Setting a Small Speaking Practice Goal | Learn Chinese in English

Chinese lesson set in a contemporary Shanghai everyday setting: In a language learning setting, two adults set a small speaking practice goal and choose a way to track progress..

EN → ZH / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Setting a Small Speaking Practice Goal to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

我想为语言练习设定一个目标。

Wǒ xiǎng wèi yǔyán liànxí shèdìng yí ge mùbiāo. I want to set a goal for my language practice.
B

你现在觉得哪项技能最难？

Nǐ xiànzài juéde nǎ xiàng jìnéng zuì nán? Which skill feels hardest right now?
A

在简短对话中说得流利。

Zài jiǎnduǎn duìhuà zhōng shuō de liúlì. Speaking smoothly in short conversations.
B

那就每天选择一个小的口语任务。

Nà jiù měitiān xuǎnzé yí ge xiǎo de kǒuyǔ rènwu. Then choose one small speaking task each day.
A

我怎样才能记录自己的进步？

Wǒ zěnyàng cái néng jìlù zìjǐ de jìnbù? How can I track my progress?
B

录下一个回答，之后再听一遍。

Lù xià yí ge huídá, zhīhòu zài tīng yí biàn. Record one answer and listen to it again later.
A

这个练习安排听起来很容易坚持。

Zhège liànxí ānpái tīng qǐlái hěn róngyì jiānchí. That routine sounds easy to follow.
B

让任务短一点，经常重复做。

Ràng rènwu duǎn yìdiǎn, jīngcháng chóngfù zuò. Keep the task short and repeat it often.

