Chinese Mandarin Beginners (Year 1) Short Courses

What will I learn?

Module 1

Topics covered

• Numerals;
• Formal and informal greetings;
• Introductions;
• Surname and full name;
• Nationality and birth place;
• Country and language;
• Age and birthday;
• Relationship and marital status.

Grammatical structures

• Pinyin pronunciation;
• Basic sentence structures and word orders;
• Particles: ‘ma’,’ne’;
• Other question words "nǎli" and "shéi";
• Use past tense particle "le";
• Common measure words;
• Negate verbs with "méiyǒu/ méi";
• Basis speech pattern: dàn shì.

Learning objectives

• Greeting each other;
• Introducing oneself and others;
• Asking about nationality and birthday place;
• Talking about countries and people;
• Exchanging information on language;
• Asking about age and marital status;
• Paying compliments;
• Responding to comments;
• Number of people in the family;
• Job and occupation;
• Numerals.

Module 2

Topics covered

• Telephone numbers;
• Time expressions;
• Appointment and opening hour;
• Days and dates;
• Plans and duration;
• Making phone calls and sending emails;
• Dates and days.

Grammatical structures

• Question word “jǐ” and ‘duō shǎo’;
• Sentence structure “cóng…dào”;
• The use of “yǒu”;
• Affirmative/negative question structure “ hǎo bu hǎo/xíng bu xíng”;
• Past perfect tense;
• Present continuous particle “zài”;
• Use “huì” to indicate future tense.
• How to use three particles: ‘ma’,’ne’ and ‘ba’;
• Question words "shénme shíhou” and ‘ji hao’, ‘xing qi ji’.

Learning objectives

• Exchanging telephone number and email address.;
• Asking and telling the time;
• Dates and days;
• Discussing daily routine;
• Making enquiry on opening hour;
• Talking about family and asking about someone's family;
• Discussing job and work place;
• Discussing schooling;
• Talking about weekly plans.

Module 3

Topics covered

• Jobs and occupation;
• Weather and seasons;
• Transportation;
• Locations and public places;
• Directions and positions;
• Currencies and prices;
• Shopping.

Grammatical structures

• Using “zài” as preposition;
• Duōjiǔ for time and duration;
• Use “háishì" for alternatives;
• Common measure words.

Learning objectives

• Making enquiry after someone;
• Describing weather;
• Discussing favourite seasons;
• Talking about means of transportation;
• Asking for directions;
• Asking and telling prices and currencies;
• Buying fruits;
• Giving suggestions on buying gifts.

Eligibility

Prerequisite knowledge

Modules are taught at progressive levels, if you have no prior knowledge you must start at Module One in the autumn (October).

If you wish to join Module Two of the Chinese Mandarin short course (in January), you must have completed Module One or be familiar with the content taught in Module One, specified in the What will I learn? section.

If you wish to enrol on Module Three of the short course (in April/May), you must have completed both Module One and Module Two or be familiar with the content taught in these two modules, found in the What will I learn? section.

Please check your level by using our online guidelines before enrolling.

English requirements

You will need to respond to instructions and read course documents in English.

Teaching & assessment

The emphasis of this Mandarin Chinese short course is on listening and speaking. The lessons focus on language that is required in authentic situations. Pinyin is used throughout the course.

Classroom activities will include:

• Role-playing;
• classroom discussion;
• pair and group work;
• work on pronunciation and intonation;
• grammar in context.

Listening to audio clips and watching videos are an important element in our lessons. More comprehensive grammar exercises and reading texts are generally set as homework.

All evaluation will take place in a relaxed and informal setting.

There is no formal assessment and no qualification is issued at the end of the course, but you will be awarded an official City, University of London certificate on completion of the course. You must attend over 70 per cent of the classes to be eligible for the certificate.

Recommended reading

Course book:

Discover China Student Book One (Discover China Chinese Language Learning Series) Paperback – 30 Aug 2010

Work book (optional):

Discover China Workbook One (Discover China Chinese Language Learning Series) Paperback – 27 Sep 2010