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Hong Zeng

I am excited to announce to you that here comes the fastest class for acquiring spoken Chinese. The quickest way of acquiring spoken language is the way we learned a language during our childhood: from mouth to mouth, without any written script. While without an explaining medium language, a baby has to figure out the meaning of the sentences from recurring situations, we, as adult learners, can even further enhance the speed by minimal, explaining medium language (here is English). This course is the first sequel of a four-course "College Spoken Chinese Series: The quickest way of learning conversational Chinese". Each course takes you only 4 hours (30-40 minutes each day for the two dialogues of each lesson, you can finish the course in a week), the four courses will allow you to master spoken Chinese included in two year's college Chinese curriculum (without the written character requirement of course) in just 16 hours. You will be able to conduct conversation fluently in all realms of daily life, including greeting, family, time, hobbies, visit friends, make appointment, study Chinese, school life, go shopping, weather, traffic, dining, library, renting apartment, book air ticket, traveling, etc. Not just random teaching of some key sentences in a situation, but full-body real-life conversation that encompasses exactly two year's college Chinese curriculum (based on the same range of vocabulary, grammar and situation dialogues). This sequence can be for any new-learners of Chinese, but don't mistake it for just new learners. It is immeasurable valuable for those students who have already studied Chinese for years but need to make his pronunciation as accurate, his speech as fluent as native speakers through the teacher's all-talking head videos emphasizing the mouth shape of pronunciation, the correct tone and sentence cadence that you cannot acquire otherwise.

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I am excited to announce to you that here comes the fastest class for acquiring spoken Chinese. The quickest way of acquiring spoken language is the way we learned a language during our childhood: from mouth to mouth, without any written script. While without an explaining medium language, a baby has to figure out the meaning of the sentences from recurring situations, we, as adult learners, can even further enhance the speed by minimal, explaining medium language (here is English). This course is the first sequel of a four-course "College Spoken Chinese Series: The quickest way of learning conversational Chinese". Each course takes you only 4 hours (30-40 minutes each day for the two dialogues of each lesson, you can finish the course in a week), the four courses will allow you to master spoken Chinese included in two year's college Chinese curriculum (without the written character requirement of course) in just 16 hours. You will be able to conduct conversation fluently in all realms of daily life, including greeting, family, time, hobbies, visit friends, make appointment, study Chinese, school life, go shopping, weather, traffic, dining, library, renting apartment, book air ticket, traveling, etc. Not just random teaching of some key sentences in a situation, but full-body real-life conversation that encompasses exactly two year's college Chinese curriculum (based on the same range of vocabulary, grammar and situation dialogues). This sequence can be for any new-learners of Chinese, but don't mistake it for just new learners. It is immeasurable valuable for those students who have already studied Chinese for years but need to make his pronunciation as accurate, his speech as fluent as native speakers through the teacher's all-talking head videos emphasizing the mouth shape of pronunciation, the correct tone and sentence cadence that you cannot acquire otherwise.

Each dialogue is taught in three lectures. The first lecture will teach you the meaning of each phrase and sentence in the dialogue with the help of medium languageEnglish, but the main emphasis is to lead you speak after me through the whole dialogue as soon as you understand them. During this lecture, you may glance at the printed out PDF of the text (attached in the resource section in the first lecture of each dialogue) with its pinyin text for identifying the sound in my talk-head pronunciation, particularly students who have never studied pinyin and not familiar with Chinese pronunciation. In the second lecture, I will lead you to speak through the text twice and practice the dialogue with you in a new, invented context where we act as two sides speaking the dialogue. The third lecture is an acting video in which you can review your dialogue and speak after me again. I didn't put in pinyin subtitles in the talking head videos, because I think it will distract you from recalling the full sentence you speak after me, instead, you will just spell out the pinyin one by one mechanically, without being able to duplicate the full sentence language out of your memory when you speak after me. After the first lecture, you should not even look at the PDF while speaking after me, you should speak after me like a child learning his first languagefrom mouth to mouth, observing the mouth shape in pronunciation, imitate the pronunciation and tones as closely as possible, draw from memory the whole sentence structure after you heard it, on the spot. That is how you can maximize the speed of learn spoken language.

You don't need to have any prerequisite for taking this course. The spoken Chinese starts from the most basic and quickly reaches near-intermediate level. There is pinyin introduction at the beginning to ensure those students who have never had pinyin study to learn it quickly, and identify the sounds in my later lessons and pronounce properly. However, for these students, it is highly recommended that you would acquire my "College Mandarin Chinese on Your Own Beginning Level" to have its introduction section with its much more detailed and plenty practice of pinyin to be familiar with Chinese sounds, as they are the basis of pronouncing Chinese sounds accurately.