Word by Word

我 “我” refers to the speaker, meaning “I” in “我想为语言练习设定一个目标”。It is used before the action or desire being described, as in “我想……”。Use it when talking about your own actions, plans, or opinions.
想 “想” in “我想为语言练习设定一个目标” expresses wanting or intending to do something. It comes before the action phrase “为语言练习设定一个目标”。Use “想 + action” when stating what you want to do.
为 “为” in “为语言练习设定一个目标” means “for” or “for the purpose of”。It introduces the purpose or area connected with “设定一个目标”。Use “为 + purpose or recipient + action” when saying what an action is for.
语言 “语言” means “language” in “语言练习”。Here it specifies the kind of practice being discussed. Use it before words such as “练习” when referring to language-related activities.
练习 “练习” means practice in “语言练习”, referring to practice activities for a language. Here it is used as a noun after “语言”。Use “练习” with a skill or subject to describe practice related to it.
设定 “设定” in “设定一个目标” means to set or establish a goal. It is followed by the object “一个目标”。Use “设定 + goal or plan” when deciding a target or arrangement.
一 “一” means one in “一个目标”。Here it gives the number of goals being set. It appears before the measure word “个” when counting this kind of item.
个 “个” is the general measure word in “一个目标”。It is placed between “一” and “目标” to count the goal. Use “number + 个 + noun” for many everyday nouns.
目标 “目标” means goal in “设定一个目标”。It is the result or standard that the speaker wants to decide for language practice. Use “设定目标” when describing the act of setting a goal.
你 “你” refers to the listener, meaning “you” in “你现在觉得哪项技能最难”。It appears before the question about the listener’s experience. Use it when asking one person about their actions, thoughts, or feelings.
现在 “现在” means “now” or “at present” in “你现在觉得哪项技能最难”。It limits the question to the listener’s current situation. Use it before an action or feeling when focusing on the present time.
觉得 “觉得” in “觉得哪项技能最难” introduces the listener’s judgment or feeling about which skill is hardest. It is followed here by the question phrase “哪项技能最难”。Use “觉得 + description or opinion” when asking what someone thinks or feels.
哪 “哪” means “which” in “哪项技能最难”。It asks the listener to choose one item from possible skills. Use “哪 + measure word + noun” when asking which specific item.
项 “项” is the measure word used in “哪项技能”, where the item is a skill or category of work. It comes between “哪” and “技能”。Use “项” with organized items such as skills, tasks, or projects when they are viewed as separate entries.
技能 “技能” means skill in “哪项技能最难”。It refers to the language ability being evaluated. Use it after a measure word such as “项” when talking about a particular skill.
最 “最” marks the highest degree in “最难”, meaning “the most difficult”。It comes before “难” to compare the skills and identify the one with the greatest difficulty. Use “最 + adjective” when expressing the highest degree.
难 “难” means difficult in “哪项技能最难”。With “最”, it describes which skill has the greatest difficulty. Use it after a subject to describe something that is difficult.
在 “在” in “在简短对话中” introduces the setting where the speaking takes place. Here it is followed by “简短对话中”。Use “在 + place or situation” to say where an action happens.
简短 “简短” means short or brief in “简短对话”。It describes the conversations in which the speaker wants to speak smoothly. Use it before a noun such as “对话” to describe limited length.
对话 “对话” means conversation or dialogue in “在简短对话中”。It names the speaking situation being practiced. Use it after a description such as “简短” to specify the type of conversation.
中 “中” in “在简短对话中” means in or within that situation. Together with “在”, it places the speaking action inside short conversations. Use “noun + 中” to describe something happening within a situation or activity.
说 “说” means speak or say in “说得流利”。It names the speaking action whose manner is then described by “得流利”。Use “说” before a language, content, or a “得” phrase when describing speaking.
得 “得” in “说得流利” links the action “说” with the way it is performed. The phrase means speaking in a fluent way, with “流利” describing the result or manner of speaking. Use “action + 得 + description” to describe how an action is carried out.
流利 “流利” describes speaking as fluent or smooth in “说得流利”。It follows “得” because it describes the manner of “说”。Use it after “得” when describing fluent performance of a speaking action.
那 “那” in “那就每天选择一个小的口语任务” refers back to the difficulty just discussed and means “then” or “in that case”。It introduces the advice that follows. Use “那就 + action” when giving a response or suggestion based on what was just said.
就 “就” in “那就每天选择一个小的口语任务” presents the following action as the natural response or suggestion. Together, “那就” means “then, in that case”。Use “那就 + action” to move from a situation to a practical decision.
每天 “每天” means every day in “每天选择一个小的口语任务”。It shows that the action is repeated daily. Use it before an action when describing a daily routine.
选择 “选择” means choose or select in “选择一个小的口语任务”。It introduces the task that the learner should decide on. Use “选择 + noun” when picking one option or activity.
小 “小” in “一个小的口语任务” describes the task as small in scope. It comes before “的口语任务” to modify the noun phrase. Use “小的 + noun” when describing something limited or manageable.
的 “的” in “小的口语任务” links the description “小” to the noun phrase “口语任务”。It marks “小” as a modifier of the task. Use “description + 的 + noun” when forming a noun phrase with a descriptive word.
口语 “口语” means spoken language or speaking in “口语任务”。It specifies that the task involves speaking rather than another kind of language practice. Use it before a noun such as “任务” to identify a speaking-related activity.
任务 “任务” means task in “一个小的口语任务”。It refers to the small speaking activity selected for each day. Use “任务” after a description to name an activity that needs to be completed.
怎样 “怎样” means how in “我怎样才能记录自己的进步”。It asks about the method for tracking progress. Use “怎样 + action” when asking how an action can be done.
才 “才” in “怎样才能记录自己的进步” emphasizes finding a way that makes the result possible. Together with “能”, it forms the question “how can I manage to record my progress”。Use “怎样才能 + action” when asking what method is needed to achieve something.
能 “能” in “怎样才能记录自己的进步” expresses being able to do the action. It comes before “记录自己的进步” and follows “才” in this question. Use “能 + action” to talk about ability or possibility.
记录 “记录” means record or keep track of in “记录自己的进步”。It describes saving information about how the learner is improving. Use “记录 + information or progress” when keeping a record of something.
自己 “自己” in “记录自己的进步” refers back to the person doing the recording, meaning one’s own. It comes before “进步” to show whose progress is being recorded. Use “自己的 + noun” when emphasizing that something belongs to or concerns oneself.
进步 “进步” means progress in “记录自己的进步”。Here it is the improvement that the learner wants to track. Use “记录进步” when keeping track of improvement over time.
录 “录” in “录下一个回答” means to record an answer, such as by making an audio recording. It is followed by “下”, which completes the recording action in this expression. Use “录 + object” when naming what is being recorded.
下 “下” in “录下一个回答” is part of the result expression “录下”, showing that the answer is recorded and saved. It is not describing a downward direction here. Use it after “录” when emphasizing that the recording has been captured.
回答 “回答” means answer or response in “录下一个回答”。It is the spoken response that should be recorded. Use “回答” after “录下” when recording a particular answer.
之后 “之后” means afterward or later in “之后再听一遍”。It places the listening action after the recording. Use “action or time + 之后” to refer to what happens afterward.
再 “再” in “再听一遍” means again, indicating that the recording is listened to another time. It comes before “听” and is followed by the complete repetition measure word “一遍”。Use “再 + action” when repeating an action later or another time.
听 “听” means listen to or hear in “再听一遍”。Here it refers to listening to the recorded answer. Use “听 + object” when naming what is heard, or “听一遍” when listening through something once.
遍 “遍” in “听一遍” counts one complete repetition of an action from beginning to end. Here “一遍” means listening to the recording one full time. Use “一遍” with actions such as listening to, reading, or watching something completely.
这 “这” means this in “这个练习安排”。It points to the routine just described: recording an answer and listening again later. Use “这 + measure word + noun” when referring to something nearby in the conversation.
安排 “安排” in “这个练习安排” means an arrangement or routine for practice. It refers to the set of actions described in the previous line. Use “安排” for a planned set of activities or a way of organizing them.
起来 “起来” in “听起来很容易坚持” is part of “听起来”, which describes the impression something gives when heard. It does not mean physically getting up here. Use “听起来 + description” when saying how something sounds or seems.
很 “很” in “很容易坚持” helps describe the degree or quality of “容易”。It makes the description sound natural as “quite easy” or “easy”。Use “很 + adjective” when describing the degree or quality of something.
容易 “容易” means easy in “听起来很容易坚持”。Here the routine seems easy to continue following. Use “容易 + action” when saying that an action is easy to do.
坚持 “坚持” in “容易坚持” means keep up or persist with the routine. It refers to continuing the practice over time, not merely doing it once. Use “坚持 + activity” when talking about continuing an activity regularly.
让 “让” in “让任务短一点” means make or cause something to have a certain quality. It introduces “任务” as the thing that should become shorter. Use “让 + person or thing + description” when asking or telling someone to cause a change.
短 “短” in “让任务短一点” means short, describing the desired length of the task. It follows “任务” after “让” and is followed by “一点” to soften the suggestion. Use it after a noun when describing limited length or duration.
点 “点” in “短一点” means a little or a bit, softening the degree of “短”。Together, “短一点” means make it a little shorter. Use “adjective + 一点” when requesting a small change in degree.
经常 “经常” means often or frequently in “经常重复做”。It describes how regularly the task should be repeated. Use it before an action when saying that something happens often.
重复 “重复” in “重复做” means repeat, referring to doing the task again. It comes before “做” to show what action is repeated. Use “重复 + action” when instructing someone to do an activity again.
做 “做” means do in “重复做”, referring to carrying out the speaking task already mentioned. The object is understood from the context as that task. Use “做 + task or activity” when describing carrying out an activity.

