Short course
Chinese (Mandarin): Beginners Conversation
Course status:
Applications being accepted
Dates:
13/04/2027 - 11/05/2027
Study format:
In-person weekly
Fees:
£180.00
Enhance your Chinese (Mandarin) conversational skills in a range of simple everyday situations with our elementary-level conversation class, designed for learners with a basic foundation in the language.
The course focuses on developing listening and speaking skills, expanding vocabulary, and improving grammar accuracy in basic everyday situations.
Through interactive activities and tasks, multimedia resources, and constructive feedback, you'll refine your language and improve your speaking skills.
Is this the right level course for you?
To benefit from the course learners will have done one of the following:
- Completed our Chinese (Mandarin) Beginners level courses (Part 1 and Part 2); or
- Studied Chinese (Mandarin) for two terms or 1 year; or
- Achieved or are near Level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for Languages in Chinese (Mandarin).
New students, who have not completed 'Part 1' and 'Part 2', whose proficiency in the language is appropriate for the course level are very welcome.
Book this course
Book your place online using the button below.
Level and demands
This course is pitched at A1 Level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Find out more about our language levels.
Course aims
To assist learners with basic proficiency in Chinese (Mandarin) in consolidating their conversational skills across a variety of practical everyday situations, thereby laying the groundwork for further study.
Course objectives
- Improve pronunciation and intonation to ensure clear communication.
- Enhance learners’ ability to understand spoken language through various collaborative activities and tasks, such as listening comprehension, simple dialogues, guided scenarios.
- Encourage learners to participate in simple conversations on everyday topics and gain confidence in speaking.
- Expand vocabulary pertinent to practical everyday contexts and consolidate the application of fundamental grammar structures in spoken language.
Programme details
Course starts Tuesday 13 April 2027
This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings in Oxford on Tuesdays, 5.00-7.00pm.
The weekly schedule below is intended to give an indication of the main topic(s) likely to be covered in each session. Please note that these may sometimes change according to the tutor’s discretion to reflect the interests of course participants.
Week 1: 介绍自己和他人 Introducing Yourself and Others (Formal/Informal Contexts)
Week 2: 你有什么爱好？Talking about Personal Interests and Hobbies
Week 3: 你每天都做什么？Discussing Daily Routine, Food and Drink
Week 4: 他个子真高！Describing Physical Appearance and Personality
Week 5: 你有微信吗？Discussing Social Media and Daily Communication
Key grammar points
- sentence structure, word order, and sentence types
- present/future/past tense, and key words (了、过)
- interrogative sentences and question words
- common adverbs (也、真、很、都)
Key functions
- giving and exchanging basic information about yourself and others
- talking about personal interests, friends, family, and giving simple advice
- expressing likes and dislikes, daily routines, and food and drink
- discussing social media, online communication, and mobile payment methods
Teaching methods
Our language courses promote collaborative learning, encouraging peer interaction and real-life activities. You will learn through participating in engaging activities and tasks in the target language. These are likely to include listening activities, scenarios, pair- and small group-work conducted in a supportive, friendly and informal learning environment. The course has been structured to help you primarily to develop your speaking and listening skills.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be better prepared to:
- engage in basic conversations and ask and answer simple questions.
- recognise and use key phrases for daily routines.
- construct meaningful sentences to provide basic information and express needs.
- demonstrate some basic knowledge of the cultural nuances and etiquette of the language.
Assessment methods
Formative assessment will be integrated into a range of classroom activities, including guided role‑plays, scenario-based pair and group work, and progressively less structured conversations and tasks. Learners will be encouraged to participate in these activities, using the target language to respond to realistic situations, and will benefit from ongoing tutor feedback to support development.
Mrs Zhao Godfrey
Born in the city of Tangshan in North China, Huiqiu Zhao studied English at the University of Shandong. She has been working as a freelance translator, interpreter, teacher and examiner in the UK since 1995.
Certification
Digital badge
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be issued with an official digital badge from the Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford. In order to be issued with your badge, you will need to have attended at least 80% of the course.
After the course, you will receive an email with a link and instructions on how to download your digital badge. You will be able to add this badge to your email signature and share it on social media if you choose to do so.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course Fee | £180.00 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, or are a care-leaver in the UK, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Concessionary fees for short courses
Recommended reading
Recommended reading is optional and you are not required to purchase these books to study this course.
Library facilities
All weekly class students may become borrowing members of the Rewley House Library, part of the Bodleian Libraries, for the duration of their course. Prospective students whose courses have not yet started are also welcome to use the Library for reference.
- More information about the Library can be found on the Bodleian Libraries website.
- This guide for Weekly Class students also provides further information.
Course reading:
- Oxford Starter Chinese Dictionary (Optional) / Oxford Univerysity Press, 2000
Textbooks
No textbook required. All course materials will be provided by the course tutor.
Please use the ‘Book now’ button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form.