### HSK 3 Preparation Course Content: Weekly Breakdown

#### Week 1: Introduction and Core Vocabulary

- **Objectives:** Understand HSK 3 format and start with essential nouns and verbs.

- **Content:**

  - Day 1-2: Introduction to HSK 3, exam structure, and study strategies.

  - Day 3-7: Learn core vocabulary like 家 (jiā - home), 学校 (xué xiào - school), 吃 (chī - eat), 喝 (hē - drink).

- **Activities:** Create and review flashcards, practice pronunciation, form basic sentences.

- **Assessment:** End-of-week quiz on learned vocabulary.

#### Week 2: Expanding Vocabulary and Simple Sentences

- **Objectives:** Increase vocabulary and integrate into simple sentences.

- **Content:** Learn adjectives and adverbs like 大 (dà - big), 小 (xiǎo - small), 很 (hěn - very).

- **Activities:** Sentence construction exercises, basic conversation practice.

- **Assessment:** Oral and written exercises using new vocabulary in sentences.

#### Week 3: Grammar Integration and Sentence Complexity

- **Objectives:** Incorporate new vocabulary with grammar structures.

- **Content:** Focus on conjunctions and time words like 但是 (dàn shì - but), 昨天 (zuó tiān - yesterday).

- **Activities:** Grammar drills, dialogues, and writing simple narratives.

- **Assessment:** Bi-weekly vocabulary and grammar test.

#### Week 4: Advanced Vocabulary and Practical Usage

- **Objectives:** Master complex sentences and idiomatic expressions.

- **Content:** Learn phrases and idiomatic expressions, such as 因为...所以... (yīnwèi...suǒyǐ... - because...therefore...).

- **Activities:** Engage in role-play, storytelling, and detailed conversation practice.

- **Assessment:** Oral presentation and written narrative using new expressions.

#### Week 5: Comprehensive Vocabulary Review and Application

- **Objectives:** Solidify vocabulary knowledge through comprehensive review.

- **Content:** Review all vocabulary learned, with emphasis on usage in context.

- **Activities:** Comprehensive review sessions, advanced conversational practice.

- **Assessment:** Mock HSK 3 exam to identify strengths and areas for improvement.

### Week 5: Comprehensive Vocabulary Review and Application

#### Objectives:

- Solidify understanding and usage of all HSK 3 vocabulary learned so far.

- Practice using vocabulary in a variety of contexts to ensure versatility and depth of understanding.

#### Monday: Thematic Vocabulary Review

- **Content:** Review vocabulary related to daily activities, such as eating, working, and traveling.

- **Activities:** 

  - Discuss typical daily routines using sentences like "我每天早上七点吃早饭" (Wǒ měitiān zǎoshang qī diǎn chī zǎofàn - I eat breakfast at seven every morning).

  - Create a dialogue about planning a day off, incorporating words like 休息 (xiūxí - rest), 购物 (gòuwù - shopping), and 游泳 (yóuyǒng - swimming).

#### Tuesday: Describing People and Places

- **Content:** Focus on adjectives and nouns that describe people and places.

- **Activities:**

  - Describe family members or friends using sentences like "我的姐姐很聪明，也很美丽" (Wǒ de jiějie hěn cōngmíng, yě hěn měilì - My sister is very smart and beautiful).

  - Talk about favorite places in the city using words like 公园 (gōngyuán - park), 图书馆 (túshūguǎn - library), and 餐馆 (cānguǎn - restaurant).

#### Wednesday: Work and Education

- **Content:** Review vocabulary related to work, school, and professional life.

- **Activities:**

  - Discuss job responsibilities and school subjects using sentences like "我在公司负责市场营销" (Wǒ zài gōngsī fùzé shìchǎng yíngxiāo - I am responsible for marketing in the company).

  - Role-play a job interview or school admission interview, emphasizing vocabulary like 专业 (zhuānyè - major), 经验 (jīngyàn - experience), and 目标 (mùbiāo - goal).

