The Cactus Course Outlines provide a learning framework for the Cactus Foreign Language Evening Courses. They are designed to provide you with a good idea of what you might cover over a 10-week period, and include typical themes, grammar and vocabulary fields. They are flexible rather than prescriptive, in that our teachers may decide to adapt their learning plans to the specific level, aims and interests of their classes.

• Chinese (Mandarin) Cactus Level 1
• Chinese (Mandarin) Cactus Level 2
• Chinese (Mandarin) Cactus Level 3
• Chinese (Mandarin) Cactus Level 4

This is the general language outline for evening class teaching. It aims to guide teachers to plan their lessons with whichever book they use. Although some topics are the same on different levels, the content of the more advanced levels is richer and more varied.

Themes/Lexical fields can include the following elements:

• Introductions – inc. where from, family
• Jobs
• Likes & dislikes
• Eating & drinking
• Time – hours, days, months
• Everyday objects
• Places – shops, important buildings
• Daily life – routines, free time
• The weather
• Home

Grammar

• To be & to have
• Present
• Past
• Future
• Pronouns – subject, object, possessive
• Singular vs. Plural
• Word order – sentence, question
• Questions – yes/no, wh-
• Giving instructions – using the imperative
• Modal - verbs

Other vocabulary

• Key prepositions
• Key functions – invitation, offer, suggestion, requests
• Key verbs (combine with tense work)
• Key adjectives/adverbs – size, shape, age, speed
• Colour
• Numbers
• Alphabet - Pinyin
• Please & thank you
• Simple Directions
• Key linking words (and, but, so, because, or)
• Measurement

And...

• Lots of tones practice
• Lots of speaking/active practice
• Lots of listening
• Pronunciation – key sounds
• Writing characters practice

Themes/Lexical fields could include the following elements:

• Talking about self & others, inc. family – key personal info
• Jobs
• Travel
• Holidays
• Hotels & restaurants
• Exchanging
• Shopping
• Interests
• Town & Country
• Home

Grammar

• Review & practice ‘beginner’ level grammar (eg. through mixed tense work – present/past/future)
• Modal verbs
• Possessives
• ‘want to + infinitive’
• Some
• Comparison
• Ordinal numbers

Other vocabulary

• Review & practice ‘beginner’ level vocab (eg. through dialogue creation)
• Prepositions of place
• Prepositions of movement
• Directions
• Time phrases – adverbs of frequency
• Who/which/what/how/when/where/how much/many
• Adjectives & adverbs of manner
• Common feelings & emotions
• Measurement

And...

• Lots of tones practice
• Lots of speaking/active practice
• Lots of listening
• Pronunciation – key sounds
• Writing characters practice

Themes/Lexical fields can include the following elements:

• Talking about self & others, inc. family – key personal info
• Jobs
• Travel
• Holidays
• Eating & drinking
• Health/illness
• Meetings
• Leisure Time
• Money & shopping
• Studying language

Grammar

• Review & practise ‘beginner plus’ level grammar (eg. through mixed tense work – present/past/future) &
• Present
• Past
• Future
• Modal verbs
• Comparative/superlative
• Possessives
• ‘want to + infinitif’
• Attributive sentences

Other vocabulary

• Review & practise ‘beginner plus’ level vocab (eg. through dialogue creation) &
• Prepositions of movement
• Word-building (prefix and suffix patterns)
• Word families (noun-verb-adjective-adverb)
• Time phrases
• Who/which/what/how/when/where/how much/many
• Common signs

And...

• Lots of pinyin practice
• Lots of speaking/active practice
• Lots of listening
• Pronunciation – key sounds
• Writing characters practice

Themes/Lexical fields can include the following elements:

• Transport
• Friends
• Complimenting someone
• Parties & socialising
• Leisure time
• Exams
• Computer
• Travel
• Holiday

Grammar

• Review & practise ‘beginner/elementary’ level grammar (eg. through mixed tense work – present/past/future) &
• Present/Past
• Action with verb complement
• Modals
• Attributive clauses
• Continuous: past, present & future
• Comparative/superlative
• Conditionals (if…)
• Relative clauses

Other vocabulary

• Review & practise ‘beginner/elementary’ level vocab (eg. through dialogue creation) &
• Frequency of time expressions
• More extensive word-building
• More extensive word families (noun-verb-adjective-adverb)
• Phrasal verbs
• Invitation
• Common idioms
• Common linking words
• Wider range of functions – inc. social language, giving advice, ordering, booking, making enquiries

And...

• Lots of speaking/active practice
• Lots of listening
• Pronunciation
• Reading & writing
• Translation