Adult Chinese Language Classes

People expect that the main challenges involved in learning Chinese are things like characters, vocabulary, reading and writing, but they forget about the challenges presented by mispronunciation. This workshop is designed to help the Chinese learners who already have at least a high beginner (equivalent to Level 104 offered at China Institute) to an intermediate level of Chinese to break poor pronunciation habits and eventually master the correct pronunciation and tones of Mandarin Chinese. This workshop will not only provide a review of the Chinese sound system, but it will also help the students to overcome the difficulties and pitfalls faced by most English speakers, such as the four tones, the initials “zh/ch/sh” v.s. “j/q/x”, the tricky initial “r”, tone-sandhi, and the final “u” v.s. “ü”, etc. Through a variety of fun and efficient activities including group practice, games, and pronunciation drills, such as similar sound comparisons and mixed recognition exercises, this workshop aims to also help students recognizing the ‘mistakes’ they commonly make and understand what they are doing ‘wrong’, compared to what they ‘should’ be doing. Throughout the course, students will receive continual and immediate feedback in class and, at the end, will be on their way towards speaking with clear and correct pronunciation and tones.

Schedule:
Wednesday, 10:00 – 11:00 AM
July 12 – August 9
5 sessions (5 hours)
$150 member / $190 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)
Maximum Number of Students: 6

This intensive class is designed for absolute beginners with little or no knowledge of Chinese Mandarin and who are interested in studying the language at a faster pace, i.e., completing Beginning Chinese 101 and 102 in 5 weeks. Upon completion, students will be expected to establish a solid foundation in pronunciation (initials, vowels, and most importantly, tones) and gain fundamental knowledge of Chinese characters. Students will be able to carry out conversations on daily activities and master about 120 Chinese words and expressions.

The textbooks required for this course are Road to Success: Threshold 《入门篇》and Lower Elementary 《起步篇》, Vol. 1.

* Please purchase the required textbook(s) on Amazon or directly from the publisher’s US office, Phoenix Tree Publishing, and enter code DSTY15 at checkout for a 15% discount at www.phoenixtree.com.

Mon, Tue, Wed & Thur
12:30 – 2:30 PM
July 10 – August 10
20 sessions (40 hours)
$950 member / $990 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)

This course is designed for absolute beginners with little or no knowledge of Chinese Mandarin. This class will introduce the phonics of Chinese Mandarin, sounds and tones, using the pinyin Romanization system. Upon completion, students will be expected to establish a solid foundation in Chinese pronunciation (initials, vowels and most importantly, the tones). In addition, students will easily master about 80 basic Chinese characters, most of which are very commonly used to construct other characters. Students are also expected to be able to conduct short daily conversations, including greetings, expressing gratitude, and introducing oneself and others, etc.

The textbook required for this course is Road to Success: Threshold.

• Online Evening Class: July 10 – August 9
  Monday & Wednesday, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
• Online Morning Class: July 11 – August 10
  Tuesday & Thursday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• In-Person Class: July 10 – August 9
  Monday & Wednesday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

10 sessions (20 hours)
$485 member / $525 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)

This class will continue to build on the pronunciation and tones taught in Beginning Chinese 101. In addition, this course will cover the topics of making acquaintance, describing oneself, making appointments, discussing everyday situations, asking various types of questions, making suggestions or comments, etc.

The textbook required for this course is Road to Success: Lower Elementary, Vol.1 (Lessons 1-6).

*Upon completion of this level, students may be eligible to take the HSK 1.

* Please purchase the required textbook(s) on Amazon or directly from the publisher’s US office, Phoenix Tree Publishing, and enter code DSTY15 at checkout for a 15% discount at www.phoenixtree.com.

Monday & Wednesday, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
July 10 – August 9
10 sessions (20 hours)
$485 member / $525 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)

This class will continue to introduce new vocabulary and sentence patterns. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to communicate about daily necessities, including shopping, making a purchase, and going to the bank, among many others.

The textbook required for this course is Road to Success: Lower Elementary, Vol.1 (Lessons 7-12).

*Upon completion of this level, students may be eligible to take the HSK 2.

Tuesday & Thursday, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
July 11 – August 10
10 sessions (20 hours)
$485 member / $525 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)

Following Heritage Chinese Beginner I, this course is designed specifically for heritage Chinese students who possess speaking skills but limited reading and writing skills in Chinese. More complex and functional vocabulary words, sentence patterns and systemic review of grammar will be practiced through reading texts on various cultural topics. Writing is also an important part of the training in this class.

The textbook required for this course is Contemporary Chinese for Heritage Learners: An Introductory Text, Simplified Character Version, 2nd Edition, L9 – 14.

Monday & Wednesday, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
July 10 – August 9
10 sessions (20 hours)
$485 member / $525 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)

This conversational course provides optimal opportunities for students to acquire better speaking skills in Chinese with an emphasis on natural, colloquial usage of the language. It is designed for students who have completed higher beginner classes (Levels 104-106) in our Chinese classes or at an equivalent proficiency level but wish to advance their conversation skills. This class is highly conversational, interactive, and communicative.

