Lesson 2.2 爷爷 奶奶: Grandparents, and I Love You

Steps

1. Warm-up

   Do this together: Who is your mom’s mom? Who is your dad’s dad? In Chinese, Grandma and Grandpa have different names depending on which side of the family they are on!

2. Teach the new idea

   Read aloud: The story. The Bible says grandchildren are a crown to the old. Grandparents love to see their grandchildren grow, and children are blessed by their grandparents’ stories and prayers.

   Read aloud: How Chinese works. On Dad’s side: 爷yé爷ye and 奶nǎi奶nai. On Mom’s side: 外wài公gōng and 外wài婆pó. 外 means outside: Mom’s parents lived in another household. 我wǒ爱ài你nǐ means I love you.

   Read aloud: Say it out loud. yéye (YEH-yeh), nǎinai (NYE-nye), wàigōng (why-GONG), wàipó (why-PWAH), wǒ ài nǐ (woh-eye-NEE).

3. New words

   Do this: Say each word clearly; your child says it back twice. Point to a picture or the real thing when you can.

   • 爷爷 (yéye) [YEH-yeh]: grandpa (father’s father)
   • 奶奶 (nǎinai) [NYE-nye]: grandma (father’s mother)
   • 外公 (wàigōng) [why-GONG]: grandpa (mother’s father)
   • 外婆 (wàipó) [why-PWAH]: grandma (mother’s mother)
   • 我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ) [woh eye NEE]: I love you
4. Show how

   Show: What do you call your dad’s mother?

   Say this: “Dad’s side.”

   Say this: “Grandma on Dad’s side is 奶奶.”

   Answer: 奶奶 (nǎinai).

   Show: What do you call your mom’s father?

   Say this: “Mom’s side uses 外.”

   Say this: “Grandpa on Mom’s side is 外公.”

   Answer: 外公 (wàigōng).

5. Practice together

   Do this: Ask out loud. Let your child try first; help only after a real try.

   Ask: Say I love you in Chinese.

   Listen for: 我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ).

   Ask: What is 爷爷?

   Listen for: Grandpa (Dad’s father).

   Ask: What do you call Mom’s mother?

   Listen for: 外婆 (wàipó).

   1 more on the lesson page.

6. Project: A card for Grandma and Grandpa

   Read aloud: Make a card to send to a grandparent.

   Steps:

   1. Draw yourself with your grandparent.
   2. Write (or trace) 我爱你 inside.
   3. Add the right title: 爷爷, 奶奶, 外公 or 外婆.
   4. Mail it or hand it over with both hands.

   Tips for you:

   • Ask a parent which title is right for each grandparent.

   Done when your child can say:

   • My card says 我爱你.
   • I used the right title.
7. Sketchbook

   Do this: Your child picks one or more; you write the date.

   1. Draw your grandparents. Write their Chinese titles under them.
8. From history

   Read aloud: In many Chinese families, grandparents help raise the grandchildren, and several generations may live together. Caring for one’s parents in old age is seen as a great duty.

9. Watch for
   • Using 奶奶 for both grandmas. Mom’s mother is 外婆.
   • Saying 爷爷 yéye with a falling tone. It rises: YEH-yeh.
10. Game: Family match

    Lay out cards with family words and cards with pictures. Match each word to its picture and say it out loud.

11. Narration

    Say this: “Tell me what you learned today.”

    Listen for: Say 爷爷 and 奶奶 (Dad’s parents) and 外公 and 外婆 (Mom’s parents).; Say 我爱你 (I love you).; Honor grandparents with kind words.

12. Scripture

    Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

    In the Chinese Bible (Chinese Union Version), this verse reads: <span class="zh-block" lang="zh-Hans">子孙为老人的冠冕；父亲是儿女的荣耀。</span><span class="py-line">Zǐ sūn wéi lǎo rén de guān miǎn; fù qīn shì ér nǚ de róng yào.</span> Grandchildren are a crown to their grandparents, and children are proud of a good father. God gives families joy in each other.

Spread over the week

3 sessions of 15–20 minutes. Stop while it is still going well.

1. Session 1. Warm-up, then read and teach the new idea and the new words. Show how.
2. Session 2. Practice together, then start the project. Finish the project, then the sketchbook.
3. Session 3. Narration, the game and the Scripture.