Action Verb TPR Worksheet Action Verb Mastery
Lesson 1: Total Physical Response (TPR) Guide
Essential Action Verbs
吃 (Chī) To Eat
喝 (Hē) To Drink
去 (Qù) To Go
看 (Kàn) To Look
买 (Mǎi) To Buy
TPR Instructions
Total Physical Response (TPR) connects physical movement to language. When you hear the verb, perform the assigned gesture immediately!
Chī: Mimic holding a bowl and chopsticks.
Hē: Mimic drinking from a cup.
Qù: Point towards the door or walk in place.
Kàn: Hand over eyes like a visor.
Mǎi: Mimic handing over money.
Listening Log: Teacher Says...
The teacher will call out commands using "Lǎoshī shuō" (Teacher says). If they say it, do the action! If they don't, stay still. Mark your success below.
Success
Missed
Success
Missed
Success
Missed
Success
Missed
Success
Missed
Note to Self: Which verb was hardest to distinguish? Action Verb Slides Action Verb Mastery
Mandarin Survival Kit: Lesson 1
Listen
Move
The "Big 5" Action Verbs
吃 Chī
To Eat
喝 Hē
To Drink
看 Kàn
To Look / Watch
去 Qù
To Go
买 Mǎi
To Buy
Match the gesture to the sound!
Lǎoshī Shuō...
If you hear Lǎoshī Shuō (Teacher Says), you must do the action.
Command:
老师说,去!
Action:
Walk in place! ✅
Command:
喝!
Action:
Freeze! ❌
Ready?
3
2
1
Eyes on the teacher, ears on the language!
Listening Simulation Scripts Teacher Guide Listening Simulation Scripts
教师参考资料 (Jiǎoshī Cānkǎo Zīliào)
Teacher Guide
1
Action Verb Mastery: Lǎoshī Shuō
Note: Read phrases clearly. Pause 2 seconds between commands.
1. 老师说,吃! (Chī)
2. 喝! (Hē) [TRAP]
3. 老师说,看! (Kàn)
4. 去! (Qù) [TRAP]
5. 老师说,买! (Mǎi)
6. 老师说,去! (Qù)
2
Restaurant Rush: Waiter Orders
Customer 1:
服务员!我要面条和水。 (Fúwùyuán! Wǒ yào miàntiáo hé shuǐ.)
Order: Noodles & Water
Customer 2:
你好。我要饺子,不要水,我要茶。 (Nǐ hǎo. Wǒ yào jiǎozi, bù yào shuǐ, wǒ yào chá.)
Order: Dumplings & Tea
VIP Special Request (Target: Coffee):
对不起,我要咖啡。 (Duìbùqǐ, wǒ yào kāfēi.)
4
Preference Profiles: Dating Show
Contestant A (Lìli):
我喜欢音乐和看书。我不喜欢运动。 (Wǒ xǐhuan yīnyuè hé kànshū. Wǒ bù xǐhuan yùndòng.)
Contestant B (Dàwèi):
我喜欢运动,不喜欢音乐。我喜欢电影。 (Wǒ xǐhuan yùndòng, bù xǐhuan yīnyuè. Wǒ xǐhuan diànyǐng.)
Contestant C (Míngmíng):
我非常喜欢音乐!我也喜欢看书。我不喜欢电影。 (Wǒ fēicháng xǐhuan yīnyuè! Wǒ yě xǐhuan kànshū. Wǒ bù xǐhuan diànyǐng.)
MATCH: A & C (Both like Music/Reading)
5
Marketplace Mayhem: Prices
Apples (苹果)
Vendor 1: 五块钱 (5 Yuan)
Vendor 2: 三块钱 (3 Yuan) [BEST]
T-Shirts (T恤)
Vendor 1: 三十块钱 (30 Yuan) [BEST]
Vendor 2: 五十块钱 (50 Yuan)
Umbrellas (雨伞)
Vendor 1: 十块钱 (10 Yuan)
Vendor 2: 八块钱 (8 Yuan) [BEST]
Total Cheapest: ¥41.00
Restaurant Rush Slides New Skills!
Restaurant Rush
"I want..." & Eating Out
Food
Drink
The "I Want" Rule
Formula
我 要 ... (Wǒ yào ...)
"I want [Item]"
点菜
Diǎn cài
To Order Food
服务员
Fúwùyuán
Waiter / Staff
Survival Menu
米饭
Mǐfàn
Rice
面条
Miàntiáo
Noodles
饺子
Jiǎozi
Dumplings
水
Shuǐ
Water
茶
Chá
Tea
果汁
Guǒzhī
Juice
Simulation Time!
You are the waiter in a busy Shanghai noodle shop. Listen closely to the customers. Write down exactly what they want.
Listen
Note
Confirm
Waiter Order Form Waiter Order Form
服务员点菜单 (Fúwùyuán Diǎncàidān)
Name
Station
Instructions:
Listen to each customer's request. Circle the food and drink they order. If they say "Bú yào" (Don't want), make sure you leave it blank!
