Experience

Learn how to tell stories related to personal histories and life experiences, such as traveling, studying, having pets, and social events previously attended.

Exercises

Task 1 Sharing Personal Experiences Task (Intern Experience)

Objectives:

Students will be able to familiarize themselves with the vocabulary and topics related to issues concerning internship experience. Students will also be able to share their own experience and thoughts regarding internship. This task could be used as a warm-up task at the beginning of this module. Suggested time for this task: 15-20 minutes.

Directions:

1.1 Listen/Read the dialogue between Elisa and 艾  (Experience 1 dialogue). In groups of 3-4, discuss what they talked about in the dialogue. 

Discussion questions: 

What are Elisa and 艾 talking about? What was Elisa’ intern job about? Why did she choose to do this internship? How was her intern experience? Use the chart below to guide your discussion. 

Directions in Chinese:

她们讨论了什么问题？Elisa做了什么实习工作？为什么她会选择这份实习工作？她实习经历怎么样？和你的组员讨论并填写下表。

Elisa’s Intern Experience 

Discuss: Will you do this intern if you were Elisa? Why or why not? 

如果你是Elisa, 你会不会选择做这份实习工作？为什么（不）？

1.2 Discuss your own experience and thoughts about internship. Have you done any intern job? If so, where was the intern? What kind of work did you do for the intern? Why did you choose to do this internship? How would this intern experience benefit you now and in the future? Describe your intern experience with your group. If you have not done any internship, please share your thoughts with your group about your ideal intern job in the future. 

Directions in Chinese: 

讨论一下你曾经的实习经历或者你对实习的想法。你做过实习工作吗？如果做过，这份实习在哪儿？你做了什么样的工作？为什么你会选择这份实习工作？这次的实习经历会给你现在和将来有什么好处？如果没有做过实习工作，请和你的组员分享你在未来理想的实习工作是什么。

1.3 Based on the dialogue and your own experience, in a group of 3-4, discuss the differences between an intern and an official job. List at least three reasons why an intern experience is necessary/unnecessary in your opinion. 

 Directions in Chinese:

根据对话内容和你自己的经历，3-4人一组，讨论实习工作和正式工作的区别。列出至少三点理由为什么实习工作很重要/不重要。

Do you think an intern experience is necessary for college students? List at least three reasons. 

你认为实习经历对大学生来说重要吗？请说出三点理由。

1. _______________________________
2. _______________________________
3. _______________________________

Task 2 Sharing Personal Experience Task & Comparing Task (Pet Experience) 

Objectives:

Students will be able to familiarize themselves with the vocabulary and topics related to experience concerning raising a pet (silkworm). Students will also be able to understand the sericulture in China. This task could be used as a warm-up task at the beginning of this module. Suggested time for this task: 15-20 minutes.

Directions:

2.1 Listen/Read the dialogues between Ted and 韩 (Experience 2 dialogue). In groups of 3-4, summarize the key terms of their discussion. 

Discussion questions: What are Ted and 韩 talking about? What kind of pet did 韩 have as a child? What does the pet look like? What is the changing process of the pet 韩 had (Based on the dialogue, please use the image below to guide your description)? 

Directions in Chinese:

听/读Ted和韩的对话（经历2）。3-4人一组，讨论对话的主要内容并回答以下问题。

问题：他们在讨论什么？韩小的时候养过什么做宠物？这个宠物有什么特点？这个宠物的生长过程是什么样的？根据对话内容，并结合下图进行讨论。

Image source: http://www.kepu.net.cn/gb/civilization/china-silk/silk_technic/200207050011.html

2.2 Share your (or your family’s) own experience of having a pet. Discuss the following questions: 

What is your experience of having a pet? What kinds of pets are common in the U.S.? Based on what your heard, learnt, listened, share your experience of pets that are “uncommon” to have. Will you have silkworm as your pet? Why or why not? 

 Directions in Chinese: 

分享你（或者你的家人）养宠物的经历并讨论：在美国什么样的养宠物比较普遍？根据你听/学/听说的，分享你认为不常见的养宠物的经历。你会选择养蚕吗？为什么（不）？

Task 3 Project and Creative Task (Doing Internship in China as a Foreigner)

Objectives:

Students will be able to understand specific issues related to doing internship in China as a foreigner. Students will also be able to cooperate with group members, and practice reading, writing and speaking skills upon completing this task. This task could be divided into two class hours, for instance, first using it as a main activity of a regular class to practice reading skills, and then as a homework assignment to prepare for group presentation (including writing, listening, and speaking). Suggested time for this task: 40 min for the reading for the first class + 100 min for group presentation or assigned as homework.