You will see after four hours, (over 30 lectures), you are able to speak, with near native-speaker accuracy and fluency some major situational dialogues, the content of which a college student has to learn in one full semester (without the written requirement), in five months. For new learners of Chinese, this course will drastically increase your ability of spoken Chinese in a very short period of time, for older learners of Chinese, even those who have studied Chinese for years, it is also very valuable in cultivating your spoken Chinese to a native speaker accuracy and fluency. So take it now.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • They will converse fluently in daily topics such as greetings, family, dates and time, hobbies, visiting friends, make appointment, studying chinese, etc. their pronunciation will be accurate and native-speaker like, and their speech fluent and well intonated. and
  • Their accuracy of pronunciation and speech fluency will be greatly enhanced, even for experienced learners

Syllabus

The students will learn the course goal, methodology and studying guide; they will also learn pinyin sound system, which is the basis for correct sound pronunciation in spoken Chinese
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This lecture will introduce the course goal, methodology and study guide of this course

This lecture will teach pinyin simple finals, tones and there is tongue twister to practice tones.

This lecture will teach compound finals, initials and there is a poem for practicing learned pinyin. In the resource section, you will also find an article introducing special spelling rules to complete the teaching of pinyin.

This lecture will teach dialogue 1 part 1, I will explain the text while lead you to speak through the dialogue after me at least twice. Try to imitate my tones and pronunciation, and mouth shapes in pronouncing sounds as closely as possible. Try to recall the full sentence in your memory when you speak each sentence after me. For students who haven't learned pinyin before and not quite familiar with Chinese sounds yet, you will print out the PDF of the text (with pinyin, English meaning; you don't have to pay attention to the Chinese character text unless you are interested in it), and glance at it in the first time of speaking after me to ensure speaking accuracy. But always try to recall the full sentence out of memory when you speak after me---as soon as you are sure of the pinyin sounds.

This lecture practices dialogue 1. I will lead you to speak after me the full dialogue twice sentence by sentence, try to imitate my tones and pronunciation as closely as possible by observing closely how I pronounce each sound in my mouth. Try not to look at any written text, but recall each full sentence out of your memory with correct tones, pronunciation and sentence cadence. This helps you to be fluent in future speaking. Then I will give you a new context based on the same situation, you will complete the other side of the dialogue while I give one side of the dialogue.

Follow the same instruction as the corresponding lecture in the previous dialogue.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Focuses on spoken Chinese, which is ideal for learners who want to prioritize conversational skills over reading and writing
Emphasizes pronunciation and tones, which are crucial for effective communication and comprehension in Mandarin Chinese
Recommends a supplementary course for a more detailed pinyin introduction, which may be necessary for learners completely new to Mandarin sounds
Offers value to students who have studied Chinese for years but want to refine their pronunciation and achieve native-speaker fluency
Mimics a child's language acquisition by emphasizing mouth-to-mouth learning and minimizing reliance on written scripts
Covers greetings, family, time, hobbies, and travel, which are useful for practical, real-life conversations

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Reviews summary

Fast spoken chinese for beginners

According to learners, this course offers a highly effective positive and fast-paced positive approach to mastering spoken Chinese fluency positive and pronunciation positive. Students praise the unique mouth-to-mouth method positive and the instructor's detailed focus on tones and mouth shapes positive. It's seen as particularly strong for getting you speaking quickly positive. However, learners universally note that the course focuses exclusively on spoken language neutral and does not include Chinese characters warning, meaning additional resources are needed for reading and writing. Some found the pace very fast warning, requiring dedication, while others appreciated the speed.
Covers material quickly; requires commitment.
"It moves fast, so you have to keep up."
"It's intense but effective for getting you speaking quickly."
"It's okay for basic conversation, but the pace is a bit too fast for a complete beginner like me."
"Fast-paced, but that's exactly what I was looking for to learn quickly."
"Be prepared to dedicate time daily, as the lessons build rapidly."
Mouth-to-mouth imitation and practice are effective.
"The mouth-to-mouth method really works..."
"The acting videos helped solidify the dialogues."
"The method of imitation is different but effective."
"I appreciated the multiple practice sessions for each dialogue."
"Learning by imitating native speech directly was very helpful."
Helps achieve accurate pronunciation and tones.
"...the teacher's focus on pronunciation is spot on."
"My pronunciation improved significantly! The acting videos helped solidify the dialogues."
"Great focus on tones and fluency. The method of imitation is different but effective."
"Learned a lot about the correct mouth shapes and intonation from the instructor's videos."
"This course really helped me nail the difficult tones."
Excellent for developing conversational fluency.
"This course is amazing for speaking! ... I feel much more confident conversing."
"Good course for practicing spoken Chinese. I liked the dialogue practice sessions."
"It's intense but effective for getting you speaking quickly."
"Great for anyone who wants to focus on improving their spoken Mandarin."
"I can now hold basic conversations thanks to this method."
Excludes learning to read or write characters.
"No characters, which is fine for speaking but you'll need another course for reading/writing."
"Definitely a spoken-only course."
"Important to know: this course teaches you to speak, not read or write."
"While great for conversation, you must supplement if your goal includes literacy."
"I was aware it didn't cover characters, which suited my needs, but others should know."

