Mandarin-Beginner | Find Courses | Office of Global Mandarin Education

This course is designed to help students develop basic Mandarin communication skills, understand Taiwan’s diverse culture, and enhance their knowledge of Chinese characters and grammar. The curriculum focuses on practicality, covering essential daily life topics from pronunciation to writing. Below is the detailed course description:

Course Overview:

1. Mandarin Pronunciation
   Students will learn the basic sounds of Mandarin, including initials, finals, and tones. They will become familiar with phonetic systems (such as Pinyin or Zhuyin) to establish a solid foundation for future language learning.

2. Speaking and Listening Practice (I)
   This module emphasizes speaking and listening skills through role-playing and daily life scenario exercises. Students will practice basic question-and-answer interactions, improving fluency and confidence in verbal expression.

3. Contemporary Chinese, Book 1 
   This textbook is ideal for beginners, covering essential vocabulary, grammar, and dialogues related to everyday situations. Students will learn how to handle simple needs, such as introducing themselves, shopping, and asking for directions.

4. Chinese Character Writing
   Through a systematic approach to Chinese character etymology and components, students will master basic structure, stroke order, and frequently used characters. Weekly writing exercises will help increase writing speed and accuracy.

5. Practical Mandarin Reading (I)
   Students will read short passages closely related to daily life, practicing extracting key information while becoming familiar with common vocabulary and sentence structures. The reading materials are carefully selected to match beginner comprehension levels.

6. Understanding Taiwan’s Diverse Culture (Food, Clothing, Housing, and Transportation)
   This unit introduces Taiwan’s diverse cultural aspects, including food, clothing, housing, and transportation. It aims to spark curiosity and understanding of different cultures while fostering a respectful and inclusive attitude.

7. Local Culture and Folk Customs Walking Tour (Custom Materials)
   Using custom teaching materials, the instructor will guide students through Taiwan’s local customs and folk traditions. Outdoor lessons and cultural walking tours will make learning engaging and practical.

Quantifiable Learning Goals:

• Master the Mandarin phonetic system.
• Recognize 40 Chinese character origins, 60 frequently used components, and be proficient in stroke order and structure.
• Learn 50 basic grammar points and 300 fundamental vocabulary words.
• Gain communication skills across 8 essential daily life topics, enabling simple conversations.
• Write a 150-character short essay or practical documents, such as self-introductions, emails, invitations, thank-you notes, and journals.

This course is ideal for learners who want to quickly grasp Mandarin basics. The content is rich, practical, and supplemented by an introduction to Taiwan’s diverse culture, allowing students to deepen their understanding of both the language and Taiwanese society.