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The Open University

Getting started with Chinese 1

The Open University via OpenLearn

Overview

Have you always wanted to learn how to speak Mandarin Chinese? Are you fascinated by the sound, the script and its ancient civilisation? If so, this introduction will get you started on the essentials of reading, writing, speaking and listening in Chinese through a variety of online activities. A perfect introduction for absolute beginners!This OpenLearn course is an extract from the beginning of the Open Centre for Languages and Cultures short course, LGXC001 Beginners Chinese 1. After completing this free course, you may wish to register for the full course to continue your learning!

Syllabus

  • Introduction
  • Introduction
  • Open Centre for Languages and Cultures
  • Acknowledgements
  • Week1Week 1: Say hello
  • Introduction
  • 1 Say hello
  • 2 Pinyin and tones
  • 3 Tone changes
  • 4 Hello or goodbye?
  • 5 Pronunciation: initials
  • 6 Pronunciation: single finals
  • 7 What would you say?
  • 8 Build a language notebook
  • 9 This week’s quiz
  • 10 Practising and consolidating
  • 11 Practising and expanding
  • 12 Summary of Week 1
  • Acknowledgements
  • Week2Week 2: Responding to greetings
  • Introduction
  • 1 Asking ‘how are you?
  • 2 Asking ‘how about you?’
  • 3 Responding to xièxie (thanks)
  • 4 Personal pronouns
  • 5 Numbers from 0 to 99
  • 6 Pronunciation
  • 7 What would you say?
  • 8 Build a language notebook
  • 9 This week’s quiz
  • 10 Practising and consolidating
  • 11 Practising and expanding
  • 12 Summary of Week 2
  • Acknowledgements

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