Beg 2 Eating and Shopping - Comprehensive Course Notes

Course Overview and Administrative Details

  • Course Title: Beginner Cantonese 2

  • Central Theme: Eating and Shopping

  • Position in Curriculum: Second course in the beginner Cantonese series

  • Instructional Language: Conducted 90% of the time in Cantonese

  • Prerequisites: Assumes foundational knowledge of Cantonese, Jyutping, and basic greeting ability

  • Location and Provider: Hills Learning, 315 Madison Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, NY

ACTFL Proficiency Framework and Progression Pathway

  • Educational Framework: Aligned with the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) proficiency standards

  • Target Proficiency Level: Beginners are categorized under the "Novice" level; the target benchmark for this course is NOVICE MID according to the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines 2012

  • Recommended External Evaluation: Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI)

  • Curricular Progression Sequence:

    • Beginner 1 (Prerequisite)

    • Beginner 2: Eating and Shopping (Current Level)

    • Beginner 3: My Schedule

    • Advanced Beginner 1: My Home

    • Pre-Intermediate and beyond

Learning Objectives

  • 1. Favorite Food and Drink: Discuss favorite foods or dishes and ask others about their preferences (Nei5 zung1 ji3 sik6 mat1 je5 aa3？Ngo5 zung1 ji3 ……ngo5 m4 zung1 ji3 ……).

  • 2. Meal Habits and Frequency: Describe daily meals and state eating frequency (Zou2 caan1 、ngaan3 zau3 、maan5 faan6, nei5 zou2 caan1 sik6 mat1 je5 aa3？).

  • 3. Restaurants and Companions: Discuss types of restaurants visited and dining companions (Ngo5 dei6 heoi3 bin1 gaan1 caan1 gun2 /caan1 teng1 aa3？nei5 tung4 bin1 go3 jat1 cai4 sik6 faan6 aa3？).

  • 4. Restaurant Needs: Express basic requests and needs inside a restaurant (M4 goi1 bei2 …….ngo5 dei6 / Ni1 dou6 jau5 mou5 XX aa3？).

  • 5. Purchasing and Pricing: Express purchasing intentions in a store and ask about prices (Ngo5 soeng2 maai5 …… ni1 go3 gei2 do1 cin2 aa3？).

  • 6. Product Assessment: Comment on items being considered for purchase (Taai3 dyun2 / taai3 coeng4).

Eight-Week Course Schedule

  • Week 1: Food and Drinks

    • Content: Teaching food and drink vocabulary, expressing likes/dislikes, and asking/stating whether someone eats or drinks an item.

    • Target Sentence Structure: Nei5 zung1 ji3 sik6 mat1 je5 aa3？ngo5 zung1 ji3 ……ngo5 m4 zung1 ji3 ……

  • Week 2: Meals

    • Content: Expressing what is eaten for specific meals and eating frequency.

    • Target Sentence Structure: Nei5 zou2 caan1 sik6 mat1 je5 aa3 ？Ngo5 tung1 soeng4 sik6 ……ngo5 m4 hai6 gei2 jam2 ……

  • Week 3: Describing Restaurants

    • Content: Describing types of frequented restaurants and dining companions.

    • Target Sentence Structure: Ngo5 dei6 heoi3 bin1 gaan1 caan1 gun2 /caan1 teng1 aa3？Nei5 tung4 bin1 go3 jat1 cai4 sik6 faan6 aa3？

  • Week 4: Mid Semester Check

    • Content: Interactive assessment requirement — Introduce a food that you like.

  • Week 5: At the Restaurant

    • Content: Practical communication inside a restaurant.

    • Target Sentence Structure: jat1 / ji6 / saam1 / sei3 / m5, Hai2 ○○ jau5 mou5 ○○ aa3?, m4 goi1 maai4 daan1

  • Week 6: Shopping (Requests and Inquiries)

    • Content: Asking for desired items while shopping and asking about costs.

    • Target Sentence Structure: M4 goi1 ngo5 jiu3 ni1 go3, ni1 go3 gei2 do1 cin2 aa3 ？

  • Week 7: Shopping (Describing Items)

    • Content: Describing desired products and evaluating attributes.

    • Target Sentence Structure: Taai3 dyun2/taai3 coeng4

  • Week 8: Final Semester Assessments

    • Content: 1-on-1 small speaking assessment with the instructor, accompanied by listening and writing components.

