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Sophia Suo,
Sizhe Feng,
WANG CHENXIN,
Lydia Lin,
CUI Haotian,
and
Xinyan H
● Key elements of Chinese phonetics: initials, finals and tones ● Core rules of spelling and tone marking ● Differentiation of similar sounds ● Simple daily language skills such as greetings, self-introduction, expressing thanks, love and apology. Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is for anyone wanting to improve their Chinese speaking skills and learn the correct pronunciation of the language.
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Reviews summary
Excellent guide to chinese pronunciation and tones
According to learners, this course provides an excellent foundation for mastering Chinese pronunciation and tones, especially for absolute beginners. Many commend the crystal-clear explanations and the effectiveness of the lectures and exercises in demystifying complex concepts like pinyin and tones. Students frequently highlight the highly effective teaching methods for tones, leading to increased confidence in speaking. While widely praised for its theoretical grounding and basic practical phrases, some learners noted concerns about the pace feeling rushed at times, suggesting the need for rewatching segments. A few reviewers also expressed a desire for more interactive practice tools or comprehensive pronunciation feedback.
Reinforces learning effectively through practice.
"The exercises are incredibly helpful for practicing what you've learned..."
"The quizzes reinforced the learning effectively."
"The exercises were well-designed to consolidate learning."
Provides a strong and perfect starting point.
"It's a perfect foundation, highly recommended."
"A solid introduction to Chinese pronunciation."
"An incredibly valuable course for starting out with Chinese."
Effectively breaks down Chinese tones and pinyin.
"The instructors break down the tones and pinyin system in such an understandable way."
"As a complete beginner, I was worried about the tones, but this course made it so approachable. The explanations are crystal clear..."
"This one truly demystified Chinese tones for me. The instructor's explanations are superb..."
Some learners found the pace too quick for beginners.
"...the pace felt a bit rushed, and I struggled to keep up without rewatching segments multiple times."
"While the content aims to be introductory, the pace often felt too fast, especially for someone with no prior exposure."
"I found this course somewhat challenging to follow."
Lacks sufficient interactive tools for pronunciation.
"I felt the need for more interactive practice tools beyond what was provided."
"I also wished for more comprehensive feedback on my pronunciation, perhaps through peer review or AI tools."
"It lacked enough real-time practice and opportunities to hear myself and correct mistakes."
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Introduction to Chinese: Pronunciation and Tone.
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Reading list
We haven't picked any books for this reading list yet.
A textbook that provides a comprehensive overview of phonetics, covering topics such as articulation, acoustics, and perception.
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A textbook on French phonetics, providing a comprehensive overview of the topic.
A practical guide to pronunciation for learners of French, with a focus on improving intelligibility.
Is widely recommended as a comprehensive introduction to phonetics and phonology, making it excellent for gaining a broad understanding. It covers the physical production of speech sounds as well as more abstract concepts like phonemes and syllables. It is suitable for beginners and includes exercises and online materials, making it a valuable resource for both students and teachers.
This introduction covers both phonetics and phonology, offering a broad understanding of the sound systems of languages. It is accessible for students new to the topic and serves as a good starting point before delving into more specialized areas. It can be a helpful background reading for various pronunciation courses.
Dives into the physiological processes involved in producing speech sounds, offering a deeper understanding of articulatory phonetics. It is suitable for those who want to go beyond basic pronunciation guides and understand the mechanics of speech. It can be a valuable resource for graduate students and researchers.
This text focuses on the acoustic properties of speech sounds and how they are perceived by the listener. It's essential for a deeper understanding of phonetics beyond articulation. The book is suitable for advanced undergraduate and graduate students and key resource in acoustic phonetics.
Explores the intonation and prosodic structure of various languages, offering insights into a key aspect of pronunciation beyond individual sounds. It's relevant for those interested in the rhythm and melody of speech and can be a valuable resource for graduate students and researchers in linguistics.
Considered an authoritative text on Standard British English pronunciation, this book provides detailed information on the sounds, history, and recent changes in RP. It's a valuable reference for those focusing on a specific accent and offers depth for advanced learners and professionals.
This practical book designed for learners to improve their English pronunciation at an intermediate level. It focuses on exercises and practice, making it a useful tool for solidifying understanding through application. While not a theoretical text, it's highly relevant for those actively working on their pronunciation.
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Based on British English, this book offers a practical approach to phonology and pronunciation. It's often recommended for teachers and learners alike, providing a solid foundation in the sounds of English.
Comprehensive resource for teachers of English pronunciation. It covers various approaches and techniques for the classroom, making it highly relevant for professionals in language education. It also provides a strong theoretical background in phonetics and phonology.
Key text for understanding the phonology of intonation. It delves into the theoretical aspects of how intonation patterns are structured in language. It is most suitable for graduate students and researchers specializing in phonology and prosody.
This comprehensive book provides a detailed description of the sounds found in a wide variety of the world's languages. It is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking a broad understanding of phonetic diversity and can deepen the understanding of pronunciation by providing a global perspective.
Offers an accessible introduction to phonetics for beginners. It's a good resource for high school students or those in introductory undergraduate courses who need to grasp the fundamental concepts of speech sounds without a highly technical approach.
Provides a comparative approach to English pronunciation, covering British, American, and other World Englishes. It is useful for understanding the variations in pronunciation across different English accents and can deepen a learner's awareness of phonetic differences.
Focuses on the practical aspects of teaching and learning pronunciation. It offers pedagogical approaches and classroom activities, making it particularly relevant for language teachers and those interested in the application of phonetic principles in educational settings.
Aimed at advanced learners, this book provides in-depth practice and focus on nuanced aspects of English pronunciation. It's a valuable resource for those looking to refine their pronunciation skills to a high level and can be used for self-study or in a classroom setting.
A theoretical and practical guide to pronunciation teaching and learning, with a focus on second language learners.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
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Time
6 hours
Via
FutureLearn
Institution
Shanghai International Studies University (SISU)
Instructors
Sophia Suo
Sizhe Feng
WANG CHENXIN
Lydia Lin
CUI Haotian
Xinyan H
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