Chinese in 5 Steps: Step 1

This course can be taken as part of a specialization «Chinese in 5 Steps». 

About the course

This course is an expanded version of the well-known and popular course “Chinese for Beginners» by St. Petersburg State University. The course was divided into 5 steps for better progress and greater flexibility of learning. Each step will take the learners to the A1-A2 level of the Chinese language. The course includes:

• vocabulary and character writing, including the order of strokes;
• grammar with detailed explanations and examples;
• examples of conversational phrases;
• animated dialogues which demonstrate how the course material can be applied in communication;
• various exercises that should be completed in order to revise the course material;
• various text materials in the section «This is Interesting», telling about the history of the language, the Chinese culture, traditions and habits of the Chinese, etc. In this section will, learners can find a large list of recommended reading for those who are interested in China.

The first course consists of the following grammatical topics: the system of personal pronouns in Chinese, sentences with a qualitative adjective as a predicate, adverbs 也 and 都, numerals in Chinese, attribute, sentences with 是, the general principle of constructing special questions, the general scheme of constructing a sentence with a verb predicate, measure words and the order of attributes in Chinese, interrogative pronouns 什么 and 哪, the days of the week in Chinese, the adverbial of place, sentences with 有, questions with 好吗, the difference between 几 and 多少.

The course is taught online. Weekly classes include watching lectures and completing test tasks with automated grading.

Course program

Introduction

Week 1. Lesson 1. Part 1. Basic Elements of Communication

Week 2. Lesson 1. Part 2. Basic Elements of Communication

Week 3. Lesson 2. Part 1. Family

Week 4. Lesson 2. Part 4. Dates

Week 5. Lesson 3. Part 1. Personal Information

Week 6. Lesson 3. Part 2. Days of Week

Week 7. Lesson 4. Part 1. Free Time. Age

Week 8. Lesson 4. Part 2. Free Time. Age

At the end of a course series «Chinese Language. 5 Steps to Success» the student will learn the basic vocabulary and grammar of the Chinese language at the A2–B1 level according to the international framework of foreign language proficiency.

Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• write about 500 basic characters and recognize them in the text;
• understand phrases or short texts on familiar topics by ear;
• participate in dialogues with a native speaker of the Chinese language on familiar topics without prior preparation;
• read short texts in Chinese within the studied vocabulary range;
• translate phrases from English into Chinese and backwards within the studied vocabulary range.

Upon completion of the course, the student should know:

• the order of strokes in the studied characters;
• grammar at the A2–B1 level.

Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to use:

• the most common vocabulary within the framework of the A2–B1 level (about 700 words);
• oral and written language within the studied course material;
• the methodology of independent language studying in order to improve the writing and speking skills.

All courses of the series

• Chinese in 5 Steps: Getting Started with Pronunciation
• Chinese in 5 Steps: Step 2
• Chinese in 5 Steps: Step 3
• Chinese in 5 Steps: Step 4
• Chinese in 5 Steps: Step 5