Mandarin Chinese for adults | 谢大孔院成人部

Survival Chinese Crash Course (In-person and online)

The next Survival Chinese course will take place from 25th September - 29th September 2023.

Survival Chinese is a crash course spread over five evenings, for learners with little or no prior knowledge of Mandarin, and is on offer twice a year (around early February and end of September).

It is designed as if you were going to visit China the week after, so it is theme-topic based learning, focused on listening and speaking skills.

At the same time, it gives you the very basic knowledge of Chinese language, the pronunciation, the feel of the grammar, the fun and easiness to get started (similar to English grammatically) and special study skills.

It runs over one week, Monday to Friday (6:30 - 8:30pm), with a total of 10 contact hours. The course material is “New Experience Chinese” that is developed by the CI. The course costs £60 or £50 for Concessions (Over 60's & UoS students/staff).

Note: The fee for this course will be refunded if the same student continues to take 12-week Beginners Mandarin course. The refund will be processed three weeks into the semester.

Register at the University Online Shop when the registration is openCheck whether the registration is open: click on All Departments and search for 'Survival Chinese'

12-week 'Chinese for Everyone' Mandarin language courses (In-person and online)

• The courses aim to provide a solid foundation in all four language skills- speaking, listening, reading and writing.
• The required textbooks are “Chinese in Steps”, vol 1-4.
• Each Level can be linked with Chinese Proficiency test - HSK.
• The courses follow the university Semester Dates, Autumn Semester and Spring Semester, 12weeks in length, 2h/w.

Please note: Classes open on the basis that a minimum of 5 registrations has been received.

Register at the University Online Shop when the registration is open

Check whether the registration is open: click on All Departments and search for 'Chinese for Everyone'.

Download the Current Timetable- 12-Week Chinese for Everyone (PDF, 538 KB)

Course information

Beginners Mandarin I and II

Provides complete beginners with a solid foundation in all four language skills. It introduces basic knowledge of Chinese, basic grammar, essential vocabulary, as well as Chinese characters, acquiring practical communicative skills on daily topics.

By the end of the course, students are expected to be able to recognise ~200 Chinese characters, read simple short texts in Chinese, and be able to take HSK Level 1.

The course book is "Chinese in Steps, vol 1" and runs over two semesters, with 24 contact hours each semester.

Upper Beginners Mandarin I and II

The course is a continuation from Beginners Mandarin and uses "Chinese in Steps, vol 2" textbook. It aims to provide Mandarin Beginners with a solid foundation in all four language skills.

Students will be introduced to about 400 commonly used Chinese characters and about 700 words. The course also includes instruction on the use of a Chinese dictionary and on basic word processing in Chinese.

Entry for Upper Beginners - For those who have mastered around 200-300 Chinese characters who wish to progress their knowledge of Chinese grammar.

By the end of the course, students are expected to read simple texts in Chinese, communicate within a limited range of daily life situations and be able to take HSK Level 2.

Intermediate Mandarin I and II

Intermediate - For those with more formal experience and knowledge of around 600 Chinese characters.

Designed to further develop the four key language skills in Chinese for Mandarin Beginners, the course starts to use "Chinese in Steps, vol 3" textbook. Students will be introduced to a further 400 characters and about 700 words.

The course is still very much practice-based, with communicative activities, structure practice, grammar, reading and writing.

By the end of the course, students should be able to complete basic communication tasks in daily life, study and work. They should be able to handle most communication tasks encountered in China. HSK Level 3 is suggested for students to take.

Upper Intermediate Mandarin I and II

Upper Intermediate - Assumes familiarity with the major grammar structures of Chinese and knowledge of at least 800 Chinese characters.

The course is designed for students who have completed "Chinese in Steps, vol 3" or equivalent, and will start to use "Chinese in Steps, vol 4". Students will be introduced to a further 400 characters and about 700 words.

By the end of the course, students should be able to communicate freely in daily life situations, to describe some events and to express their own ideas and views while engaged in discussion in a limited range of topics. HSK Level 4 is suggested for students to take.

HSK/Chinese Proficiency courses

Running on Wednesday evenings, alongside the above 12 week courses, all the HSK courses can be taken on its own, or as an extra tutorials, or as a test preparation.

These courses are FREE to attend for those who have registered for one of the above 12 week courses, for students of China Studies at SEAS, and for those who will take HSK tests at our test centre.

If you aim to take the internationally-recognised Chinese Proficiency Tests (HSK and/or HSKK test), you are strongly advised to take this course.

Using a set of HSK Standard textbooks and workbooks, the proficiency courses are designed for a systematic study for the language, therefore can be taken on their own, or taken as tutorials assisting the above 12 week courses.

If you are not registering for any of the above 12 week courses and still want to take the HSK course, the fee for a HSK course is the same as a 12 week course. Register at the University Online Shop when the registration is open

Check whether the registration is open: click on All Departments and search for 'Chinese for Everyone'.

Select "HSK course only" and state which level in "Comments".

One-to-one private Mandarin tuition

Specifically designed to meet personal learning objectives, private tuition, based on 1-1 or 1-2, is offered all year round. Prior to the first private tuition session, a meeting is required to assess the learning resources and develop a programme. This meeting can take up to one hour and is free of charge.

The fee rate is £25 per hour, paid in advance for every 10 hourly-block. The tuition normally takes place at the Confucius Institute office.

Register at the University Online Shop