Building Basic Greetings

Curriculum Area: MFL – Chinese (Year 6, Stage 3, Key Stage 2)

Focus: Introduction to Mandarin Chinese – foundational greetings, polite phrases, and cultural awareness. This lesson adheres to UK Primary Education Standards for Modern Foreign Languages, aiming to develop students' speaking and listening skills while fostering curiosity about another culture.

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Lesson Objectives

By the end of this 45-minute lesson, students will:

1. Understand the importance of learning greetings in Mandarin and their role in Chinese culture.
2. Be able to say and respond to “hello” (你好 - Nǐ hǎo) and “goodbye” (再见 - Zài jiàn).
3. Use polite phrases: “thank you” (谢谢 - Xiè xie) and “you’re welcome” (不用谢 - Bù yòng xiè).
4. Begin recognising the tones used in Mandarin speech.

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Lesson Overview

Duration: 45 minutes
Class size: 30 students
Resources: Flashcards, whiteboard, marker pens, a pre-prepared interactive PowerPoint with images and audio clips of native Mandarin speakers, mini whiteboards (one per student), and Chinese-themed music for background engagement.

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Lesson Breakdown

1. Opening Activity (5 minutes) – Cultural Context and Engagement

• Set the scene: Play traditional Chinese music lightly in the background as students settle in. On the board, display the phrase “你好” and ask if anyone has seen it before.
• Quick discussion: Introduce Mandarin as the most widely spoken language globally and explain why learning greetings is a practical first step. Use visual examples (e.g., a slide with images of a handshake and a wave with greeting words) to engage them.
• Cultural Fact: Highlight that Chinese culture places importance on politeness and proper greetings. Encourage curiosity by mentioning how handshakes, instead of hugs, are the custom in formal settings.

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2. Teach the Vocabulary (10 minutes)

Focus Language: Key Greetings

1. Say and repeat: Teach the students how to say:

   • Hello (你好 - Nǐ hǎo): Write it large on the board. Break down the tonal pronunciation in English: "Knee-how," emphasising the third (falling-rising) tone.
   • Goodbye (再见 - Zài jiàn): Say and explain the “zai” is a falling tone, “jian” is neutral.
   • Thank you (谢谢 - Xiè xie): Pronounce it as “shyeah-shyeah,” explaining the falling-rising tone on both syllables.
   • You’re welcome (不用谢 - Bù yòng xiè): Break it into “boo-yung-shyeah.” Highlight the neutral tone of "yòng."

2. Use movement for tones: Teach the tones visually. Hold your hand and gesture: up-down (third tone), or downward arrow (falling tone).

3. Whole-class repetition: Use call and response to repeat each phrase in unison. Speak slowly and clearly while playing short audio clips from a native Mandarin speaker after each word. Encourage students to match the tones.

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3. Interactive Practice (15 minutes)

Activity One: Greetings Role-play Pairs (7 minutes)

• Assign students to work in pairs to practise a basic dialogue:
  1. Student A: “你好” (Hello!)
  2. Student B: Replies back: “你好” (Hello!)
  3. Student A: “谢谢” (Thank you.)
  4. Student B: “不用谢” (You’re welcome.)
• Challenge: Ask pairs to repeat their dialogue in quieter tones and then progressively louder tones (to practise clear articulation).

Activity Two: Greetings Match-Up Game (8 minutes)

• Use pre-prepared flashcards: Words on one set and their English translations on another. Students work in groups of 5 to match them.
• Once a group finishes, have them stand up and read one pair aloud to the class, using accurate pronunciation with tones.

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4. Consolidation Activity (10 minutes) – Mini Whiteboard Challenge

1. Hand out mini whiteboards. Write the characters (你好, 再见, 谢谢, 不用谢) one at a time on the main whiteboard. Call out an English phrase (e.g., “Goodbye”), and students write its Mandarin character version on their boards.
2. After 10 seconds, ask all students to hold up their boards. Provide immediate feedback with visual corrections.
3. Finish this by saying each phrase aloud again and letting them repeat once more.

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5. Closing Reflection (5 minutes)

• Whole-class reflection: Ask:

  1. How did it feel to speak Mandarin for the first time?
  2. What do you find interesting or challenging about this language?

• Closing fun gesture: Teach a respectful way of saying goodbye in Chinese – clasping both hands together and giving a small bow. Everyone practices it together while saying 再见 (Zài jiàn).

• Homework extension: Write the English meaning and Pinyin (Nǐ hǎo, Zài jiàn, Xiè xie, Bù yòng xiè) under their characters on a worksheet provided. Encourage students to practise saying them at home to a family member or friend.

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Differentiation

• For Higher-Ability Students: Encourage them to memorise two extra phrases from the interactive PowerPoint not covered in full class practice (e.g., “How are you?” 你好吗 - Nǐ hǎo ma?).
• For EAL or SEN Students: Provide visual character guides on printed cards for reference during activities and consider pairing them with a supportive partner in interactive tasks.

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Assessment Opportunities

• Observe: Gauge pronunciation accuracy during role-play and call-and-response activities.
• Check understanding: Correct responses during the mini whiteboard challenge.
• Collect anecdotal notes on participation and engagement levels for future planning.

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Teacher’s Reflection

Conclude the lesson by reflecting on what worked well. Did students grasp the tones? Were they engaged during interactive activities? Note any adjustments needed for the next lesson where greetings can be extended into asking and answering basic questions (e.g., “What’s your name?”).

Let’s help these young learners lay the foundation for a new and exciting skill!