Customer #1
Table 01
Food Item (Select One):
米饭 (Rice)
面条 (Noodles)
饺子 (Dumplings)
Drink Item (Select One):
水 (Water)
茶 (Tea)
果汁 (Juice)
Customer #2
Table 02
Food Item (Select One):
米饭 (Rice)
面条 (Noodles)
饺子 (Dumplings)
Drink Item (Select One):
水 (Water)
茶 (Tea)
果汁 (Juice)
Customer #3
Table 03
Food Item (Select One):
米饭 (Rice)
面条 (Noodles)
饺子 (Dumplings)
Drink Item (Select One):
水 (Water)
茶 (Tea)
果汁 (Juice)
Customer #4
Table 04
Food Item (Select One):
米饭 (Rice)
面条 (Noodles)
饺子 (Dumplings)
Drink Item (Select One):
水 (Water)
茶 (Tea)
果汁 (Juice)
VIP Request Listening
One customer will make a special request using "Wǒ yào..." followed by something not on the menu. Listen carefully and write it here:
City Navigator Slides City Navigator
"Go Left, Go Right" & Finding Your Way
Directions
Location
Spatial Directions
向左 (Xiàng zuǒ)
To the Left
向右 (Xiàng yòu)
To the Right
向前 (Xiàng qián)
Go Forward
停 (Tíng)
Stop!
Landmarks on the Map
学校
Xuéxiào
School
商店
Shāngdiàn
Shop
饭馆
Fànguǎn
Restaurant
家
Jiā
Home
Tip: Listen for "Dào le" (Arrived!) to know when you've hit your target!
Blind Navigation Challenge
One partner will be blindfolded. The other will give Mandarin directions only to guide them through the classroom maze.
The Captain
Uses Mandarin phrases to guide. Stay calm!
The Explorer
Listens for the sounds. Trust your partner!
City Map Activity Sheet City Navigator Map
城市地图 (Chéngshì Dìtú)
Explorer
Mission:
Start at the "Start" star. Listen to the teacher's directions and draw your path. Where do you end up?
Start
学校 (School) Point A
商店 (Shop) Point B
饭馆 (Restaurant) Point C
家 (Home) Point D
Park
Hospital
Where did you arrive?
Target destination after all directions:
Preference Profiles Slides New Skill!
Preference Profiles
"I like..." & Opinion Mining
Likes
Dislikes
The "Like" Verb
Core Structure
喜 欢 (Xǐhuan)
"To Like"
Positive
我喜欢... (Wǒ xǐhuan...)
I like...
Negative
我不喜欢... (Wǒ bù xǐhuan...)
I don't like...
Common Interests
音乐 (Yīnyuè)
Music
运动 (Yùndòng)
Sports / Exercise
电影 (Diànyǐng)
Movies
看书 (Kànshū)
Reading
艺术 (Yìshù)
Art
旅行 (Lǚxíng)
Travel
Dating Show Challenge
Listen to three contestants describe their ideal match. What do they like? What do they hate? Your job is to find the perfect pairing.
Listen
Match
Verify
Dating Show Profile Analysis Dating Show Profile Analysis
非诚勿扰 (Fēichéng Wùrǎo) - Interrogation Mode
Matchmaker
Mission Briefing
Listen to the three contestants. For each person, check the activities they like and cross out the ones they dislike. Finally, decide which two contestants are a perfect match!
Contestant A
Name:
Music
Sports
Movies
Reading
Art
Travel
Contestant B
Name:
Music
Sports
Movies
Reading
Art
Travel
Contestant C
Name:
Music
Sports
Movies
Reading
Art
Travel
The Perfect Pair:
Based on their likes/dislikes, these two people should go on a date:
&
Why? Justify your choice with one thing they both like in Mandarin (Wǒmen xǐhuan...):
Marketplace Mayhem Slides ¥100¥20¥50¥5¥10
Marketplace Mayhem
Numbers, Prices, & Survival Bargaining
Prices
Items
Price Identification
一 Yī (1)
二 Èr (2)
三 Sān (3)
四 Sì (4)
五 Wǔ (5)
六 Liù (6)
七 Qī (7)
八 Bā (8)
九 Jiǔ (9)
十 Shí (10)
How much is it? 多少钱? (Duōshǎo qián?)
Filtering the Noise
Noise (Distractions)
Other shoppers, car horns, background music.
Signal (Essential Info)
Specific item names and their prices in Yuan.
Listening Now
Final Mission
You have 50 Yuan. You must buy three specific items. Listen to the vendors in the marketplace audio. Can you find the best price?
Apples
T-Shirt
Umbrella
Market Scavenger Hunt Worksheet Marketplace Scavenger Hunt
菜市场大挑战 (Càishìchǎng Dà Tiǎozhàn)
Shopper
Budget ¥50.00
Mission Objective
The market is loud! Listen through the noise to find the specific items on your list. Record the cheapest price you hear for each item.
Apple (苹果 - Píngguǒ)
Quantity: 1
Vendor 1 Price
¥
Vendor 2 Price
¥
T-Shirt (T恤 - Txù)
Quantity: 1
Vendor 1 Price
¥
Vendor 2 Price
¥
Umbrella (雨伞 - Yǔsǎn)
Quantity: 1
Vendor 1 Price
¥
Vendor 2 Price
¥
Total Spent
¥
Change Remaining
¥
Did you stay under budget?
YES
NO