手机游戏： Top Cell Phone games in China

Ever wonder what the most popular mobile games are in China?  I know, I think about it all the time too!  :) Well, these are among the top games people like to play on their cell phones while in China:

• Angry Birds
• Subway Surfers
• Anipop
• Happy Lord 
• Pop Start

You're task is to download at least one of the games and play around with it!  After you're finished, answer these questions:

1. How did you enjoy playing?
2. What genre does this game fall under?
3. Is this a popular game in America? Why or why not?
4. Given what you know about Chinese culture, why do you think this game is so popular there?

日常的学生活：A day in the life of a Chinese High Schooler

What's it like to be a Chinese High School student in China?  Are they similar or vastly different from what you've experienced?  Follow along on this TedEd lesson and let me know what you think.

Comparing Chinese and American High Schools, who has the most rigid schedule and studies?  Who's better off once they finish High School?  Are you grateful of your high school experience or envious of the Chinese High School experience?

中国快餐：McDonalds in China

As mentioned before both on this blog and in class, McDonalds has a strong presence in China.  In fact, it's rapidly growing in China.  Read or listen to this story on The Chairman's Bao and save any keywords or grammatical points that you don't understand and we will go over them in class.  Also, be sure to read the article carefully as you will have a quiz in class as well.

If you're unfamiliar with The Chairmans Bao and how it works, please watch the short video below.  Please note, you will not be able to see keywords or save terms to your dictionary if you do not register.

篮球的印象：The Iconic Stephon Marbury

Most professional athletes would consider themselves pretty accomplished if they were recognized as an All-Star in their respective sport, won multiple championships and elected to the Hall of Fame.  You're really, really great if you get a statue built in your honor like Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky or Tom Landry.  However, China honored one of it's biggest sports stars recently by not just building a statue in their honor but also open a museum!  And it's not for Yao Ming or Li Na...it's for Stephon Marbury!  Click on the picture to read the story and answer the following questions in at least 2 paragraphs:

1. What team does Stephon Marbury play for in China and how many championships have they won?
2. Marbury was recently honored with an award.  What was it?
3. What are some of the other ways China has honored Marbury?
4. What aspect of Chinese culture makes an honor like this possible?  In other words, what is it about Chinese beliefs that would allow them to recognize Marbury in this way?  Explain your reasoning

高档运动：What are the top 5 sports in China?

In America, Football, Baseball, NASCAR, Basketball and Hockey are the most popular and watched sports.  Can you guess which sports are most popular in China?  Take the quiz below to see

Who's hot in Music in China?

While traditional Chinese music (opera) is still relevant in China, you'll find that most younger people listen to the same kind of music Americans do.  Pop has definitely found it's place in the middle kingdom.  Who is it that local Chinese still adore?  Here's a short gallery of popular artists.  Not everyone is here but the biggest are:

Fresh off the plane Chinese

Want some survival Chinese in about 5 1/2 minutes?  Watch this video from graspchinese.com.