǎoshī – teacher. you你nǐto be / is是shìteacher老师lǎo shī(yes/no ?)吗ma？
• to thank谢谢xiè xiè xièxie – thank you. to thank谢谢xiè xièyou你nǐ！

Listen before reading the script

Ask a partner to read the listening script from the answer section while you keep it covered. Then attempt the listening question. If you work alone without audio, use the script for reading practice; it is not a listening test.

Read a different account

hello你好nǐ hǎo！I / me我wǒvariant of 叫叫jiào林安lín ān。I / me我wǒto be / is是shìstudent学生xué shēng。Wang Li (1900-1986), one of…王力wáng lìto be / is是shìteacher老师lǎo shī。

Try the reading question before checking the English meaning in the answer section.

Speak with a partner

Greet a new classmate, give your name, and ask their name. Use real or fictional names.

Check the distinction: variant of 叫叫jiào gives a name; to be / is是shì gives an identity. Use I / me我wǒvariant of 叫叫jiào林安lín ān and I / me我wǒto be / is是shìstudent学生xué shēng, rather than swapping the two verbs.

Learn step by step · Practise and review.

Practice without the models

Choose a pattern, cover its teaching examples, and attempt its questions. Use the labels to find feedback in the separate key.

Meet a new classmate

0107.1 Listening. What does Wang Li say about himself?

• A. His name is Lin An.
• B. He is a student.
• C. He is a teacher.

0107.2 Reading. Who is a teacher in the reading?

• A. Wang Li (1900-1986), one of…王力wáng lì
• B. 林安lín ān
• C. Both people

0107.3 Complete “I am not a teacher”: I / me我wǒ…………to be / is是shìteacher老师lǎo shī。

0107.4 Match each word with its meaning in this unit.

• 1. hello你好nǐ hǎo
• 2. name (of a person or thing)名字míng zì
• 3. student学生xué shēng
• 4. teacher老师lǎo shī
• 5. to thank谢谢xiè xiè

• A. student

• B. hello

• C. name

• D. thank you

• E. teacher

0107.5 Write a greeting, your name, and your identity. Use a fictional role if you wish.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

A fresh situation

R1. Interpret and repair. At a first meeting, a learner says I / me我wǒto be / is是shì林安lín ān to introduce a name. Is it impossible? Which pattern makes the name function explicit?

R2. Use it yourself. Greet a new partner, introduce a fictional name, ask their name and state that you are a student.

Write your responses before opening the key. Compare meaning as well as form; a different valid answer need not copy the model.