# 9 Build a language notebook

It’s now time to reflect on your learning this week.

## Activity 13

#### Part 1

What would you write in each box below, if anything? Would you add more categories?

## Table 2 Language notebook

Key vocabulary and phrases | (A text entry box would appear here, but your browser does not support it.)
Key sentences | (A text entry box would appear here, but your browser does not support it.)
Key language structures | (A text entry box would appear here, but your browser does not support it.)
Culture notes | (A text entry box would appear here, but your browser does not support it.)
What I found straightforward / I have enjoyed learning | (A text entry box would appear here, but your browser does not support it.)
What I found difficult | (A text entry box would appear here, but your browser does not support it.)
Action plan | (A text entry box would appear here, but your browser does not support it.)

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### Discussion

This is something you can develop week by week, in a way which is entirely personal to you. You may find that the way you go about it changes as you progress. The important thing is that you find a way to note down, each week, new vocabulary and expressions, and also tips about learning grammar, culture and communication in general that will support you as you learn more.

Here is an example of what your language notebook might look like. You may have filled the table differently, or you may have a different idea about how to build your language notebook. That is completely fine!

## Table 3 Example of a completed language notebook for Week 1

Key vocabulary and phrases | kù 酷 shuài 帅 cōngmíng 聪明 làngmàn 浪漫 piàoliang 漂亮 gāo 高 ǎi 矮 pàng 胖 shòu 瘦 yǒuqián 有钱 méiqián 没钱 …zěnme yàng …怎么样？ | cool handsome clever romantic pretty tall short fat thin rich poor How is/are …?
Key sentences | Nǐ zěnme yàng? 你怎么样？ | How are you?
| Tā hěn gāo. 他很高。 | He is tall.
| Shuō Zhōngwén hěn kù! 说中文很酷！ | Speaking Chinese is cool.
| Wǒ èrshí le. 我二十了。 | I have turned 20.
| Wǒ hǎo yīdiǎnr le. 我好一点儿了。 | I am slightly better.
Key language structures | ‘topic + comment’ sentence. The ‘topic’ could be a noun, a verb phrase or an adjective. The ‘comment’ is often an adjective. There is no shì 是 (to be) in ‘topic + comment’ sentences. In a ‘topic + comment’ sentence, when the comment is a single adjective, hěn 很 must be present as a link: topic + hěn 很 + adjective. In these cases, hěn 很 could be translated into the adverb ‘very’ or left out in the translation.
Culture notes | Chinese concept of beauty.
What I found straightforward / I have enjoyed learning | Chinese terms for kinship. How the concept of beauty differs between the East and the West.
What I found difficult | There were lot of new adjectives to learn. The Chinese 'topic+comment’ structure is not exactly the same as it is in English, primarily the absence of shì 是 and the presence of hěn 很.
Action plan | Keep building my learning journal on a weekly basis. Write an email to or text a Chinese friend and practice ‘topic+comment’ sentence. Treat myself to a nice Chinese meal for the hard work I have put in this week, but I must order it in Chinese!

OpenLearn - Getting started with Chinese 3
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