Mandarin Chinese for Beginners

Course Objectives:

Develop foundational proficiency in Mandarin (HSK 1 level). Foster practical communication skills for everyday situations. Introduce Chinese culture, customs, and traditions.

Participant’s Profile:

Here’s a structured 14-week Mandarin course teaching plan tailored for students at Plekhanov University. The course will be delivered offline and is designed for beginners, assuming no prior knowledge of Mandarin. The plan integrates language skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing) with cultural knowledge and practical application.

Class Frequency:

Three times a Week (1 Hour per Session)

Requirements to the Participants:

Beginner-level university students with no prior knowledge of Mandarin.

Length of the Course:

• Credit Hours: 3
• Total Hours Required: 42 – (3 hours * 14)
• Delivery format: offline/online
• Contact hours: 3
• Self-study: 10 hours
• Final control: Project

Course Content

Assessment Components:

Class Participation: 20%

Description: Student attendance and class activities

Evaluation Criteria:

• Consistency and engagement in class.
• Accuracy and completeness of assignments.

Notebook & Handwriting: 20%

After a semester of classes, students are required to write beautiful Chinese characters in their notebooks.

Chinese Conversations: 30%

Description: Team work 2 People together

Students in the inspection team can communicate fluently in Chinese and can use business Chinese vocabulary.

Final Project Presentation: 30%

Presentation & PPT (1 Person)

At the beginning of the semester, students will choose a Presentation from 20 Chinese Presentation topics given by the teacher.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the Semester course, students will be able to:

Listening and Speaking:

• Comprehend and respond to basic conversations on familiar topics such as greetings, family, daily activities, and hobbies.
• Use accurate pronunciation and tones to communicate effectively in everyday situations.
• Engage in simple dialogues, including asking and answering questions in Mandarin.

Reading:

• Recognize and understand key vocabulary and phrases in written texts, including signs, menus, and short passages.
• Identify and interpret approximately 100–120 basic Chinese characters.

Writing:

• Write sentences and short paragraphs using proper grammar and a foundational set of Chinese characters.
• Compose simple written texts, such as self-introductions, descriptions, and short notes.

Grammar and Sentence Structure:

• Demonstrate an understanding of basic grammatical structures, including subject-verb-object order, question formation, and the use of measure words.
• Apply common sentence patterns in spoken and written communication.

Cultural Competence:

• Identify key aspects of Chinese culture, traditions, and etiquette as they relate to communication.
• Understand the significance of cultural practices, such as traditional holidays and regional variations in language use.

This teaching plan provides Develop effective study habits for language acquisition, including memorization techniques for characters and vocabulary. Utilize tools and resources such as dictionaries, apps, and multimedia content to support continuous learning.
 

Course Content:

1. Introduction

Classroom Session	Topic for the Classroom Session	Sub Topics	Classroom Activities/Forms of	Self-Study Tasks	Hours
Introduction to Chinese Language and Culture	Overview of Mandarin (importance, usage, and culture) Basic sounds and tones (Pinyin system) Formal and informal greetings	Chinese Pinyin: Introduction to pronunciation, tones, and phonetic system Overview of tones and initials/finals Importance of Mandarin in global contexts	Practicing pronunciation and tones through Pinyin drills Role-playing basic greetings Writing simple characters (e.g., “”,□, ⋯)	Memorize key phrases Practice Pinyin chart Practice writing an introduction in Chinese	3

2. Introduce Yourself/Family and Relationships

Classroom Session	Topic for the Classroom Session	Sub Topics	Classroom Activities/Forms of	Self-Study Tasks	Hours
Introduce Yourself Talking about Family	Basic greetings and phrases Saying your name and asking others Family member vocabulary Talking about relationships	Family members vocabulary Possessive pronouns (e.g., 我的, 你的) Describing relationships	Vocabulary drills Creating a family tree in Mandarin Pair work: Describe your family	Vocabulary drills Creating a family tree in Mandarin Writing simple characters (e.g., 爸爸、妈妈、你、我、她/他)	3

3. Daily Activities

Classroom Session	Topic for the Classroom Session	Sub Topics	Classroom Activities/Forms of	Self-Study Tasks	Hours
Daily Activities	Common verbs and activities Time expressions	Verbs for daily activities (e.g., 起床, 吃饭) Time expressions Basic sentence structure (今天我是旅行团)	Time-telling games Writing a daily routine Role-play daily conversations Writing simple characters (e.g., 起床, 吃饭、睡觉、去学校、上床)	Record yourself describing your daily routine Review time expressions with worksheets Watch videos on daily life in Mandarin	3

4. Food and Dining

Classroom Session	Topic for the Classroom Session	Sub Topics	Classroom Activities/Forms of	Self-Study Tasks	Hours
Eating Out	Food-related vocabulary Expressing likes, dislikes, and preferences	Food vocabulary Ordering food at a restaurant Expressing preferences (e.g., 我喜欢吃...) Writing simple characters (e.g., 我喜欢吃，蔬菜，水果，肉类)	Menu reading and ordering practice Role-play: Ordering food Taste-testing and describing flavors Prepare a dialogue for ordering food	Practice writing food-related characters Learn restaurant phrases via apps	3

5. Shopping and Bargaining

Classroom Session	Topic for the Classroom Session	Sub Topics	Classroom Activities/Forms of	Self-Study Tasks	Hours
Shopping and Bargaining	Shopping vocabulary Asking prices and bargaining	Shopping-related vocabulary Asking for prices Numbers 1-100 Writing simple characters (e.g., 多少钱？可以打折吗？可以便宜一点儿吗？)	Mock market setup and bargaining Price guessing games Role-play: Shopping conversations	Memorize numbers 1-100 Practice writing shopping-related characters Listen to dialogues about shopping	3

