Mandarin Chinese Level 1 from edX

Chinese is, without a doubt, the most spoken language on the planet.

Learning Chinese will help your company or organization break into the biggest market on the planet. Being able to properly and correctly introduce yourself in Chinese will help you open the door to a whole new world.

Mandarin Chinese Level 1will introduce you to the basic language skills you will need to eat, live, and get around in Mandarin speaking countries, building your confidence to communicate effectively with colleagues, clients and friends in Chinese.

If you enroll in the verified track, you will be able to participate in the Webinar lectured by Dr. Estella Y. Chen, who will lead the discussion with a wide variety of popular topics to accompany you to the world of chinese business culture and trend.

What's more, in the verified track, we'll give you three pronunciation lessons that will help you communicate more smoothly and effectively in a business environment.

Since this is a language course, we recommend taking this course with a friend or group of friends. Practicing with others by speaking the language will help you learn it more effectively.

Additionally, Mandarin is a tonal language, which means that in order to truly master it, you will need to say the words out loud! Join the community of over 900 million native Mandarin speakers and start learning today!

What's inside

Learning objectives

Basic spoken mandarin phrases and vocabulary for everyday life
The importance of proper "tones" in mandarin
Essential and most practical communication skills

Develop your chinese language skills in a business environment
Build your confidence to communicate effectively with colleagues, clients and friends in chinese

Basic spoken mandarin phrases and vocabulary for everyday life
The importance of proper "tones" in mandarin
Essential and most practical communication skills
Develop your chinese language skills in a business environment
Build your confidence to communicate effectively with colleagues, clients and friends in chinese

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Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Develops essential and practical communication skills for Mandarin speaking environments

Builds confidence to communicate effectively with colleagues, clients, and friends in Chinese

Introduces basic spoken Mandarin phrases and vocabulary for everyday life

Taught by Dr. Estella Y. Chen, who is recognized for her work in Chinese business culture and trends

Offers three pronunciation lessons to aid communication in business settings

Recommended to be taken with a friend or group of friends to enhance learning through practice

Reviews summary

Mandarin basics and tones

According to learners, Mandarin Chinese Level 1 is a solid starting point for absolute beginners looking to learn spoken Mandarin. Many highlight the clear explanation of tones as particularly helpful and appreciate the focus on practical, everyday spoken Mandarin. While providing a good foundation, some students noted that the course offers limited instruction in Chinese characters and felt the need for supplementary practice outside the course materials to reinforce learning. The emphasis on business communication seems more prominent in the verified track, which some found a potential drawback if not enrolling in that option. Overall, it provides valuable fundamental skills for spoken Mandarin.

Emphasizes everyday speaking/listening skills.

"The focus on practical, everyday phrases is very helpful. I feel much more confident speaking basic sentences now."

"The focus on practical communication is excellent. I practiced speaking along with the videos and it really helped."

"The focus on spoken language and practical phrases is perfect for my needs. Highly recommend!"

"A solid introduction to Mandarin. It covers the basics well, especially tones and pronunciation. The lessons are engaging..."

Helps learners master essential Mandarin tones.

"The instructors explain the tones very clearly, which is crucial for Mandarin."

"Tones are explained well, and the survival phrases are immediately useful for travel."

"Gave me a good start. Tones are explained well. Useful vocabulary for travel."

"The explanation of tones is the clearest I've seen. The focus on spoken language..."

Great starting point for no prior knowledge.

"Excellent course for absolute beginners! The instructors explain the tones very clearly..."

"As someone with zero prior experience, this was a perfect starting point. Tones are explained well..."

"Wonderful course for a total beginner. Everything is explained step-by-step. The bite-sized lessons are easy..."

"The best beginner Mandarin course I've found online. The explanation of tones is the clearest I've seen."

Specific business content in verified track only.

"Disappointed. The focus on business Chinese is minimal unless you pay for the verified track, which wasn't clear initially."

"Solid level 1 course... The business content being limited to the verified track is a bit of a downside for those not enrolling..."

Requires external practice for fluency gains.

"It felt a bit fast when introducing new vocabulary... you definitely need to supplement with outside practice..."

"A decent start, but it requires a lot of self-discipline to practice the tones correctly on your own."

"The course is okay for learning Pinyin and basic tones... I had to find external resources for more speaking practice."

Does not cover Chinese characters (Hanzi) in depth.