3.1 Reading comprehension and discussions (40 min)

Directions: 

Read the article “外国留学生在华就业不容乐观” below for the reading comprehension and discussions:

Original Source: http://cn.chinadaily.com.cn/2016-09/19/content_26826893.htm

Reading Text (Revised from the original article):

1     中国日报网2016年9月19日电，“尽管北京既有国企也有外企，但找一份工作仍然很难，因为大多公司都愿意雇佣本地人。”26岁的墨西哥籍毕业生内斯特·马图斯（Néstor Matus）说道。他毕业于北京理工大学。

2     内斯特是中国数以千计的外籍留学生之一。他感到自己很幸运，因为中文流利成为北京某科技公司的实习生。

3     对于外国留学生，语言障碍是找工作最难的一关，缺乏工作经验更是雪上加霜。以前，仅凭外籍身份就可以找到一份工作。

4     来自美国的新闻传播学硕士Kao Nou Thao在北京某英文广播公司实习六个月后留任内容分析师。

5     他说：“网络上并没有太多英语传媒公司的招聘信息，我投了很多简历，得到的回复却很少。”

6     此外，工作签证的门槛也让许多有志者望而却步。据《外国人在中国就业管理规定》，办理工作签证需要两年的相关全职工作经历。

7     他还说：“如果签证政策放松，更多的留学生就会选择留在中国工作。”

8     哈萨克斯坦的阿里克哈诺娃·阿萨（Ualikhanova Assem）是一名对外汉语专业硕士，十分希望可以留在中国做一名教师。她非常认同Kao Nou Thao的看法。

9     “在现有的政策下，毕业后几乎不可能找到工作，因为没有人能满足工作经验的要求。我们来中国是为了学习，毕业之后何来两年工作经验？”

10     考虑到每年上百万的中国毕业生和竞争激烈的劳动力市场，对留学生有这样的要求也确实可以理解。

11     内斯特说：“因为中国学生数量太多，他们必须保护就业市场，把机会优先留给中国学生。”

12     尽管目前形势严峻，但很多专家认为留学生就业形势会逐渐好转，但这个进程会有些缓慢。

13     “从今年三月开始，现有约束政策相会放缓，留学生找到一份兼职工作或者在’中国硅谷’中关村找到一份实习将会容易一些。“对外经贸大学就业指导中心副主任李勇说。

14     “在我看来，现在政策正逐渐放宽，外国留学生在接下来的五年中就业形势会更加乐观。”中国日报国际员工办公室主任陈智明说道。

Summarize the current FIVE difficulties of having an intern opportunity in China for foreign students mentioned in the article and highlight the keywords (or key sentence). 

In a group of 3 to 4, discuss what will be some potential advantages for foreigners finding an intern/job in China, list at least three aspects and provide reasons. 

Directions in Chinese: 

阅读文章，“外国留学生在华就业不容乐观”。

总结文章中提到的五个外国学生在华就业难的原因，并在文中标注。

3-4人一组，讨论哪些方面的优势会让外国人更容易在中国找到实习或者工作，列出至少三点并给出理由。

3.2 Presentation task (100 min in class or assigned as homework)

Directions: Now you’ve learned more about how to introduce and describe your intern experience and current situation of finding an intern/job in China, watch the video about the pros and cons of doing intern overseas for Chinese students (海外实习利与弊，去海外实习究竟值不值得？https://www.bilibili.com/video/av25764570/). 

Based on what you watched/learnt/read, in groups of 3-4, create a group presentation similar to the video, discussing the topic “the pros and cons of U.S. students doing intern in China”. Please first summarize the pros and cons for Chinese students doing intern overseas, then list your group opinions towards the pros and cons of U.S. students doing intern in China. Discuss what kinds of differences there might be between the two situations. 

Directions in Chinese: 这一课我们了解了如何介绍实习经历以及外国人在中国实习工作的情况。看视频“海外实习利与弊，去海外实习究竟值不值得”，3-4人一组，准备一个8-10分钟的报告，包含以下内容。首先请总结视频中提到的中国学生去海外实习的利与弊，然后说一说你认为的美国学生到中国实习的利与弊（至少各三点），最后讨论两种情况会有什么不同。

Task 4 Additional reading and comprehension question

Directions: Read the comments on “Adopt or Purchase a Pet” on a Chinese website and discuss the following questions.

Original Resource: https://www.zhihu.com/question/30418984

Directions in Chinese:

阅读下列关于“宠物领养还是购买”的网友回复，回答讨论问题。

用户评论1:

用户评论2:

用户评论3:

用户评论4:

用户评论5:

用户评论6:

用户评论7:

The seven comments above are from netizens in China answering question about “Adopt or purchase a pet”. First, please drag the comments to “Support Adoption” or “Support Purchase” columns. Then, summarize the main reasons mentioned in these comments and fill in the chart below. 

In China, there are not many official registered shelter as in the U.S., adoption is usually conducted personally, which causes some problems and difficulties for adoption. Based on what you read from above, in groups of 3-4, discuss how to improve the current situation of adoption market in China.