Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/mandarin-chinese-intermediate-learners-1
If you’ve been dabbling in Mandarin and are ready to move beyond the basics, Coursera’s ‘Mandarin Chinese for Intermediate Learners: Part 1’ from Shanghai Jiao Tong University is a fantastic next step. This course is designed to build upon existing foundational knowledge, offering a structured and engaging way to enhance your conversational skills and cultural understanding.
The syllabus is thoughtfully laid out, covering practical and relevant topics that learners will find immediately useful. The first lesson, ‘Do you also like running?’, dives into expressing hobbies and sports-related vocabulary, making it easy to connect with native speakers about shared interests. Following this, ‘How well do you learn?’ tackles expressions related to education and home furnishings, adding depth to conversations about daily life and personal growth.
A particularly interesting module is ‘Roujiamo tastes better than hamburgers,’ which not only introduces vocabulary for discussing different lifestyles but also teaches the crucial skill of comparison – essential for nuanced discussions and expressing preferences. The course doesn’t shy away from practical scenarios either; ‘Who did you go with?’ equips learners with expressions for emergencies and ways to emphasize details like location, time, and manner, which are vital for real-world communication. Finally, ‘Mark goes for an interview’ focuses on evaluating people and oneself, along with interview-specific phrases, preparing you for professional settings.
Each lesson is helpfully split into two parts, allowing for a more digestible learning experience. The course material is presented clearly, with ample opportunities for practice. While some might find the pace slightly challenging, the comprehensive nature of the content ensures a thorough understanding. I highly recommend this course to anyone looking to solidify their intermediate Mandarin skills and gain confidence in speaking.
Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/mandarin-chinese-intermediate-learners-1