Choose a start date
Learn at a moderate pace with our Chinese Mandarin Beginners short course. Starting in October, you will progress through three modules over a one-year period.
Have you heard Chinese expressions Xièxie and Ní hǎo from those Kung Fu films and wondered what they mean? Do you want to be able to introduce yourself in Mandarin on Skype to your colleagues in Shanghai?
This Beginners Chinese Mandarin short course is an introduction to the Mandarin Chinese language and way of life in China. Challenging but rewarding, the Chinese Mandarin Beginners course is perfectly suited to those working full time or anyone looking to improve their skills and knowledge.
The course consists of one evening class a week, for a total of 30 weeks; spread across three modules, which is ideal for those with various commitments or working full-time.
All of our language short courses are taught by qualified native speakers and delivered at City, University of London’s main campus, in the heart of the capital.
The course offers a systematic learning style for beginners who want to lay a solid foundation in Chinese grammar and sentence structures. It focuses on daily communication and uses the phonetic system, Pinyin, to develop speaking and listening skills. Hands-on tasks and role play exercises are used to create realistic situations in which the use of language and culture is explored.
If you have no prior knowledge of Chinese Mandarin you must start with Module One, which takes place in October term.
If you have some basic knowledge of Chinese Mandarin and you are already familiar with the content of Module One you may choose to enrol on Module Two or Module Three. See the Eligibility section below for more details.
If you are a complete beginner but you have missed October enrolment for the Chinese Mandarin Beginners course you can join our Chinese Mandarin Beginners Fast Track course in January or the Chinese Mandarin Summer Intensive course in May.
Please make sure you have the correct level by using our online guidelines.
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.
You will need to respond to instructions and read course documents in English.
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:
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.
Course book:
Discover China Student Book One (Discover China Chinese Language Learning Series) Paperback – 30 Aug 2010
Students are advised to purchase their own copy of the book.
Work book (optional):
Discover China Workbook One (Discover China Chinese Language Learning Series) Paperback – 27 Sep 2010
Ping Chai
Ping Chai started her Mandarin teaching career in Nanjing University, China, where she had studied and worked before she came to the UK and studied in Westminster University and University of Sheffield.
Ping is a chartered linguist. She has been giving in-house specialised business Chinese training for professionals, diplomats and journalists, and practicing translation over many years. Ping also has guided some learners to take HSK, CEFR, GCSE and other exams and tests. She has tutored professionals to take professional Chinese qualification exams.
