Mandarin Chinese A

Mandarin Chinese A is for sixth grade students who have little or no prior background in the language. Mandarin Chinese A introduces students to the standard Chinese language (Mandarin) and culture. Emphasis will be placed on pinyin (the phonetic system indicating Chinese pronunciation in the English alphabet), listening comprehension and speaking skills. Simplified Chinese characters will be taught during the course, while traditional forms of characters are also introduced. Students will develop a core vocabulary and knowledge of basic grammar for conversation. Conversation topics will relate to daily life and school life, such as greetings, personal hobbies, and courtesy expressions. Cultural knowledge is gained through videos, arts and crafts, and supplementary readings.