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 College Spoken Chinese Fast Class Beginning Level 1 with these activities:
Review Pinyin Sounds and Tones
Strengthen your understanding of Pinyin, the romanization system for Mandarin Chinese, to improve pronunciation accuracy before starting the course.
Browse courses on Pinyin
Show steps
  • Review the Pinyin chart and audio examples online.
  • Practice pronouncing each sound individually.
  • Focus on tones and their impact on meaning.
Read 'Basic Chinese: A Grammar and Workbook'
Gain a foundational understanding of Chinese grammar to improve sentence construction and overall comprehension.
View The Chinese Lexicon on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the chapters on basic sentence structure.
  • Complete the exercises to reinforce grammar concepts.
  • Focus on sentence patterns relevant to daily conversations.
Practice Dialogues with a Language Partner
Enhance your spoken Chinese skills by practicing dialogues from the course with a language partner.
Show steps
  • Find a language partner online or in person.
  • Choose dialogues from the course to practice.
  • Take turns playing different roles in the dialogues.
  • Provide feedback to each other on pronunciation and fluency.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Record Yourself Speaking Chinese
Improve pronunciation and fluency by recording yourself speaking the dialogues and comparing it to the course audio.
Show steps
  • Select a dialogue from the course.
  • Record yourself speaking the dialogue.
  • Compare your recording to the course audio.
  • Identify areas for improvement in pronunciation and intonation.
Explore 'Remembering Simplified Hanzi'
Enhance your understanding of Chinese characters to aid in memorization and comprehension, even though the course focuses on spoken language.
View Melania on Amazon
Show steps
  • Learn the radicals and components of common characters.
  • Use mnemonic techniques to remember character meanings.
  • Practice writing the characters to reinforce memory.
Watch Chinese Language Learning Videos on YouTube
Supplement your learning by watching videos on YouTube that cover topics related to the course, such as pronunciation, grammar, and cultural insights.
Show steps
  • Search for videos on specific topics covered in the course.
  • Watch videos from reputable channels and instructors.
  • Take notes on key points and new vocabulary.
Create a Short Chinese Dialogue
Solidify your learning by creating a short dialogue in Chinese based on the topics covered in the course.
Show steps
  • Choose a topic from the course, such as greetings or family.
  • Write a short dialogue using vocabulary and grammar learned in the course.
  • Practice speaking the dialogue with a language partner or record yourself.
  • Get feedback on your dialogue from a native speaker or instructor.