#### Thursday: Leisure Activities and Hobbies

- **Content:** Revisit words and phrases that describe hobbies, sports, and leisure activities.

- **Activities:**

  - Share personal hobbies and explain why you like them using sentences like "我喜欢打篮球，因为它很有趣" (Wǒ xǐhuān dǎ lánqiú, yīnwèi tā hěn yǒuqù - I like playing basketball because it is fun).

  - Discuss plans for the weekend, using vocabulary like 旅行 (lǚxíng - travel), 爬山 (páshān - mountain climbing), and 看电影 (kàn diànyǐng - watch movies).

#### Friday: Health and Environment

- **Content:** Cover vocabulary dealing with health, wellness, and environmental issues.

- **Activities:**

  - Talk about daily routines for staying healthy, such as "我每天跑步半小时" (Wǒ měitiān pǎobù bàn xiǎoshí - I run for half an hour every day).

  - Conduct a discussion on environmental protection, using terms like 环保 (huánbǎo - environmental protection), 污染 (wūrǎn - pollution), and 节约 (jiéyuē - conserve, save).

#### Assessment and Feedback:

- End-of-week comprehensive review test covering all vocabulary areas.

- Group discussion or presentation on a selected topic, demonstrating the ability to use the vocabulary in context.

- Personal feedback sessions to address individual progress and areas for improvement.

This week's focus ensures that students can confidently use the HSK 3 vocabulary in a wide range of real-world situations, reinforcing their language skills and preparing them for the types of conversations and interactions they might encounter in the exam and beyond.

#### Week 6: Contextual Learning and Real-Life Application

- **Objectives:** Apply vocabulary in real-world contexts and complex dialogues.

- **Content:** Intensive practice with new vocabulary in situational dialogues and discussions.

- **Activities:** Scenario-based language tasks, interactive speaking exercises.

- **Assessment:** In-depth conversation practice, situational response testing.

### Week 6: Contextual Learning and Real-Life Application

#### Objectives:

- Apply HSK 3 vocabulary in practical, real-life scenarios.

- Enhance conversational skills through interactive and situational language use.

#### Monday: Travel and Transportation

- **Scenario:** Planning a trip, booking tickets, and navigating through an airport or train station.

- **Activities:**

  - Role-play booking a flight or train ticket, using phrases like "我想订明天到北京的机票" (Wǒ xiǎng dìng míngtiān dào Běijīng de jīpiào - I want to book a flight to Beijing for tomorrow).

  - Interactive game where students ask and give directions in a simulated travel scenario, using vocabulary like 火车站 (huǒchē zhàn - train station) and 出租车 (chūzūchē - taxi).

#### Tuesday: Shopping and Bargaining

- **Scenario:** Visiting a market or mall, asking about prices, and negotiating discounts.

- **Activities:**

  - Dialogue practice on buying clothes or groceries, including questions like "这件衬衫多少钱？" (Zhè jiàn chènshān duōshǎo qián? - How much is this shirt?).

  - A bargaining role-play where students practice haggling, using expressions like "可以便宜一点吗？" (Kěyǐ piányi yīdiǎn ma? - Can it be cheaper?).

#### Wednesday: Dining and Food Culture

- **Scenario:** Ordering food in a restaurant, discussing dietary preferences and food culture.

- **Activities:**

  - Students create a menu in Chinese and take turns ordering dishes, using phrases like "我要一碗麻辣烫" (Wǒ yào yī wǎn málàtàng - I want a bowl of spicy hot pot).

  - Group discussion on Chinese food culture, regional cuisines, and personal food preferences.

#### Thursday: Work and Professional Settings

- **Scenario:** Job interviews, office meetings, and professional networking.

- **Activities:**

  - Simulated job interview, with questions like "你为什么想在我们公司工作？" (Nǐ wèishéme xiǎng zài wǒmen gōngsī gōngzuò? - Why do you want to work in our company?).

