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!