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FutureLearn

Learn Chinese: Introduction to Chinese Pronunciation and Tone

Shanghai International Studies University via FutureLearn

Overview

Become comfortable pronouncing the syllables in the Mandarin Chinese language

Understanding the correct pronunciation and tone of Mandarin Chinese is essential for beginners learning the language. On this three-week course, you’ll be introduced to Chinese phonetics, tones, and syllables to help build your confidence in speaking Chinese.

Using videos and audio content to enhance your learning, this interactive course will teach you the main rules of spelling and how to correct errors in pronunciation.

You’ll cover useful phrases such as greetings, self-introduction, expressing thanks, love, and apology to help you become more comfortable in speaking Chinese Mandarin correctly.

Understand the basics of Chinese phonetics

You’ll learn the key elements of Chinese phonology, including initials, finals, and the four main tones to help you speak the language more effectively.

As well as this, you’ll learn how to tackle the difficult Chinese pronunciations by understanding how to differentiate similar sounds.

You’ll also improve your Chinese written skills by learning the core rules of spelling.

Use Pinyin to develop your Mandarin pronunciation

Pinyin is a helpful and widely-used tool that uses the Latin alphabet to write Mandarin Chinese. You’ll learn how to use this system to help you accurately pronounce different words, and further your study of the language.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to demonstrate impressive pronunciation of all syllables in Mandarin Chinese, and feel confident in applying words and sentences to daily communication.

This course is designed for beginners who want to improve their Chinese speaking skills, and learn the correct pronunciation of the language.

Syllabus

  • Introduction to Pinyin: initials and finals 1
    • Introduction to Pinyin
    • Initials and Finals 1
  • Initials and finals 2 and special cases in Pinyin
    • Initials and Finals 2
    • Special cases in Chinese Pinyin
  • Differentiation of similar sounds
    • Differentiation of similar sounds 1
    • Differentiation of similar sounds 2

Taught by

Zhu Xuan

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4.8 rating at FutureLearn based on 39 ratings

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