Mandarin Chinese 1: Chinese for Beginners

Shanghai Jiao Tong University via Coursera

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/mandarin-chinese-1

Introduction

### Course Review: Mandarin Chinese 1: Chinese for Beginners If you're looking to embark on your journey of learning Mandarin Chinese, **Mandarin Chinese 1: Chinese for Beginners** on Coursera is the perfect starting point. This engaging five-week course is designed for absolute beginners and requires no prior knowledge, making it accessible to anyone interested in exploring the language and culture of China. #### Overview The course uses a diverse blend of lectures, short plays, interactive exercises, and cultural insights to facilitate learning. Throughout the course, learners will acquire essential skills, including vocabulary of approximately 150 words and mastery of 20 language points, enabling them to navigate five real-life situations by the end of the program. #### What You Will Learn The syllabus is thoughtfully structured to build your conversational skills progressively. Here’s a quick breakdown: - **Lessons 1 & 2** focus on greetings, introductions, and telling time – crucial skills for everyday interactions. - **Lessons 3** dives into shopping vocabulary and expressions related to money, which are invaluable when traveling or living in China. - **Lessons 4** covers family-related vocabulary, helping you describe your loved ones and their professions. - **Lesson 5** wraps up the course by introducing essential food terminology and how to place orders in Mandarin. Each lesson is divided into two parts to reinforce learning and comprehension, ensuring you grasp each concept thoroughly. #### Interactive Learning The course’s interactive format keeps you engaged through various exercises that reinforce your spoken language skills, which are essential for real-life communication. The incorporation of cultural tips enriches your understanding of the context in which the language is used, making your learning experience more holistic. #### Recommendation I highly recommend **Mandarin Chinese 1: Chinese for Beginners** for anyone interested in learning Mandarin. Its structured approach, thorough content, and interactive methods create a welcoming environment for newbies. Whether you're preparing for travel, seeking to connect with Mandarin speakers, or simply curious about the language, this course offers the foundational skills you need. Dive in, and start your Mandarin journey today!

Syllabus

Lesson 1 Nǐ hǎo 你好 Hello! Part 1

Learning how to greet people; Learning how to introduce one's name and nationality

Lesson 1 Nǐ hǎo 你好 Hello! Part 2

Learning how to greet people; Learning how to introduce one's name and nationality

Lesson 2 Xiànzài jǐ diǎn ? 现在几点? What's the time? Part 1

Learning how to express numbers; Learning how to express time: the time, years, month and dates

Lesson 2 Xiànzài jǐ diǎn ? 现在几点? What's the time? Part 2

Learning how to express numbers; Learning how to express time: the time, years, month and dates

Lesson 3:Nǐ mǎi shénme? 你买什么? What do you want to buy? Part 1

Learning how to talk about money; Learning the expressions used in shopping

Lesson 3:Nǐ mǎi shénme? 你买什么? What do you want to buy? Part 2

Learning how to talk about money; Learning the expressions used in shopping

Lesson 4 Nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ kǒu rén ? 你家有几口人? How many people are there in your family? Part 1

Learning how to talk about family, occupations and age.

Lesson 4 Nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ kǒu rén ? 你家有几口人? How many people are there in your family? Part 2

Learning how to talk about family, occupations and age.

Lesson 5 Nǐ xiǎnɡ chī shénme? 你想吃什么? What would you like to eat? Part 1

Learning how to order and talk about food.

Lesson 5 Nǐ xiǎnɡ chī shénme? 你想吃什么? What would you like to eat? Part 2

Learning how to order and talk about food.

Overview

Mandarin Chinese 1: Chinese for beginners is a beginner's course of Mandarin Chinese. It uses lectures, short plays, interactive exercises and cultural tips to help learners build a fundamental capability of oral Chinese in real-life situations. At the end of the 5-week course, the learners will reach the following proficiency: ♦ 150 words ♦ 20 language points ♦ handling 5 real-life situations This is a beginners' course, therefore no prerequisite is required.

Skills

Reviews

An Na and Wang Jun Laoshi making mandarin easy to learn. Can't wait for joining the 2nd term as I applied for the financial aids.

This course gives you the option to learn the characters or to simply learn the pinyin. The dialogue videos and scripts are very helpful.

it's really good course, for beginners, hopefully everyone will like the course for sure, thank you teachers for providing such amazing course

This a great course to learn Chinese for real-life purposes. The pace is perfect for adult learners. It's also fun and not stressful at all.

I'm really satisfied with the course. It helps you learn all the basic chinese words you need to make short conversatiosn with people.