Career center

Learners who complete College Spoken Chinese Fast Class Beginning Level 1 will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Interpreter
An interpreter facilitates real-time communication between individuals who speak different languages. For those interested in interpreting, this course may be a stepping stone to fluency in spoken Chinese. The course focuses on pronunciation, tones, and sentence cadence, all critical for effective interpretation. The curriculum covers conversations in various daily life scenarios, which is applicable to various professional assignments. The course's teaching approach, which emphasizes learning by imitation and recall, may be useful for quickly grasping and reproducing natural-sounding speech patterns.
Language Teacher
A language teacher instructs students in the grammar, vocabulary, and cultural aspects of a foreign language. If you are interested in teaching Chinese, this course may aid you by improving your spoken language skills. The course's focus on pronunciation, tones, and sentence structure may be valuable for demonstrating correct usage to students. The course also teaches new learners of Chinese the ability to drastically increase their ability of spoken Chinese in a very short period of time. This course may be helpful for those who desire to become effective language educators.
Translator
A translator converts written or spoken material from one language into another. With its focus on spoken Chinese, this class may aid aspiring translators who plan to work with Chinese. The course emphasizes accurate pronunciation and fluency, enabling learners to effectively convey meaning between languages. The teaching methodology focuses on adult language acquisition, which is useful for conveying nuances of spoken language. This course, which teaches learners how to conduct conversations fluently in daily life, may be helpful for anyone who wants to translate common vernacular and colloquialisms.
Tour Guide
A tour guide leads groups of people on trips and excursions, providing information and insights about the places they visit. A tour guide who can speak Chinese may find this fast class useful for enhancing conversational skills. Since the course emphasizes accurate pronunciation and fluency, anyone can converse with tourists more effectively. The course covers common situations such as greeting, dining, and traveling -- all useful conversational topics for a tour guide. Taking this course may help tour guides acquire essential spoken Chinese skills that can enhance their interactions with Chinese-speaking tourists.
Cultural Exchange Coordinator
A cultural exchange coordinator organizes programs and events that promote understanding and collaboration between different cultures. For those interested in working in cultural exchange, this course may provide essential language skills for interacting with Chinese-speaking participants. The course focuses on daily life conversations, which is essential for building rapport and facilitating communication. This course may enhance your ability to engage with people from different backgrounds, helping to foster meaningful connections and promote cross-cultural awareness.
International Sales Representative
An international sales representative promotes and sells products or services to clients in foreign markets. This fast class may be useful for sales representatives who need to communicate with clients in China. The course curriculum includes greetings, making appointments, and other common business interactions. The emphasis on accurate pronunciation and fluency may help build trust and rapport with potential clients. Enrolling in this course may improve your ability to connect with Chinese-speaking partners and drive international sales.
Customer Service Representative
A customer service representative provides support and assistance to customers, often handling inquiries and resolving complaints. If you want to work as a customer service representative for a company that serves Chinese-speaking clients, this course may enhance your communication skills. The course covers a range of daily life situations from greetings to shopping, which may aid in addressing various customer needs. The course's focus on pronunciation and fluency may enable you to provide clear and effective assistance. This course may be helpful for anyone who wants to deliver excellent customer service in Chinese.
Foreign Correspondent
A foreign correspondent reports on news and events from a specific country or region, often requiring strong language and cultural skills. This course may improve the spoken Chinese skills of aspiring foreign correspondents working in China. The course focuses on pronunciation, tones, and sentence cadence, all critical for conveying information accurately. The curriculum covers daily life conversations, so you can engage with local people and gather firsthand accounts. This course may be a valuable asset for anyone pursuing a career in international journalism.
Hospitality Professional
A hospitality professional works in hotels, restaurants, and other service-oriented businesses, ensuring guests have a positive experience. A hospitality professional interacting with Chinese-speaking guests may find this course helpful for improving communication skills. The course covers greetings, dining, and other common situations encountered in the hospitality industry. The emphasis on pronunciation and fluency may enhance your ability to provide excellent service and create a welcoming environment. This course may bridge language barriers and enhance guest satisfaction.
Global Project Manager
A project manager oversees projects that involve teams and stakeholders from different countries. This course may be useful for project managers who need to communicate with team members or clients in China. The course emphasizes daily life scenarios, which may help establish rapport and facilitate collaboration. A global project Manager may take advantage of the course's teaching approach to gain confidence in spoken Chinese. This course may make you more effective in coordinating international projects.
International Trade Specialist
An international trade specialist facilitates the import and export of goods and services between countries. For anyone who works with Chinese companies, this course may provide some foundational language skills. The course focuses on pronunciation, which may enhance your ability to communicate effectively in business contexts. The curriculum includes conversations related to daily life, which may help build relationships with international partners. This course may be useful for trade specialists looking for practical language skills.
Market Research Analyst
A market research analyst studies consumer behavior and market trends to advise companies on product development and marketing strategies. This course may be helpful for market research analysts focusing on the Chinese market. The course focuses on conversations in various daily life scenarios, which would allow for gathering insights from local consumers. The emphasis on pronunciation and fluency may aid in conducting interviews and focus groups. This course may be a valuable asset.
Social Worker
A social worker provides support and assistance to individuals and families facing various challenges, often working in diverse communities. This course may be helpful for social workers who serve Chinese speaking communities. The course focuses on daily life conversations, which is useful for building trust and rapport with clients. The course may also help social workers communicate effectively with Mandarin speakers.
Librarian
A librarian assists people with using library resources. This course may be useful for those in a library setting who assist Mandarin speakers. The course emphasizes learning conversation useful in daily life, and therefore, in a library. The course may provide enough conversational knowledge to help Chinese speakers.
Administrative Assistant
An administrative assistant provides support to ensure efficient office operations. Though not a direct correlation, this course may be helpful for administrative assistants who support teams or executives that need to communicate with China. This course may help in basic communication.

Reading list

We've selected two 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 College Spoken Chinese Fast Class Beginning Level 1.
Provides a solid foundation in Chinese grammar, which is essential for constructing accurate sentences. It is particularly helpful for understanding sentence structure and basic grammatical concepts. While the course focuses on spoken Chinese, a basic understanding of grammar can improve fluency and comprehension. This book is often used as a supplementary text in introductory Chinese courses.

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