Chinese 1 (Mandarin)

Mandarin Chinese 1 is a high school level course suitable for students in grades 9-12, with no prior knowledge of the Chinese language. The course starts in the week of Sep 9, 2024, and is designed to provide a comprehensive introduction to Mandarin Chinese, focusing on essential language skills such as speaking, reading, writing, and pronunciation. The course uses the Pinyin system for accurate pronunciation and introduces students to the four tones of Mandarin Chinese. By the end of the course, students will have learned fundamental vocabulary and simple Chinese characters, allowing them to perform basic interactions in Chinese. Cultural understanding is an integral part of the course, providing students with a deeper appreciation of Chinese customs, traditions, and social norms.

The course includes one live lesson per week, with additional activities and assignments on Canvas and in the assigned workbook. High-speed broadband Internet, a webcam, sound card, microphone, and streaming video capabilities are necessary for the course. Communication with the instructor is primarily via email, with a response time of 48 hours outside of weekends.