Chinese Mandarin Course 1011: Standard (Beginners)

Chinese. Learn Chinese with us.

COVID-19 update: arrangement of our courses

We are now delivering courses both online and in-person. Please check the delivery format for each class before you enrol.

Please note that course materials for all classes (excluding prescribed textbooks) are shared electronically within 48 hours of a course starting. Printing is not available.

Level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)

This beginner’s course covers Integrated Chinese Level 1 Part 1, Lessons 1 to 2 and is taught over ten weekly sessions of two hours per week. The content of this course and Chinese Mandarin 1012: Standard is also available over four hours per week in two sessions by completing Chinese Mandarin 101: Intensive (Beginners).

No prior knowledge of the language is required.

Aims

This course aims to:

• introduce the first year of study and 70 vocabulary items
• cover the basics with simple, graded activities on essential topics such as greetings, family etc.
• introduce basic grammatical structures
• position pinyin close to characters so you can focus on speaking and pronunciation
• introduce the system of character writing---hanzi, as a guide to literacy.

Outcomes

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• master the Chinese phonetic system and read Chinese pinyin with correct pronunciation and tone
• discuss 70 vocabulary items and recognise around 80 Chinese characters
• exchange basic greetings in Chinese, introduce yourself and others, and ask and answer questions about personal details such as name, surname, nationality, family members, etc.
• introduce your profession and ask about other’s professions in Chinese
• employ basic Chinese kinship terms and describe a family photo in Chinese
• deliver a presentation introducing yourself and your family in Chinese, both orally and in written form
• gain insight into the Chinese writing system and skills in writing characters in correct stroke order.

Content

This course covers the following topics:

• general introduction to Mandarin and Chinese dialects
• Chinese Pinyin system — 21 consonants, 6 major vowels and 29 compound vowels, 4 tones
• practice of pronunciation and tones
• review of over 70 Vocabulary items — nouns related to greetings, self-introduction, name, nationality, family, siblings, photo, professions, identities; basic verbs, adverbs, particles
• basic grammar — basic sentence structure of declarative sentences, Yes or No questions, special questions, use of adverbs, measure words, particles
• basic greetings, self-introduction, asking and introducing name, nationality and family members, describing a photo
• chinese writing system — Chinese character categories, basic Chinese radicals, character writing rules, basic stroke order
• practice writing 30 characters
• introduction to Chinese culture — names and kinship relations etc.

Intended audience

Suitable for beginner A1 level students. No prior knowledge of the language is required.

Delivery style

Delivered in the form of an interactive workshop where active participation is encouraged.

Prescribed text

• Integrated Chinese, Level 1 Part 1 Textbook, 3rd Edition (Simplified & Traditional)
• Integrated Chinese, Level 1 Part 1 Workbook, 3rd Edition (Simplified & Traditional)
• Integrated Chinese, Level 1 Part 1 Character Workbook, 3rd Edition (Simplified & Traditional)

Both simplified and traditional character versions of the textbook and the two workbooks are available, however the simplified version will be taught in the classroom. You can also opt for the electronic version of materials.

While the Textbook is required, the Workbook and Character Workbook are optional but recommended.

In addition to purchasing online, you may also be able to source textbooks from our preferred textbook suppliers.

Textbooks should only be purchased after confirmation is received from us. This usually occurs up to five days prior to commencement.

Suggested textbook suppliers

booktopia
booktopia.com.au

Language Book Centre
languagebooks.com.au

Take your enrolment confirmation and a copy of this page to the Language Book Centre to receive a 10% discount off the price of the recommended text.

Please note that in some cases, our suggested supplier may not stock your prescribed text. Please check stock availability prior to signing up for any membership.

Please note

Selected courses that teach spoken language may include use of language immersion (course instruction in the selected language) as part of the training strategy.