Speaking Assessment Rubric (Week 8)

  • Assessment Environment & Format:

    • Conducted 1-on-1 outside the classroom with the instructor on assessment day.

    • Assessment session is recorded.

    • Formatted to simulate a natural conversation.

    • No feedback is provided during the assessment; feedback is delivered after completion.

    • Total possible score: 10 points.

  • Grading Tiers:

    • 10–9 Points Tier:

    • Comprehension: Understood 90% of questions and replied with appropriate answers.

    • Response Quality: Answered in list format, providing multiple examples.

    • Sentence Structure: Able to answer two questions using complete sentences.

    • Inquiries: Able to ask two questions to the instructor.

    • Target Language Fidelity: Spoke exclusively in Cantonese.

    • 8–7 Points Tier:

    • Comprehension: Understood 70% of questions and replied with appropriate answers.

    • Response Quality: Answered in list format generally.

    • Sentence Structure: Able to answer one question using a complete sentence.

    • Inquiries: Able to ask one question to the instructor.

    • Target Language Fidelity: Spoke only a word or two in English.

    • 6–4 Points Tier:

    • Comprehension: Understood 40% of questions and replied with appropriate answers.

    • Response Quality: Answered with some list responses, mostly single words.

    • Sentence Structure: Unable to ask questions or answer in full sentences.

    • Target Language Fidelity: Spoke a little in English.

    • 3–1 Points Tier:

    • Comprehension: Understood less than 40% of questions asked.

    • Response Quality: Generally unable to provide answers.

    • Engagement: Participated and attempted to comprehend.

    • Target Language Fidelity: Spoke in English.

Cantonese Vocabulary and Sentence Patterns: Food and Drinks

  • Questions and Expressing Preferences:

    • What type of food do you like?: Nei5 zung1 ji3 sik6 mat1 je5 aa3？

    • What do you like to drink?: Nei5 zung1 ji3 jam2 mat1 je5 aa3？

    • I like…: Ngo5 zung1 ji3 ……

    • I don't like…: Ngo5 m4 zung1 ji3 ……

    • Do you drink tea?: Nei5 jam2 m4 jam2 caa4 aa3？

    • What do you drink?: Nei5 jam2 mat1 je5 aa3？

  • Food Items Vocabulary:

    • Fish: Jyu2

    • Beef: ngau4 (juk6)

    • Pork: zyu1 (juk6)

    • Eggs: gai1 daan2

    • Bread: min6 baau1

    • Vegetables: coi3

    • Fruit: saang1 gwo2

    • Rice: faan6

    • BBQ Pork: caa1 siu1

    • Dim Sum / Drink Tea: jam2 caa4 (dim2 sam1)

    • Sushi: sau6 si1

  • Beverages Vocabulary:

    • Water: Seoi2

    • Milk: ngau4 naai5

    • Coffee: gaa3 fe1

    • Black Tea: hung4 caa4

    • Red Wine: hung4 zau2

    • Alcohol: zau2

    • Tea: caa4

    • Beer: be1 zau2

    • Juice: gwo2 zap1

Cantonese Vocabulary and Sentence Patterns: Meals

  • Eating Habits and Statements:

    • I eat…: Ngo5 sik6 ……

    • I don't eat breakfast: ngo5 m4 sik6 zou2 caan1.

    • I usually eat…: Ngo5 tung1 soeng4 sik6 ……

    • I don't really drink…: Ngo5 m4 hai6 gei2 jam2 ……

    • What do you eat for breakfast? Lunch? Dinner?: Nei5 zou2 caan1 sik6 mat1 je5 aa3？Ngaan3 zau3 ne1？Maan5 faan6 ne1？

    • Who do you eat with?: Nei5 tung4 bin1 go3 jat1 cai4 sik6 faan6 gaa3？

    • I eat with [someone]: Ngo5 tung4 \_\_\_\_\_\_ (jat1 cai4) sik6 faan6.

    • I eat by myself: Ngo5 zi6 gei2 (jat1 go3 jan4) sik6 faan6.

