Chinese for beginners

Did you know 1 billion people in the world speak Chinese? That’s more people than speak Spanish and English combined! Since Chinese is such an important language for trade, communication and missions, it’s surprising that so few Americans speak it. 

Chinese can seem hopelessly complex–there are tones, characters but somehow no alphabet.  But in fact, with a few simple tricks, Chinese is easier than English! Over these twelve weeks we’ll learn to:

Pronounce any (yes really) Chinese word

Introduce ourselves

Talk about our families

Chat about animals and their characteristics

Discuss what foods we like and dislike

Learn to write and recognize simple vocabulary of Chinese characters

In the process, our class will discuss the history of Chinese as a language. We’ll explore the pieces that make up characters called radicals. We’ll practice writing together and look up words students are curious about. Class will be a mainly collaborative experience with lots of conversational practice and real life examples. Active participation is encouraged and makes the class richer for all involved.  Homework will be short, task based exercises–no drills here!