  - Role-playing a business meeting, discussing project plans, deadlines, and responsibilities.

#### Friday: Entertainment and Media

- **Scenario:** Discussing films, music, and books; planning a movie night or concert visit.

- **Activities:**

  - Group activity to discuss favorite movies or music, using sentences like "我最喜欢的电影是…" (Wǒ zuì xǐhuān de diànyǐng shì… - My favorite movie is…).

  - Planning an entertainment event, deciding on what movie to watch or which concert to attend, discussing genres and preferences.

#### Assessment and Feedback:

- Practical oral examinations where students navigate through one of the week's scenarios.

- Interactive group activities to assess ability to communicate effectively in varied contexts.

- Feedback session focusing on pronunciation, vocabulary usage, and conversational fluency.

During Week 6, the emphasis is on applying vocabulary and grammar learned in previous weeks to real-life situations, thereby enhancing students' speaking and comprehension skills in practical, everyday contexts.

#### Week 7: Final Vocabulary Consolidation and Exam Readiness

- **Objectives:** Ensure mastery of HSK 3 vocabulary and readiness for exam scenarios.

- **Content:** Final review of vocabulary, focus on difficult words and phrases.

- **Activities:** Practice with past exam papers, timed quiz sessions.

- **Assessment:** Comprehensive mock exam, focusing on vocabulary usage and time management.

### Week 7: Final Vocabulary Consolidation and Exam Readiness

#### Objectives:

- Master the complete HSK 3 vocabulary, with a special focus on difficult words and phrases.

- Enhance understanding and application of complex grammatical structures and idiomatic expressions.

#### Monday: Difficult Vocabulary Review

- **Content:** Focus on words and phrases students find most challenging, like idiomatic expressions and similar sounding words with different meanings.

- **Activities:**

  - Interactive quiz identifying and correcting common mistakes with tricky vocabulary like pairs 看 (kàn - to look) vs. 看见 (kànjiàn - to see).

  - Discussion circles where students explain the meaning and usage of challenging words.

#### Tuesday: Complex Sentence Structures

- **Content:** Practice with complex sentences involving multiple clauses, conditional statements, and hypothetical scenarios.

- **Activities:**

  - Sentence construction exercises using structures like 如果...将会... (rúguǒ... jiāng huì... - if... will...).

  - Role-play scenarios that require the use of conditional sentences, such as planning for different weather conditions or making decisions based on hypothetical situations.

#### Wednesday: Idiomatic Expressions and Set Phrases

- **Content:** Deep dive into idiomatic expressions, proverbs, and set phrases that are commonly used in Chinese.

- **Activities:**

  - Storytelling sessions where students incorporate idioms and set phrases into their narratives, like 打破沙锅问到底 (dǎpò shāguō wèn dàodǐ - to get to the bottom of something).

  - Group discussions on the origins and meanings of idiomatic expressions, enhancing cultural understanding and vocabulary retention.

#### Thursday: Listening and Reading Comprehension

- **Content:** Focus on understanding spoken and written Chinese, especially in complex or academic contexts.

- **Activities:**

  - Listening exercises with podcasts or news clips, followed by discussions to test comprehension of difficult vocabulary in context.

  - Reading sessions with articles or short stories that include advanced vocabulary, analyzing content and discussing vocabulary usage.

#### Friday: Synthesis and Application

- **Content:** Bring together all elements of the HSK 3 vocabulary in comprehensive exercises and practical applications.

- **Activities:**

  - Comprehensive language games, like Chinese crossword puzzles or word association games, to reinforce vocabulary knowledge.

  - Simulated HSK exam conditions with a focus on using difficult vocabulary and phrases in context, followed by a review session to discuss and clarify any misunderstandings.

#### Assessment and Feedback:

- Conduct a thorough review test focusing on the week’s vocabulary highlights.

- Individual speaking assessments to evaluate the use of complex and difficult vocabulary in conversation.