"Disappointed... they don't teach characters, only Pinyin, which feels incomplete even for a Level 1 course."

"Very little emphasis on characters. If you want to learn to read or write, this isn't for you."

"The course is okay for learning Pinyin and basic tones. However, it doesn't teach you any characters..."

"Good foundation in basic spoken Mandarin... I will look for a follow-up course to learn characters."

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 Mandarin Chinese Level 1 with these activities:

Read a book about Mandarin grammar

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Reading a book about Mandarin grammar will help you understand the structure of the language.

View Chinese: A Comprehensive Grammar (Routledge... on Amazon

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Choose a book that is appropriate for your level
Read the book carefully and take notes on the grammar rules
Do the exercises in the book

Use a Mandarin language learning app

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Using a Mandarin language learning app can help you learn new vocabulary and grammar in a fun and engaging way.

Browse courses on Mandarin Chinese

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Choose a Mandarin language learning app that is appropriate for your level
Use the app regularly to learn new vocabulary and grammar
Complete the exercises and quizzes in the app

Watch Mandarin language videos

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Watching Mandarin language videos can help you improve your listening comprehension and learn new vocabulary.

Browse courses on Mandarin Chinese

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Find Mandarin language videos that are appropriate for your level
Watch the videos and listen carefully to the dialogue
Try to imitate the pronunciation and intonation of the speakers

Five other activities

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Show all eight activities

Practice speaking Mandarin

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Listen and repeat basic Mandarin phrases out loud to improve pronunciation and fluency.

Browse courses on Mandarin Chinese

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Find a native Mandarin speaker or language partner
Practice speaking Mandarin with them for at least 30 minutes each day

Join a Mandarin language exchange group

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Joining a language exchange group can help you practice speaking and listening to Mandarin with other learners.

Browse courses on Mandarin Chinese

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Find a Mandarin language exchange group in your area
Attend the group's meetings regularly
Practice speaking Mandarin with the other members of the group

Write short essays in Mandarin

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Writing short essays in Mandarin will help you practice your writing skills and learn new vocabulary.

Browse courses on Mandarin Chinese

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Choose a topic that you are interested in
Write a short essay in Mandarin about the topic
Have your essay reviewed by a native Mandarin speaker or language partner

Create a Mandarin language blog or vlog

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Creating a Mandarin language blog or vlog can help you practice your writing and speaking skills.

Browse courses on Mandarin Chinese

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Choose a topic for your blog or vlog
Create content that is interesting and informative
Publish your content regularly
Promote your blog or vlog to potential readers or viewers

Create a Mandarin language portfolio

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Creating a Mandarin language portfolio can help you track your progress and showcase your skills.

Browse courses on Mandarin Chinese

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Collect samples of your work, such as essays, videos, and audio recordings
Create a portfolio website or blog
Upload your work to your portfolio
Share your portfolio with potential employers or language partners

Career center

Learners who complete Mandarin Chinese Level 1 will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Chinese Language Instructor

Chinese Language Instructors are solely responsible for teaching Mandarin Chinese to students in classrooms. This includes teaching the fundamentals of the language, from vocabulary to pronunciation and grammar. They also provide guidance and support to students as they learn and progress in their studies. This course may be useful in preparing you for a career as a Chinese Language Instructor by introducing you to the basics of the language, which include word choice, the importance of correct tones, and the development of practical communication skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chinese Language Instructor

Translator

Translators convert written or spoken material from one language to another. For instance, a Translator may convert an official document from English to Mandarin Chinese. Alternatively, a Translator may work in-person to help facilitate conversations between two parties who do not speak the same language. This course can help prepare you for a career as a Translator by giving you the opportunity to work on your Mandarin Chinese skills. You will learn vocabulary for everyday life, as well as essential and practical communication skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Translator

Interpreter

Interpreters facilitate spoken communication between individuals who do not speak the same language. For example, an Interpreter working in a hospital setting might assist a doctor in communicating with a patient who does not speak English. This course may be helpful in preparing you for a career as an Interpreter by allowing you to develop the necessary Mandarin Chinese communication skills. You will gain confidence in your ability to communicate effectively with native speakers.

