Mandarin Chinese 1

Course Title: Mandarin Chinese 1

Type of Course: Adult Education

Credit: Not credit bearing

Weekly Session Titles and Descriptions

The weekly programme will depend on the specific group dynamics, with the tutor moderating the content depending on the development of skills across the whole group.

Course Overview

This course is aimed at those with no prior knowledge of Mandarin Chinese and aims to provide you with a thorough grounding in the sounds of Mandarin Chinese, as well as some basic speech patterns that will equip them to deal with everyday situations. Topics covered include basic greetings, the family, likes and dislikes, food, and shopping.

The focus of the course will be on speaking and listening, but students will be also taught the rudiments of Chinese script, after which they can choose whether to continue learning Chinese characters or concentrate on learning the language through the medium of Romanized Chinese.

Required Previous Experience (if any)

None required.

Required Reading Material or Special Equipment Needed (if any)

None required.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this course you will be better prepared to:

• give basic greetings, talk about your family, likes and dislikes, food and shopping
• understand the basic principles of Mandarin Chinese sentence structure;
• begin to form the sounds of Mandarin Chinese pronounciation
• understand the rudiments of the Chinese script.

Teaching and Learning Approach

The teaching and learning approach for this course combines tutor-led instruction, group activities, and independent study supported by individual guidance from the tutor. Classes are conducted face-to-face in a classroom setting and utilise diverse teaching methods, including presentations, multimedia resources, class discussions, and interactive activities. These methods are selected to engage students, accommodate varied learning styles, and support effective understanding of the subject matter. The approach is also designed to recognise and be responsive to the diverse experiences, backgrounds, identities, and cultural perspectives represented within the student cohort, fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment for all students.

Additional information

This course descriptor may be subject to change during the delivery of the course, depending on the specific direction and nature of the learner cohort, and is intended to be responsive to the group dynamics as they emerge during the delivery of the course.