Chinese for Beginners

Undergraduate

This language training course introduces students to Mandarin Chinese. Students focus on learning essential vocabulary, practicing pronunciation with Pin Yin, understanding simple grammatical structures, and communicating effectively in Mandarin on a limited range of topics related to everyday situations. Students practice listening and speaking in real-life situations, learn to read and write Chinese characters, and examine how culture and language interact in China. In-class activities and course assignments aim to assist students as they develop the oral proficiency and confidence necessary to initiate simple conversations. Out-of-classroom experiences such as a field trip (to a local store for example) and guided interactions with native speakers supplement formal classroom instruction and provide ample opportunities for practical engagement. (Only for students with no or minimal previous background in spoken or written Mandarin.) (This is an experiential learning course).