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Language Model Trainer

Language Model Trainers develop, test, and evaluate language models to enable computers to understand and generate human language. For example, a Language Model Trainer might work on developing a model that can translate text from one language to another. Other Language Model Trainers might work on models that can generate text or code. This course may be useful in preparing you for a career as a Language Model Trainer by providing you with a foundation in Mandarin Chinese grammar and pronunciation. This can help you to better understand the structure of language, which is useful in developing models that can process and generate language.

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Journalist

Journalists collect, analyze, and report on news and current events. They may work for newspapers, magazines, websites, or other media outlets. Some Journalists specialize in covering a particular topic, such as politics or sports. This course may be useful in preparing you for a career as a Journalist by providing you with the opportunity to develop your writing and communication skills. You will also learn about the importance of accuracy and objectivity in reporting.

See salaries and explore the career path for Journalist

Editor

Editors oversee the creation and production of written content. They may work for newspapers, magazines, websites, or other media outlets. Editors typically have a strong understanding of grammar, punctuation, and style. This course may be useful in preparing you for a career as an Editor by providing you with the opportunity to develop your writing and editing skills. You will also learn about the different types of editing and how to work with writers.

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Public Relations Specialist

Public Relations Specialists manage the public image of companies, organizations, and individuals. They may develop and implement public relations campaigns, write press releases, and manage media relations. Public Relations Specialists need to be able to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences. This course may be useful in preparing you for a career as a Public Relations Specialist by providing you with the opportunity to develop your communication skills. You will also learn about the different aspects of public relations and how to develop and implement a successful campaign.

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Speechwriter

Speechwriters write speeches for politicians, business leaders, and other public figures. They need to be able to write clearly and concisely, and to understand the needs of their audience. Speechwriters often have a strong background in journalism or public relations. This course may be useful in preparing you for a career as a Speechwriter by providing you with the opportunity to develop your writing skills. You will also learn about the different types of speeches and how to write a speech that is effective and engaging.

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Technical Writer

Technical Writers create instruction manuals, technical reports, and other documents that explain complex technical information. They need to be able to write clearly and concisely, and to have a strong understanding of the subject matter they are writing about. Technical Writers often have a degree in a technical field, such as engineering or computer science. This course may be useful in preparing you for a career as a Technical Writer by providing you with the opportunity to develop your writing skills. You will also learn about the different types of technical writing and how to write a document that is clear and easy to understand.

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User Experience Designer

User Experience Designers create products and services that are easy to use and enjoyable to interact with. They need to be able to understand the needs of users and to design products that meet those needs. User Experience Designers often have a background in human-computer interaction or a related field. This course may be useful in preparing you for a career as a User Experience Designer by providing you with the opportunity to develop your communication skills. You will also learn about the different aspects of user experience design and how to create products that are user-friendly.

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Web Developer

Web Developers design and develop websites. They need to be able to understand the needs of users and to create websites that are both functional and visually appealing. Web Developers often have a background in computer science or a related field. This course may be useful in preparing you for a career as a Web Developer by providing you with the opportunity to develop your technical skills. You will also learn about the different aspects of web development and how to create a website that is user-friendly and effective.

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Business Analyst

Business Analysts work with businesses to identify and solve problems. They need to be able to analyze data, identify trends, and develop solutions. Business Analysts often have a background in business or a related field. This course may be useful in preparing you for a career as a Business Analyst by providing you with the opportunity to develop your analytical skills. You will also learn about the different aspects of business analysis and how to identify and solve business problems.

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Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers create and implement marketing campaigns to promote products and services. They need to be able to understand the needs of customers and to develop marketing campaigns that are effective and engaging. Marketing Managers often have a background in business or marketing. This course may be useful in preparing you for a career as a Marketing Manager by providing you with the opportunity to develop your communication skills. You will also learn about the different aspects of marketing and how to create and implement a successful marketing campaign.

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Sales Manager

Sales Managers lead and motivate sales teams to achieve sales goals. They need to be able to build relationships with customers and to close deals. Sales Managers often have a background in sales or a related field. This course may be useful in preparing you for a career as a Sales Manager by providing you with the opportunity to develop your communication skills. You will also learn about the different aspects of sales management and how to lead and motivate a sales team.

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Project Manager

Project Managers plan, execute, and close projects. They need to be able to manage timelines, budgets, and resources. Project Managers often have a background in business or a related field. This course may be useful in preparing you for a career as a Project Manager by providing you with the opportunity to develop your leadership skills. You will also learn about the different aspects of project management and how to plan, execute, and close a project successfully.

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