Overview
This beginner course develops foundational Mandarin Chinese skills for understanding, producing, reading, and writing numbers in everyday contexts. Students study pronunciation and tones, number vocabulary from zero through at least one hundred, extensions to larger numbers, Chinese numerals, basic character formation, stroke order, and legible handwriting.
Instruction emphasizes the use of numbers in stating age, dates, telephone numbers, prices, quantities, and simple times. Students are introduced to measure words for people and objects and practise asking and answering basic questions about how many and how much. Learning activities include listening discrimination, repetition, tone practice, character recognition, handwriting, pair dialogues, games, role-play, and short authentic-style tasks. The course also develops respectful awareness of culturally common numerical associations and communicative conventions without stereotyping.
Learning Outcomes
- Produce core Mandarin number vocabulary with intelligible pronunciation and appropriate tones.
- Recognize and interpret numbers in slow, clearly articulated everyday Mandarin speech.
- Write selected Chinese number characters using accurate stroke order and legible form.
- Apply Mandarin number patterns to express quantities, ages, dates, telephone numbers, prices, and simple times.
- Use introductory measure words appropriately when counting people and common objects.
- Construct and respond to basic Mandarin questions concerning quantity and personal information.
- Distinguish relevant numerical conventions in Chinese-language communication and evaluate them respectfully within cultural context.
Timetable
| Type | Length | Frequency | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 2 hours | Weekly | All semester |
| Tutorial | 1 hour | Weekly | All semester |
| Language Lab | 1 hour | Weekly | All semester |
Assessment Schedule
| Type | Description | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Attendance | Participation and in-class practice | 10.00% |
| Assignment | Vocabulary and character assignments (4 × 5%) | 20.00% |
| Test | Listening and pronunciation tests (2 × 10%) | 20.00% |
| Test | Written character and number test | 15.00% |
| Assignment | Oral interaction practical | 15.00% |
| Exam | Final integrated examination | 20.00% |
Teaching Staff & Programs
This course is delivered jointly by faculty from the participating programs listed below. In line with the Douchewater Way, the University of Sexology tailors core instruction directly to each cohort's specific discipline — adapting curriculum to program needs rather than forcing students into a one-size-fits-all model. Learn more about our approach at The Douchewater Way.
