Chinese 1 (Level 4)

Chinese 1 is ideal for students with little or no knowledge of Mandarin Chinese.

This short course provides you with the fundamental grammar, basic skills and conversation practice to be able to express yourself in a variety of social situations, including for travel in Sinophone areas. You will study present and past tenses and the meaning of simple requests, statements and questions in everyday situations. You will also learn Chinese characters and vocabulary and be introduced to the basic culture and society of China and other Sinophone contexts.

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• express yourself in basic Mandarin Chinese in simple everyday social situations, which include standard greetings, asking about nationality/occupation, shopping, taking transportation, ordering a meal, talking about everyday routines, past holidays, inviting people for a meal/drink, expressing likes/dislikes, making reservations, asking for directions, making polite requests, asking for permission
• understand the meaning of simple statements and questions in predictable everyday situations in face-to-face situations or via electronic media, such as the phone
• understand the main points of simple texts written in Chinese characters, which include some basic written directions and instructions in everyday life
• formulate simple messages and texts connected with your own life using a limited range of specified structures
• read and write Chinese characters.

Classes are interactive and taught by native speakers.

The course is assessed via three in-class tests (15%, 20% and 20%), a three-hour examination including oral interview (40%) and class participation (5%).