Mandarin Beginners Stage 1

Unlock a world of opportunities by learning one of the world’s most spoken languages. This introductory Mandarin course is designed specifically for individuals with very little or no prior knowledge of the language.

Our beginner-friendly Mandarin class focuses on practical, real-world communication. You will learn to understand, read, and express simple words and phrases, giving you the confidence to take part in straightforward, everyday conversations. Beyond the linguistics, you will also gain a rich appreciation for Chinese culture, customs, and traditions.

By the end of this Chinese language class, you will be able to:

• Master the Basics: Identify the alphabet/characters and grasp essential sounds, tones, and intonations.
• Speak with Confidence: Pronounce core vocabulary competently and use basic sentences, negatives, questions, and requests.
• Understand Grammar: Build a foundational grasp of Chinese sentence structures, nouns, adjectives, and verbs.
• Read & Write: Confidently identify, read, and write basic scripts and characters.
• Develop Fluency: Enhance your communication skills through interactive, classroom-based group and pair speaking exercises.

To keep sessions engaging and dynamic, our curriculum incorporates diverse learning strategies and materials, including music and multimedia where appropriate.

Course Materials: What to Bring

This course is led by our experienced instructor, Linda. To ensure you get the most out of Linda’s interactive, face-to-face sessions, please prepare the following materials prior to your first class:

• Required Textbooks: Easy Steps to Chinese (Simplified Characters Version) by Yamin Ma and Xinying Li.
  • Note: You will need both the Textbook and the Workbook from this series (published by Beijing Language and Culture University Press).
• Where to Buy: These can be purchased online via Amazon or locally from Abbey’s Bookshop in the city. (Tip: Ordering online ahead of time is often the most cost-effective option).
• Stationery: A standard notepad and pen for taking notes.

This course is delivered once a week over a period of 8 weeks.

• Alphabet/Characters – Identification and Pronunciation (vowels, consonants, tones in words and structures).
• Greetings (meeting people) – Introducing and describing yourself and others.
• Asking and responding: your and someone’s name; country of origin; your well being (for example ‘how are you?’ ‘where are you from?’ or ‘what’s your name?’).
• Using basic communicative expressions in formal and familiar forms
• Small talk – idioms
• Time – time of the day, days of the week, months; birthdays
• Numbers – For example telephone number, address, money, age
• Cultural Perspective – geography, demography, and social customs
• Practice – Some language learning/study strategies
• Greetings and describing yourself and others, professions, finding out more about somebody
• Restaurants – ordering food, drinks etc.
• Directions
• Likes and dislikes, hobbies, activities, negatives, agreeing and disagreeing, personal opinions, social life, daily activities and routines, family and friends
• Grammar practice, pronouns, possessives, demonstratives, present and past time relations, singular and plural
• Practice, dialogues in formal and informal context – role plays, strategies for language learning, reading text