Free Mandarin Taster Sessions for Beginners

About us

We are the Star Mandarin School, Sheffield's premier weekend Chinese Learning Centre for children.

We are part of the University of Sheffield and we hold our classes in the beautiful, listed building of Bartolome House on the University campus every Saturday.

Opening over the weekends and following school term times, the Star Mandarin School provides Mandarin Chinese learning to school children, in addition to Mathematics and Arts tuition, consolidating their learning at school and reinforcing their study skills.

Why do we need to learn Mandarin Chinese?

• The Mandarin Chinese language is profoundly rooted in a rich history and culture. Words and phrases can be built up easily with logic and sentences can be constructed following strict routines. Learning Chinese is not as hard as you think!
• Language is a window to another world and has become an essential part of a global education. Every child should learn languages to broaden their horizons.
• Earlier exposure to Mandarin to utilise the children's natural ability to acquire languages and to develop native-like pronunciation and intonations.
• Mandarin is listed as one of the seven languages to learn at school. Learning a foreign language has been compulsory for Key Stage 2 children since 2014, and all secondary school children must learn a foreign language.  
• While most schools do not have the capacity to provide Mandarin Chinese learning, the Star Mandarin School at the University of Sheffield readily provides these learning opportunities, from beginner levels through to GCSE Chinese and A-Level Chinese, to all school students, adding a unique language subject for school education.
• Give your child a head start on their Mandarin language adventure!

Free Mandarin Taster for school age children, Saturday 28th June 2025, 1:45pm

Curious about Mandarin? Let your child explore the language in a fun, engaging, and pressure-free environment!

Join us for a free Mandarin taster session designed to spark interest, build curiosity, and introduce children to the joy of learning Chinese.

Date and Time: 

      Saturday 28th June 2025, 1:45 - 3:15pm

Venue

      Bartolomé House, School of Law, University of Sheffield, Winter St, Sheffield S3 7ND

      Please note: Bartolomé House has easy disabled access. FREE parking spaces are available on-site — permits can be collected upon arrival.

Who Can Join?

All school-age children are welcome, regardless of language background or ability.

To ensure the experience is age-appropriate and engaging, we will organise two separate taster groups if there is sufficient interest.

• Group 1: Ages 5–8
• Group 2: Ages 9+

No prior knowledge of Mandarin is needed — just curiosity and a willingness to try something new!

What is a Taster Session?

Our taster is a hands-on, playful introduction to Mandarin Chinese, where children can:

• Try out the language through fun activities and games
• Experience how engaging and interactive learning Mandarin can be
• Discover the basics of tones, characters, and everyday phrases
• Explore the cultural richness of the language
• Ignite an interest in one of the world’s most spoken languages

It’s not a class — it’s an experience! A gentle, encouraging way to see if Mandarin sparks something special in your child.

Why Mandarin?

Mandarin opens doors to new cultures, global careers, and cognitive growth. Starting young gives children a valuable edge — and can lay the foundation for a lifelong love of languages.

Registration

This event is free, but spaces are limited and advance registration is required.

 Register now via our Google Form 

Free Mandarin Taster Flyer, download in pdf, 2MB 

For those interested in continuing with a more systematic study of Mandarin, we offer a Beginners Mandarin course annually.

Beginners Mandarin Course, from 14th September 2025 - 11th July 2026

The next round of Beginners Mandarin will run on Saturdays, from 11:45 am – 3:45 pm, starting on 14th September 2025 and continuing until 11th July 2026. 

This course is ideal for participants who attended the free taster session and wish to build a solid foundation in the language.

Venue

      Bartolomé House, School of Law, University of Sheffield, Winter St, Sheffield S3 7ND

Fees

     Beginners Mandarin Fees to be paid for a school year, at £220. 

Registration
Registration at the University Online Shop for all courses will be open shortly

Contact us:

Email:  starschool@sheffield.ac.uk     Tel: 0114 2228447 / 07593502130