Grammar Points

为 + 名词 + 动词

为语言练习设定目标

Wèi yǔyán liànxí shèdìng mùbiāo

Set a goal for language practice.

“为” introduces the purpose or thing that benefits from an action, similar to “for” in English.

动词 + 之后 + 再 + 动词

录下回答之后再重复

Lù xià huídá zhīhòu zài chóngfù

Repeat it again after recording the answer.

“之后再” shows that the second action happens after the first one; “再” means doing it again or later.

Chinese Vocabulary

对话 noun
duìhuà conversation; dialogue

在简短对话中说得流利。

技能 noun
jìnéng skill

你现在觉得哪项技能最难?

简短 adj
jiǎnduǎn short; brief

在简短对话中说得流利。

练习 noun
liànxí practice

我想为语言练习设定一个目标。

流利 adj
liúlì fluent; fluently

在简短对话中说得流利。

目标 noun
mùbiāo goal

我想为语言练习设定一个目标。

哪项 det
nǎ xiàng which

你现在觉得哪项技能最难?

难 adj
nán difficult; hard

你现在觉得哪项技能最难?

设定 verb
shèdìng set; establish

我想为语言练习设定一个目标。

为 prep
wèi for

我想为语言练习设定一个目标。

现在 adv
xiànzài now; currently

你现在觉得哪项技能最难?

语言 noun
yǔyán language

我想为语言练习设定一个目标。

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

set; establish

Show Answer设定

skill

Show Answer技能

short; brief

Show Answer简短

conversation; dialogue

Show Answer对话