NO textbook is required to purchase for this class. Materials will be provided in class.

Thursday, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
July 13 – August 10
5 sessions (10 hours)
$250 member / $290 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)

This course will bring students to the intermediate level courses, and covers topics of phone conversation, renting an apartment, going out to eat in a restaurant and watching TV programs, among many others. Upon completion, students will be able to discuss different aspects of daily life and use more complicated structures for language expressions.

The textbook required for this course is Road to Success, Elementary Vol. 1 (Lessons 1-4).

*Upon completion of this level, students may be eligible to take the HSK 2 or 3.

Tuesday & Thursday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
July 11 – August 10
10 sessions (20 hours)
$485 member / $525 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)

This class is designed for students who have completed up to the Intermediate level classes (Level 201-206) in our Chinese classes or at an equivalent proficiency level. The class will help students speak the language with sufficient structural accuracy and vocabulary to participate effectively in most informal conversational and business settings. The class is highly conversational and interactive, with a focus on live conversations and discussions to achieve fluency in spoken Chinese. Topics for discussion revolve around a wide range of themes, including the latest hot topics in China and worldwide.

NO textbook is required to purchase for this class. Materials will be provided in class.

• Tuesday, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
  July 11 – August 8
• Saturday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
  July 15 – August 12

5 sessions (10 hours)
$250 member / $290 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)

This five-week summer course is designed for heritage learners who possess an intermediate level of reading skills. This course will provide students with a unique opportunity to explore the artistic dimensions of Chinese culture and appreciate its beauty. Through multimedia presentations such as videos and images, students will be immersed in the rich history and unique traditional styles of daily life in China.

The course will focus on four main topics, each with a long history and distinct features: ancient Chinese architecture and decoration, traditional Chinese furniture, Chinese dyeing and weaving, and ancient tea rituals. These topics will be explored in-depth, with particular attention paid to their cultural significance and the values they reflect.

This course will be highly interactive to encourage students’ participation. Through a series of engaging lectures and discussions, students will learn about the values that underpin traditional Chinese culture, including harmony, balance, and respect for nature. They will also learn about the aesthetic standards that have developed over thousands of years and continue to influence Chinese art and design to this day.

Tuesday, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
July 11– August 8
5 sessions (10 hours)
$250 member / $290 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)

This five-week summer course offers students a unique opportunity to explore the local lifestyle in Beijing. Through a combination of videos and discussions, students will gain an understanding of the daily lives of ordinary people in China’s capital city.

The course is designed for Chinese learners who have taken CI’s intermediate-level classes or anyone with an overall intermediate proficiency in the Chinese language and aim to improve speaking and listening skills with a rich cultural content. The class will begin with short video interviews with local residents, which will provide a glimpse into their daily lives and experiences. Students will then participate in group discussions to analyze and reflect on the content of the videos. Key vocabulary and useful expressions will be provided and explained. Topics covered in the videos will include people’s income and wealth, retirement, housing, and other aspects of daily life that are important to the people of Beijing.

Wednesday, 12:30 – 2:30 PM
July 12 – August 9
5 sessions (10 hours)
$250 member / $290 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)

This course aims at pushing students’ spoken Chinese beyond daily life conversations. In this advanced course, students will be engaged in discussions on a variety of topics about China’s economy, politics, social problems, and cultural issues. This is a highly interactive class and students are expected to improve speaking skills at a more sophisticated level with depth and fluency. Theme-based pre-reading materials or key vocabulary/expressions and sample sentences will be provided before each class to ensure optimal participation in class discussions.

NO textbook is required to purchase for this class. Materials will be provided in class.

Tuesday, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
July 11 – August 8
5 sessions (10 hours)
$250 member / $290 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)

This course is designed for those who have completed one of the advanced level courses at China Institute or for anyone who has achieved an overall advanced level of proficiency in the Chinese language and seeks to continue their studies by reading more advanced texts. The class will be highly interactive with students participating in discussions on a wide range of thought-provoking topics on contemporary China. Students will read selected articles reflecting various current social issues. Advanced vocabulary, expressions, and sentence patterns will be introduced in class. Advanced skills in in-depth reading comprehension will be developed, along with professional speaking skills.

NO textbook is required to purchase for this class. Materials will be provided in class.

Thursday, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
July 13 – August 10
5 sessions (10 hours)
$250 member / $290 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)

This course is designed for those who have achieved an overall high intermediate to advanced level of proficiency in the Chinese language and wish to advance their spoken fluency and sophistication. Students will be fully engaged in discussions on a variety of reading topics about China’s economy, politics, social and cultural issues.

NO textbook is required for this class. Materials will be provided in class.

Wednesday, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
July 12 – August 9
5 sessions (10 hours)
$250 member / $290 non-member
(plus a $30 non-refundable registration fee)