艰难对话 Hard Conversations

By the end of this module you can…

• Give serious news with the six steps: sit, ask, warn, tell, pause, plan.
• Support a pregnancy loss with words that help, and lift the blame.
• Offer choices after a loss, and memories after a later loss, without pressure.
• Ask about safety at home privately, and respond well if she says yes.
• Know when your Mandarin is enough, and when to call an interpreter.

Key vocabulary

Sixteen words from this module. Tap the speaker to hear each one.

Loss

• 流产liú chǎnPregnancy loss (miscarriage)
• 胎停tāi tíngMissed miscarriage
• 宫外孕gōng wài yùnEctopic pregnancy
• 清宫qīng gōngA procedure to empty the womb
• 药流yào liúMedicine to complete a loss or end a pregnancy
• 悲伤bēi shāngGrief
• 遗憾yí hànRegret; 我很遗憾: I’m so sorry
• 纪念盒jì niàn héMemory box

Safety and choices

• 家暴jiā bàoDomestic violence
• 安全ān quánSafe; safety
• 伤害shāng hàiTo harm
• 威胁wēi xiéTo threaten
• 求助热线qiú zhù rè xiànHelpline
• 社工shè gōngSocial worker
• 意外怀孕yì wài huái yùnUnplanned pregnancy
• 选择xuǎn zéChoice

Ten core phrases

The lines from this module’s take-home phrase sheet. In the course you can print them on one page for your pocket.

1. 我们去安静的房间坐下来说，好吗？Wǒ men qù ān jìng de fáng jiān zuò xià lai shuō, hǎo ma?Let’s sit down somewhere quiet.
2. 我有一个不好的消息要告诉您。Wǒ yǒu yí ge bù hǎo de xiāo xi yào gào su nín.I have some bad news.
3. 我很遗憾。您慢慢来，我在这儿。Wǒ hěn yí hàn. Nín màn màn lái, wǒ zài zhèr.I’m so sorry. Take your time; I’m here.
4. 这不是您的错。Zhè bú shì nín de cuò.This isn’t your fault.
5. 接下来有几种选择，不用今天决定。Jiē xià lai yǒu jǐ zhǒng xuǎn zé, bú yòng jīn tiān jué dìng.There are options; no need to decide today.
6. 您想见见宝宝吗？想或者不想，都可以。Nín xiǎng jiàn jian bǎo bao ma? Xiǎng huò zhě bù xiǎng, dōu kě yǐ.Would you like to see the baby? Either is fine.
7. 在家里，您觉得安全吗？Zài jiā lǐ, nín jué de ān quán ma?Do you feel safe at home?
8. 有没有人掐过您的脖子？Yǒu méi yǒu rén qiā guo nín de bó zi?Has anyone ever choked you?
9. 下一步怎么做，由您决定。Xià yí bù zěn me zuò, yóu nín jué dìng.What happens next is your decision.
10. 这个谈话很重要，我请一位专业翻译来，好吗？Zhè ge tán huà hěn zhòng yào, wǒ qǐng yí wèi zhuān yè fān yì lái, hǎo ma?This matters: I’ll get a professional interpreter.

What’s in Module 12

1. Part 1 · Warm-UpWarm-Up: The Hardest Days
2. Part 2 · The Words for Hard DaysReading the Pinyin · Saying 没保住 vs. Charting 自然流产 · Vocabulary · Flash Cards · Six Steps for Serious News
3. Part 3 · Pregnancy LossThe Serious News Script · The Warning Shot and the Pause · Key Patterns · Words That Help, Words That Hurt · Choices After a Miscarriage · When a Baby Dies Later
4. Part 4 · Safety and ChoicesAsking About Safety at Home · If She Says Yes · Pregnancy Options, Without Judgment
5. Part 5 · Concerns & InterpretersWhat Patients Say · Your Mandarin, or an Interpreter? · Putting It Together
6. Part 6 · Role-PlayRound 1 · Guided Conversation · Round 2 · Controlled Practice · Rounds 3, 4 & 5 · Independent
7. Part 7 · Knowledge CheckModule 12 Knowledge Check
8. Part 8 · Wrap-UpModule 12 Homework · Take-Home Phrase Sheet · Module 12 Wrap-Up · 下次见