6. Travel and Transportation

Classroom Session	Topic for the Classroom Session	Sub Topics	Classroom Activities/Forms of	Self-Study Tasks	Hours
Getting Around	Modes of transportation Asking for and giving directions Travel vocabulary Talking about destinations and activities	Transportation vocabulary Asking for directions Understanding maps and signs Writing simple characters (e.g., 我喜欢旅行...)	Map-reading exercises Role-play: Asking for and giving directions Travel scenario simulations	Practice writing direction-related characters Review transportation vocabulary with flashcards Watch travel vlogs in Mandarin	3

7. Talking about Weather

Classroom Session	Topic for the Classroom Session	Sub Topics	Classroom Activities/Forms of	Self-Study Tasks	Hours
Talking about Weather	Weather vocabulary Describing seasons	Weather-related vocabulary Expressing preferences (e.g., 我喜欢冬天) Describing seasons	Weather forecasts in Mandarin Pair work: Discuss your favorite season Vocabulary matching games	Practice weather vocabulary using apps Write a paragraph about your favorite season Watch weather reports in Mandarin	3

8. Hobbies and Leisure Activities

Classroom Session	Topic for the Classroom Session	Sub Topics	Classroom Activities/Forms of	Self-Study Tasks	Hours
Talking about Hobbies	Hobbies and interests Vocabulary	Vocabulary for hobbies (e.g., 看电影, 打野) Expressing likes and dislikes Inviting someone to join an activity	Pair work: Share your hobbies Role-play: Inviting a friend to an activity Hobby charades Writing simple characters (e.g., 我喜欢...打篮球,踢足球,打网球...)	Write sentences about your hobbies Practice speaking about hobbies with a partner Review related vocabulary with online quizzes (vocabvall)	3

9. Staying Healthy

Classroom Session	Topic for the Classroom Session	Sub Topics	Classroom Activities/Forms of	Self-Study Tasks	Hours
Staying Healthy	Body part vocabulary Expressing illness and symptoms	Body parts vocabulary Common illnesses and remedies Expressing how you feel	Vocabulary drills Role-play: Visiting a doctor Matching body parts and symptoms Writing simple characters (e.g., 生病, 眼睛, 鼻子, 嘴巴, 不舒服, 痒...)	Practice describing symptoms in Mandarin Memorize body parts vocabulary Review related vocabulary with online quizzes (vocabvall)	3

10. Cultural Celebrations

Classroom Session	Topic for the Classroom Session	Sub Topics	Classroom Activities/Forms of	Self-Study Tasks	Hours
Festivals and Traditions	Talking about Festivals and Traditions and activities	Chinese New Year and other festivals Traditional foods and customs Special phrases for celebrations	Watch videos on Chinese festivals Discuss holiday customs Learn and practice festival-related phrases Writing simple characters (e.g., 新年快乐...)	Research a Chinese festival and prepare a short presentation Learn vocabulary for celebrations Write about your favorite holiday	3

11. Talking about Jobs and Profession

Classroom Session	Topic for the Classroom Session	Sub Topics	Classroom Activities/Forms of	Self-Study Tasks	Hours
Talking about Jobs and Profession	Introduce key vocabulary with pictures or flashcards (e.g., teacher, doctor, engineer)	Occupation vocabulary, Describing job roles	Pair work: Discuss your job or studies, Role-play: Job interview	Write a short paragraph about your job or future plans	3
	Occupation vocabulary	Talking about your future plans	Vocabulary matching exercises	Review occupation-related vocabulary, Writing simple characters (e.g., 老师, 学生, 医生, 律师, 警察...), Watch interviews in Mandarin

12. Socializing

Classroom Session	Topic for the Classroom Session	Sub Topics	Classroom Activities/Forms of	Self-Study Tasks	Hours
Making Friends	Learn how to introduce themselves, ask about others, and express interest in forming friendships.	Introducing friends, Common conversational phrases	Role-play: Introducing friends, Practicing phone numbers and email exchanges	Practice writing dialogues about socializing, Memorize phrases for introductions	3
		Exchanging contact information	Conversational practice in groups	Listen to conversations in Mandarin, Writing simple characters (e.g., 他/她是我的好朋友...)

13. Consolidation of Learning

Classroom Session	Topic for the Classroom Session	Sub Topics	Classroom Activities/Forms of	Self-Study Tasks	Hours
Consolidation of Learning	Revisiting key vocabulary and phrases	Revisiting key topics from Weeks 1-12	Quiz games on vocabulary and grammar	Review all vocabulary and notes	3
	Practicing conversational skills	Addressing common challenges	Small group discussions on learned topics	Complete a comprehensive practice test, Role-play scenarios from previous lessons, Identify and work on weak areas

14. Final Presentations and Feedback

Classroom Session	Topic for the Classroom Session	Sub Topics	Classroom Activities/Forms of	Self-Study Tasks	Hours
Showcasing Progress	Presenting in Mandarin	Student speaking Exam	Individual presentations on chosen topics	Reflect on personal progress	3
	Demonstrating conversational skills	Student presentations	Group discussions reflecting on the course	Set goals for future Mandarin learning
	Feedback and evaluation		Instructor feedback and tips for further learning	Explore advanced learning resources