In Episode 4, we shift from listening to reading, diving into three short authentic Chinese travel texts - a personal blog post, a recount, and an email. Together, we unpack how to analyse a text’s purpose, audience, and tone, while applying practical reading strategies that are essential for the HSC: Skimming, Scanning, and Inferring meaning from context.
We begin with a personal recount from an exchange student living in Xi’an, exploring how she describes her challenges, cultural experiences, and newfound appreciation for local life. Then, we jump to an Australian setting with a lively recount of a Gold Coast holiday, examining the author’s enthusiastic tone and descriptive language. Finally, we break down an email invitation to Beijing, using P.A.C. analysis to understand how writers communicate purposefully and clearly in everyday text types.
By the end of this episode, you’ll be able to:
Identify key ideas, emotions, and descriptive features in short travel texts
Explain how tone and purpose shape a writer’s message
Apply three core reading strategies with confidence: Skim - Scan - Infer
Whether you’re preparing for an upcoming assessment or building stronger reading comprehension skills, this episode will help you approach Chinese texts with clarity and strategy.
Next time, we’ll move from reading to writing and craft our own travel reflections.
继续加油 — see you in Episode 5!
In this episode of Travel Experiences for HSC Chinese Continuers, we’re laying the groundwork for confident communication. Build your foundation with essential travel vocabulary and sentence structures that will help you describe your journeys clearly and naturally in Chinese.
Learn how to talk about destinations, activities, and cultural experiences - and start forming sentences that sound fluent and expressive.
Key Takeaways:
Master 10 core travel-related words to describe trips and experiences.
Use the structure “先...然后...最后...” to sequence events in your stories.
Combine adjectives with “的” to make your travel descriptions more vivid.
Perfect for students beginning their HSC Chinese journey - start strong, speak confidently, and get ready to bring your travel experiences to life!
In this episode of Travel Experiences for HSC Chinese Continuers, we’re heading on a study tour (游学) to Beijing and Xi’an! Strengthen your listening comprehension as you follow Da Ming’s journey - from exploring the Great Wall to tasting local snacks in Xi’an.
Learn how to catch key details, identify main ideas, and apply strategies to improve your listening accuracy - essential skills for HSC success.
Key Takeaways:
Understand travel-related dialogues and extract key information.
Recognise vocabulary linked to study tours, culture, and food.
Apply listening strategies to grasp meaning even when you miss a few words.
Perfect for students wanting to boost their listening confidence and gain deeper insight into Chinese culture - one dialogue at a time.
In this episode of Travel Experiences for HSC Chinese Continuers, we dive into making your travel stories more vivid and engaging! Learn how to use descriptive adjectives, predicative adjectives, and adverbs to bring scenery, activities, and experiences to life. We’ll also explore phrases for expressing your feelings and personal opinions, so your stories are not just informative, but expressive and memorable. Perfect for students looking to level up their Chinese writing and speaking for HSC.
Key Takeaways:
Describe nouns and experiences using adjectives with 的 or predicative adjectives.
Use adverbs like 非常, 特别, 十分, 有点儿 to add intensity.
Express personal opinions and feelings naturally with 感到 and 我最喜欢的是.
Whether you’re sharing a market adventure or a scenic getaway, this episode will help you tell your travel stories vividly!