  • Meals and Snacks Vocabulary:

    • Breakfast: Zou2 caan1

    • Lunch: ngaan3 zau3

    • Dinner: maan5 faan6

    • Snack: ling4 sik6

    • Late Supper: siu1 je2

Cantonese Vocabulary and Sentence Patterns: Restaurants

  • Restaurant Inquiries:

    • Where do you eat? / I eat at…: Nei5 hai2 bin1 dou6 sik6 je5 aa3？Ngo5 hai2 \_\_\_\_\_\_ sik6 \_\_\_\_\_.

    • Do you eat out?: Nei5 ceot1 m4 ceot1 gaai1 sik6 faan6 gaa3?

    • Do you go out to a restaurant?: Nei5 heoi3 m4 heoi3 caan1 teng1 sik6 faan6 gaa3?

    • What kind of restaurant will we go to?: Ngo5 dei6 heoi3 bin1 gaan1 caan1 gun2 /caan1 teng1 aa3？

    • Do they have black tea? / Yes they do / No they don't: Ni1 dou6 jau5 mou5 hung4 caa4 aa3？Jau5 /mou5.

  • Restaurant Descriptors:

    • Full descriptor pattern: Ni1 go3 caan1 gun2 / caan1 teng1 [descriptor]

    • Cheap: hou2 peng4

    • Not convenient: m4 zau6 goek3

    • Lively / Bustling: hou2 jit6 naau6

    • Quiet: hou2 zing6

    • Delicious: hou2 hou2 sik6

    • Not delicious: m4 hou2 sik6

    • Quick (serving food): soeng5 coi3 faai3

    • Slow (serving food): soeng5 coi3 maan6

    • Clean: gon1 zeng6

    • Beautiful: hou2 leng3

Cantonese Vocabulary and Sentence Patterns: At the Restaurant

  • Facilities and Availability:

    • Where is the bathroom?: Cing2 man6 sai2 sau2 gaan1 hai2 bin1 dou6 aa3？

    • Is there [something] at [Place]?: Hai2 [Place] jau5 mou5 [something] aa3？

  • Seating and Party Size:

    • How many people? Two people: Gei2 do1 wai2？Loeng5 wai2.

    • Please (give us)…: M4 goi1 bei2 …….ngo5 dei2.

    • There are many people in the restaurant: Caan1 teng1 jau5 hou2 do1 jan4.

    • It is full / there are no more seats inside: Mun5 sai3 / mou5 wai2 (no seat).

  • Ordering and Payment:

    • We'd like to order… One / two / three / four / five (plate of / glass of): Ngo5 dei6 soeng2 jiu3 … jat1 / ji6 / saam1 / sei3 / ng5 (dip6 / bui1).

    • We'd like the bill: M4 goi1 maai4 daan1.

Cantonese Vocabulary and Sentence Patterns: Shopping

  • Stores and Venue Types Vocabulary:

    • Restaurant: Caan1 teng1 / caan1 gun2

    • Grocery store: zaap6 fo3 pou2

    • Department store: baak3 fo3 gung1 si1

    • Bar: zau2 baa1

    • Clothing store: si4 zong1 dim3

  • Shopping Communication:

    • What will you buy?: Nei5 maai5 mat1 je5 aa3?

    • I will buy ____: Ngo5 maai5 \_\_\_\_\_\_.

    • Welcome [to our store]: Fun1 jing4.

    • I would like…: Ngo5 soeng2 maai5 ……

    • How much is this? It is $100…: Ni1 go3 gei2 do1 cin2 aa3？Jat1 baak3 man1 ……

    • How much for this one? What about that one?: Ni1 go3 gei2 do1 cin2 aa3？Gam2 go2 go3 ne1？

    • Please give me this one / Please give me that one: M4 goi1 ngo5 jiu3 ni1 go3 / M4 goi1 ngo5 jiu3 go2 go3.

  • Colors Vocabulary:

    • Red: hung4 sik1

    • Yellow: wong4 sik1

    • Orange: caang2 sik1

    • Green: luk6 sik1

    • Blue: laam4 sik1

    • Purple: zi2 sik1

    • Black: hak1 sik1

    • Brown: fe1 sik1

    • White: baak6 sik1

    • Expressing preference for color: Ngo5 zung1 ji3 [color] sik1.

  • Item Sizing and Evaluation:

    • Small bag: Sai3 ge3 doi2

    • Big shoes: daai6 ge3 haai4

    • This is too short: Taai3 dyun2

    • This is too long: taai3 coeng4