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Learning Chinese

Start From Scratch (零到一學中文)

竺靜華

This is a six-week introductory course in Mandarin Chinese conversation. The course will be taught completely in Mandarin, however students are not expected to have any experience learning Chinese.

This course’s main objective is to study practical conversation. By watching videos showing various kinds of situations, learners will recognize and understand vocabulary, pair everyday words together with grammar to form short phrases, and learn the correct way to express words used in day-to-day life.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Greetings

Starting from the first step of cultural communication, the course introduces how Chinese people greet others and respond to greetings. Students will learn 25 simple words and form short phrases, beginning to communicate with others.

Introduce yourself

This week’s lesson uses ‘Studying Chinese’ as its main theme. Students will learn how to make a self-introduction, meet classmates from different countries, learn vocabulary commonly used in the classroom, use 31 new words, talk about themselves and their classmates, and understand how Chinese words are formed from individual characters as well as their meaning and the ways they can change.

Shopping

Learn everyday simple statements, such as being able to talk about: time, temperature, making choices when shopping, and personal likes and dislikes. Using 33 new words, make statements about one’s everyday life, talk about the things one wants to buy.

Ｍaking an order

Learn numbers and measure words while eating food, understand how eating food is an expression of Chinese culture, and use 41 new words to make statements about eating food as well as express desires, preferences, and opinions.

Taking bus to school

Recognize different modes of transportation and describe walking on the street, learn to use 41 simple words and form short phrases, make statements based on observations of urban streetscapes and the perceived distance of objects.

Daily Dialogue

Learn to talk about attending school, going to work, forms of communication, and leisure activities. Use 40 words to form short phrases, talk about one’s work and relations with other people at school.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores practical communication with realistic videos, bridging Chinese characters to daily life

Builds a foundation in Mandarin conversation, making it suitable for beginners

Covers introductions, shopping, dining, transportation, and daily activities, providing a range of scenarios

Immerses learners in Mandarin, enhancing their comprehension and pronunciation

Teaches vocabulary and grammar through practical examples, facilitating retention

Exclusively conducted in Mandarin, requiring no prior language knowledge

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Reviews summary

Master basic chinese: from absolute beginners

This Chinese language course for beginners teaches practical conversation through videos, vocabulary, and grammar. Students will learn to form short phrases, understand vocabulary, and express themselves in daily life situations. The course is taught entirely in Mandarin, but does not require any prior knowledge of Chinese.

Course uses video dialogues with real-life situations to help with comprehension.

"Highly recommend this course for the beginners as there are video dialogues with the situations discussed which is easy to understand and define what are they talking about."

Course uses traditional Chinese characters.

"This course was a bit hard for me because I stared learing simplified chinese and this was a bit different from that but it was interesting learning and it was good"

Course uses only Mandarin to assist with immersion and practice.

"The course is taught completely in Mandarin"

Course focuses on practical conversations and vocabulary for everyday use.

"The course’s main objective is to study practical conversation."

"By watching videos showing various kinds of situations, learners will recognize and understand vocabulary, pair everyday words together with grammar to form short phrases, and learn the correct way to express words used in day-to-day life."

"Learn everyday simple statements, such as being able to talk about: time, temperature, making choices when shopping, and personal likes and dislikes."

Course lacks English subtitles or translation, making it difficult for beginners.

"The lectures are given in chinese and some parts lack english translation making it impossible to understand without knowing chinese."

"There is no english translation to make the process of understanding the meaning of the characters easier."

"It's very difficult. And I can't pass the quiz. I would like to have more explanations for each sample."

"but not for beginners, since it doesn't provide any written material - what makes really hard for the students to take notes - nor the videos are clear enough to understand all word without a translator."

Course pace may be too fast for beginners.

"If you are actually brand new and plan to "start from scratch" you may find this course overwhelming with its a bit too immersive style of teaching."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Learning Chinese : Start From Scratch (零到一學中文) with these activities:

Review cultural nuances

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Help learners reacquaint themselves with Chinese cultural norms and conversational etiquette prior to beginning the course

Browse courses on Chinese Culture

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Research common Chinese customs and traditions
Read articles or watch videos about Chinese culture
Try practicing some basic Chinese greetings and phrases

Read 'Conversational Chinese for Beginners'

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Provide learners with a foundational understanding of conversational Chinese before the course starts

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Read through the first few chapters of the book
Complete the exercises and activities in the book

Practice listening to and understanding Chinese audio

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Help learners improve their active listening skills and enhance their ability to understand spoken Chinese

Browse courses on Listening Comprehension

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Find online audio resources, such as podcasts or videos, in Chinese
Listen to the audio and try to understand the main ideas
Repeat the audio several times to improve comprehension

Five other activities

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Show all eight activities

Create a dialogue between two people meeting for the first time

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Allow learners to practice creating their own Chinese conversations, improving their understanding of grammar and vocabulary

Browse courses on Conversational Chinese

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Brainstorm ideas for a conversation
Write out the dialogue, including appropriate grammar and vocabulary
Practice speaking the dialogue aloud

Join a language exchange group or find a conversation partner

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Provide learners with the opportunity to practice speaking and listening to Chinese in a real-life setting

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Find a language exchange partner who is a native Chinese speaker
Arrange regular meetings to practice speaking and listening to Chinese

Create a Chinese language learning portfolio

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Encourage learners to document their progress and reflect on their learning journey, fostering self-awareness and motivation

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Set up a notebook or online portfolio to document their learning
Regularly add notes, reflections, and examples of their work
Review their portfolio periodically to identify areas for improvement

Volunteer at a local Chinese community center or organization

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Provide learners with a real-world opportunity to immerse themselves in Chinese language and culture while giving back to their community

Browse courses on Volunteering

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Research local Chinese community centers or organizations
Contact the organization to inquire about volunteer opportunities
Commit to a regular volunteering schedule

Contribute to open-source Chinese language learning resources

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Engage learners in a collaborative and meaningful way, fostering a sense of ownership and contribution to the Chinese language learning community

Browse courses on Open-Source

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Identify open-source Chinese language learning projects
Contribute code, documentation, or other resources to the project

Career center

Learners who complete Learning Chinese : Start From Scratch (零到一學中文) will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Language Learner

A Language Learner is someone who knows multiple languages and can use them to communicate with people from different cultures. This course can help you become a more effective Language Learner by teaching you the basics of Mandarin Chinese. You will learn how to greet people, introduce yourself, and have basic conversations. This knowledge will be invaluable if you want to work in a field that requires you to interact with people from different cultures.