- Feedback session to provide strategies for memorizing and using challenging words effectively.

In Week 7, the focus is on consolidating all the vocabulary learned, with special attention to the words and structures that students find most challenging, ensuring a deep understanding and readiness for the HSK 3 exam.

#### Week 8: Exam Strategies and Mock Exam

- **Objectives:** Refine exam strategies, practice under timed conditions.

- **Content:** Strategy workshops, final vocabulary and grammar review.

- **Activities:** Full-length mock exams, strategy refinement, stress management techniques.

- **Assessment:** Final mock exam with feedback session, strategy optimization.

### Week 8: Exam Strategies and Mock Exam

#### Objectives:

- Master exam-taking strategies, refine techniques for efficient vocabulary recall and usage.

- Practice stress management to enhance performance under exam conditions.

#### Monday: Exam Strategy Workshop

- **Activities:**

  - Conduct a strategy workshop to discuss time management, question analysis, and answer tactics specific to the HSK 3 format.

  - Practice sessions focusing on rapid vocabulary recall and application in various exam sections (listening, reading, writing).

#### Tuesday: Mock Exam 1

- **Activities:**

  - Administer the first full-length mock exam under timed conditions to simulate the actual test environment.

  - Post-exam group discussion to identify common challenges and effective strategies for each section.

#### Wednesday: Strategy Refinement

- **Activities:**

  - Review results from Tuesday's mock exam, focusing on areas of difficulty and refining strategies for improvement.

  - Engage in targeted practice sessions, emphasizing speed and accuracy in vocabulary usage and grammatical structures.

#### Thursday: Stress Management Techniques

- **Activities:**

  - Introduce and practice stress management techniques such as deep breathing, mindfulness, and positive visualization to improve focus and reduce exam anxiety.

  - Conduct relaxed yet timed practice drills to apply stress management techniques in a controlled exam-like setting.

#### Friday: Mock Exam 2

- **Activities:**

  - Take the second full-length mock exam, applying refined strategies and stress management techniques learned throughout the week.

  - Immediate post-exam review to discuss performance improvements and areas still needing attention.

#### Assessment and Feedback:

- Analyze performance in both mock exams to assess progress and identify persistent challenges.

- Provide individualized feedback and strategies for final exam preparation, focusing on overcoming identified weaknesses and maximizing strengths.

In Week 8, the focus is on perfecting exam strategies and managing stress, with comprehensive mock exams and targeted activities designed to enhance performance and confidence for the actual HSK 3 test.

#### Week 9: Review and Final Preparations

- **Objectives:** Address last-minute concerns, reinforce strong exam performance.

- **Content:** Targeted review based on mock exam results, focus on weak areas.

- **Activities:** Customized practice sessions, relaxation and focus exercises.

- **Assessment:** Ongoing feedback, readiness evaluation, confidence building activities.

### Week 9: Review and Final Preparations

#### Objectives:

- Address any remaining areas of difficulty and consolidate knowledge for the HSK 3 exam.

- Build confidence and ensure readiness for the exam day.

#### Monday: Targeted Vocabulary Review

- **Activities:**

  - Identify and review specific vocabulary and grammar points that have been challenging, using flashcards, quizzes, and interactive games.

  - Group discussions and role-play exercises to reinforce usage of tricky words and phrases in context.

#### Tuesday: Advanced Listening and Reading Practice

- **Activities:**

  - Engage in advanced listening exercises using authentic materials like news broadcasts or podcasts to fine-tune comprehension skills.

  - Reading comprehension practice with more complex texts, analyzing content and discussing vocabulary and grammar in detail.

#### Wednesday: Speaking and Writing Focus

- **Activities:**

  - Conduct speaking drills in a simulated exam environment to practice oral fluency and accuracy.

  - Writing exercises focusing on constructing well-organized responses, using appropriate vocabulary and complex sentence structures.

