About this course: Nowadays, there is an increasing number of people who are interested in Chinese culture and language. And it is useful to know about the language when coming to China for travel or business. This is an ABC Chinese course for beginners, including introduction of phonetics and daily expressions. After taking this class, learners can have a basic understanding of Chinese Mandarin and make basic conversations of daily living such as exchanging personal information, talking about daily arrangements and food, asking about price, introducing the city and the weather, telling your hobbies etc. Selected topics and situations come from real life scenarios and can be used for everyday communications. In addition to the dialogues, the selection of reading materials and practice activities will make the content as rich and varied as possible, in order to stimulate the learners’ interests. This is an elementary course on Chinese speaking. The learners don’t need to study Chinese characters, so it is easier to follow and complete this course.
Created by: Peking University
Taught by: Xiaoyu Liu, Associate Professor
School of Chinese as A Second Language, Peking University
| Commitment | 6 hours of videos and quizzes |
| Language | English, Subtitles: French, Ukrainian, Serbian, Greek, Portuguese (Brazilian), Vietnamese, Urdu, Russian, Hebrew, Spanish, Marathi |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Who Are You?
When we first meet someone, we need to learn about each other. In this module, we are going to learn some ways to introduce yourself, including name, nationality, identity, and discussing your family. We are also going to study Chinese Mandarin phonetics.
5 videos, 13 readings
Graded: What is your name?
Graded: Where are you from?
Graded: Are you a student?
Graded: Who is he/she?
WEEK 2
When Do You Go To School?
How do you plan your daily life? In this module, we are going to learn how to describe our daily schedule, including numbers, time, periods, and some corresponding actions.
4 videos, 4 readings
Graded: Numbers
Graded: Time (1): O'clock
Graded: Time (2): Periods
Graded: Daily Arrangements
WEEK 3
What Do You Like to Eat?
Food is our most important need. In this module, we are going to talk about Chinese main courses, fruits, vegetables and meat, as well as drinks. Have you seen or tried any of these Chinese dishes? Maybe you have already learned to say them in Chinese!
4 videos, 5 readings
Graded: Main Courses
Graded: Fruits
Graded: Vegetables and Meat
Graded: Drinks
WEEK 4
I Like Shopping!
Shopping! Shopping! Some people love to go shopping, while others feel it is a headache. Still, shopping is an essential part of our life. In this module, we are going to learn how to express our color and size preference, how to ask about price, and how to ba...
4 videos, 5 readings
Graded: Colors
Graded: Sizes
Graded: Prices
Graded: Learn to Bargain
WEEK 5
Do You Live in a Big City?
Do you live in a big city or a small town? How do you get to work or school every day? In this module, we are going to learn how to give directions and how to speak about transportation. This module is valuable in case you need to talk about directions with a ...
4 videos, 2 readings
Graded: Transportation
Graded: Public Places
Graded: Locations and Directions
Graded: Ask For Directions
WEEK 6
How About the Weather?
Weather can influence our daily life and personal health. In this module, we are going to talk about temperature, seasons, and personal health. China is a very big country and the weather can be quite different across regions and seasons; we will learn to talk...
4 videos, 2 readings
Graded: Temperature
Graded: Time (3): Months
Graded: Seasons
Graded: Health
WEEK 7
What is Your Hobby?
What do you like to do in your spare time? We have so many choices nowadays and lead such colorful lives. In this module, we are going to talk about weekday pastimes, sports, TV programs, and some other activities related to the internet, reading, music, and t...
4 videos, 3 readings
Graded: Time (4): Weeks
Graded: Sports
Graded: TV Programs
Graded: Internet, Books, Music, and Travel
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Peking University
Peking University is determined to make its education openly accessible to students in China and around the world. With over 3000 faculty members, Peking University offers excellence in teaching and learning.
Founded in 1898, Peking University (PKU) was the first national comprehensive university in China. For the past 115 years, with its hundreds of thousands of outstanding alumni, Peking University has made prominent contributions in the humanities and sciences to further China's prosperity and progress.
Ratings and Reviews
its perfect for beginners like me and the tutor is good
Excellent introduction to Mandarin. The instructor speaks slowly and clearly enunciates the tones, making it easier for students to learn. Highly recommended!
Good foundation for learning more chinese
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Excellent course, really ideal for beginners. It was very enjoyable. The teacher is very professional, congratulations to her from me. I hope there is a second part. Highly grateful to the staff of Coursera and the University of Beijing, who made this course possible. Regards!