See salaries and explore the career path for Language Learner

Teacher

A Teacher is someone who educates students in a particular subject. This course can help you become a more effective Teacher of Mandarin Chinese by providing you with the resources and knowledge you need to teach students the basics of the language. You will learn how to greet people, introduce yourself, and have basic conversations. This knowledge will be invaluable if you want to teach Mandarin Chinese in a school or other educational setting.

See salaries and explore the career path for Teacher

Interpreter

An Interpreter is someone who translates spoken or written words from one language to another. This course can help you become a more effective Interpreter by teaching you the basics of Mandarin Chinese. You will learn how to greet people, introduce yourself, and have basic conversations. This knowledge will be invaluable if you want to work as an Interpreter in a field such as healthcare, education, or business.

See salaries and explore the career path for Interpreter

Journalist

A Journalist is someone who reports on news and current events. This course can help you become a more effective Journalist by teaching you the basics of Mandarin Chinese. You will learn how to greet people, introduce yourself, and have basic conversations. This knowledge will be invaluable if you want to report on China or Chinese culture.

See salaries and explore the career path for Journalist

Writer

A Writer is someone who creates written content, such as books, articles, and scripts. This course can help you become a more effective Writer by teaching you the basics of Mandarin Chinese. You will learn how to greet people, introduce yourself, and have basic conversations. This knowledge will be invaluable if you want to write about China or Chinese culture.

See salaries and explore the career path for Writer

Translator

A Translator is someone who translates written text from one language to another. This course can help you become a more effective Translator by teaching you the basics of Mandarin Chinese. You will learn how to greet people, introduce yourself, and have basic conversations. This knowledge will be invaluable if you want to translate Chinese documents or literature.

See salaries and explore the career path for Translator

Businessperson

A Businessperson is someone who owns or manages a business. This course can help you become a more effective Businessperson by teaching you the basics of Mandarin Chinese. You will learn how to greet people, introduce yourself, and have basic conversations. This knowledge will be invaluable if you want to do business with China or Chinese companies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Businessperson

Diplomat

A Diplomat is someone who represents their country in foreign affairs. This course can help you become a more effective Diplomat by teaching you the basics of Mandarin Chinese. You will learn how to greet people, introduce yourself, and have basic conversations. This knowledge will be invaluable if you want to work in the foreign service or in a diplomatic role.

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Consultant

A Consultant is someone who provides expert advice to businesses or organizations. This course can help you become a more effective Consultant by teaching you the basics of Mandarin Chinese. You will learn how to greet people, introduce yourself, and have basic conversations. This knowledge will be invaluable if you want to consult with Chinese businesses or organizations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Consultant

Marketer

A Marketer is someone who promotes products or services. This course can help you become a more effective Marketer by teaching you the basics of Mandarin Chinese. You will learn how to greet people, introduce yourself, and have basic conversations. This knowledge will be invaluable if you want to market to Chinese consumers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketer

Recruiter

A Recruiter is someone who finds and hires qualified candidates for jobs. This course can help you become a more effective Recruiter by teaching you the basics of Mandarin Chinese. You will learn how to greet people, introduce yourself, and have basic conversations. This knowledge will be invaluable if you want to recruit Chinese candidates.

See salaries and explore the career path for Recruiter

Product Manager

A Product Manager is someone who manages the development and marketing of products. This course can help you become a more effective Product Manager by teaching you the basics of Mandarin Chinese. You will learn how to greet people, introduce yourself, and have basic conversations. This knowledge will be invaluable if you want to manage products in China or with Chinese companies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Project Manager

A Project Manager is someone who plans and executes projects. This course can help you become a more effective Project Manager by teaching you the basics of Mandarin Chinese. You will learn how to greet people, introduce yourself, and have basic conversations. This knowledge will be invaluable if you want to manage projects in China or with Chinese companies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Salesperson

A Salesperson is someone who sells products or services. This course can help you become a more effective Salesperson by teaching you the basics of Mandarin Chinese. You will learn how to greet people, introduce yourself, and have basic conversations. This knowledge will be invaluable if you want to sell to Chinese customers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Salesperson

Customer Service Representative

A Customer Service Representative is someone who provides customer service to clients. This course can help you become a more effective Customer Service Representative by teaching you the basics of Mandarin Chinese. You will learn how to greet people, introduce yourself, and have basic conversations. This knowledge will be invaluable if you want to provide customer service to Chinese customers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Customer Service Representative

Reading list

We've selected 23 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Learning Chinese : Start From Scratch (零到一學中文).

Consultative Democracy or Consultative...

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Commonly used textbook for introductory Mandarin Chinese courses. It emphasizes the development of practical conversation skills and provides a solid foundation in grammar and vocabulary.

Learning Chinese

Start From Scratch (零到一學中文)

What's inside

Syllabus

Good to know

Save this course

Reviews summary

Master basic chinese: from absolute beginners

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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