#### Thursday: Full Mock Exam and Review

- **Activities:**

  - Administer a comprehensive mock exam to simulate the actual HSK 3 test experience.

  - Detailed review of the mock exam results to identify strengths and areas for last-minute improvement.

#### Friday: Relaxation and Confidence Building

- **Activities:**

  - Engage in relaxation and confidence-building activities, such as group discussions, light-hearted language games, and motivational talks.

  - Set personal goals and strategies for the exam day, including a review of logistical details like exam timing, venue, and required materials.

#### Assessment and Feedback:

- Continuous monitoring of student progress through the week's activities.

- Provide personalized feedback and strategies for maximizing performance in the final week before the exam.

In Week 9, the focus is on refining skills, addressing any lingering challenges, and building confidence, ensuring that students are mentally and academically prepared for the HSK 3 exam.

#### Week 10: Exam Week

- **Objectives:** Execute exam strategy, manage time effectively, and perform confidently.

- **Content:** Final review and motivational session.

- **Activities:** Relaxation techniques, final tips and strategies, exam simulation.

- **Assessment:** Post-exam debrief, feedback on performance, next steps planning.

### Relaxation Techniques for Chinese Language Learning

#### Deep Breathing Exercises

- **Purpose:** Slow the heartbeat and promote overall relaxation, aiding in better focus and reduced anxiety during language study or exams.

- **Technique:** Sit comfortably, breathe in deeply through the nose, hold for a few seconds, and exhale slowly through the mouth. Repeat several times, focusing on the breath to help clear the mind.

#### Progressive Muscle Relaxation

- **Purpose:** Release physical tension that can accumulate during intensive study sessions, leading to improved comfort and concentration.

- **Technique:** Start with your feet and work upwards. Tense each muscle group for a few seconds, then relax it for 30 seconds. Move through each part of the body to systematically reduce tension.

#### Mindfulness Meditation

- **Purpose:** Enhance present-moment awareness, reducing stress and anxiety. This practice can improve language retention and comprehension by fostering a state of calm focus.

- **Technique:** Sit in a quiet place, close your eyes, and focus on your breathing or a simple mantra. Observe thoughts and sensations without judgment, gently redirecting attention back to the focal point whenever the mind wanders.

#### Yoga or Gentle Stretching

- **Purpose:** Improve circulation and flexibility, which can be beneficial during long study periods. Stretching and yoga help reduce stress and increase mental clarity, aiding in language acquisition.

- **Technique:** Perform gentle yoga poses or stretches that target the back, neck, and shoulders to alleviate study-related strain. Focus on maintaining each pose or stretch for a few minutes, breathing deeply throughout.

#### Visualization

- **Purpose:** Boost calmness and confidence by imagining positive outcomes, such as successfully conversing in Chinese or achieving a high score on a language exam.

- **Technique:** In a quiet space, close your eyes and visualize a scene where you are using Chinese fluently in conversation, or receiving a certificate for passing a language test. Focus on the feelings of success and confidence this brings.

These relaxation techniques, tailored for Chinese language learning, can help students manage stress, improve concentration, and enhance their overall learning experience.

Final Tips and Strategies:

1. Know the Exam Format: Familiarity with the exam structure reduces surprises and anxiety.
2. Time Management: Practice managing time effectively to ensure that all sections of the exam are completed.
3. Answer Strategies: Learn techniques for guessing unknown answers wisely, like eliminating obviously wrong choices.
4. Sleep Well: Ensure adequate rest the night before the exam to maintain alertness and concentration.
5. Healthy Eating: Consume a nutritious meal before the exam to provide sustained energy.

In Week 10, the focus is on ensuring students are physically and mentally prepared for the exam, utilizing relaxation techniques to optimize performance, and reviewing final strategies to approach the exam confidently and effectively.

This weekly breakdown provides a structured and systematic approach to mastering the HSK 3 vocabulary and developing the necessary skills to excel in the exam.