What you'll learn
Begin your journey into the Mandarin Chinese language and culture with our Mandarin Chinese courses online!
Whether you're interested in travel, business, Chinese culture, or simply learning one of the world's most widely spoken languages, this beginner-friendly course offers a clear and supportive introduction to Mandarin Chinese. No previous experience is required.
Mandarin is often more logical than people expect. There are no verb conjugations, no plurals, and no grammatical gender, making it surprisingly accessible for beginners. You'll begin with Pinyin (the phonetic system used to represent Mandarin sounds) before gradually building confidence reading and recognising commonly used Chinese characters.
As a tonal language, Mandarin places strong emphasis on listening and pronunciation. Guided by an experienced tutor, you'll develop accurate pronunciation, build confidence speaking in everyday situations, and gain a practical understanding of how spoken and written Mandarin work together. Along the way, you'll also explore aspects of Chinese culture and etiquette, helping you communicate more naturally and confidently.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this Mandarin Chinese: Beginners Level 1 course, participants will have developed practical skills and knowledge in areas such as:
- Understanding how Pinyin and Chinese characters work together
- Recognising and confidently pronouncing the four Mandarin tones
- Greeting people and introducing yourself and others
- Asking and answering simple questions about personal information
- Using basic sentence structures and negative forms
- Expressing possession and belonging
- Using common measure words in context
- Saying numbers, including phone numbers and age
- Talking about time, days, and dates
- Recognising and using basic Chinese characters and vocabulary
- Demonstrating introductory understanding of Chinese culture and communication
Course content
What will be covered in this Mandarin Chinese: Beginners Level 1 course?
During the course, participants will be guided through key concepts, techniques and approaches that typically include:
Topics
- Greetings and introductions
- Names, countries, and nationalities
- Pinyin and pronunciation
- Numbers, dates, and time
- Family and everyday vocabulary
- Introduction to Chinese culture
Language skills
- Listening and pronunciation practice, including tones
- Speaking through guided conversations
- Reading and recognising basic characters
Grammar
- Basic sentence structures
- Asking simple questions
- Forming negative sentences
- Introduction to measure words
Content may vary slightly depending on class pace, participant interests, and instructor approach.
Intended audience
Who is this Mandarin Chinese: Beginners Level 1 course for?
This course is ideal for complete beginners with no previous knowledge of Mandarin, as well as anyone interested in Chinese language, culture, travel, or business.
Whether you're learning for work, study, travel, or personal interest, this course provides a practical introduction to speaking and understanding everyday Mandarin in a supportive online environment.
Course venue
Online via Zoom
Zoom details will be provided with your enrolment confirmation.
Requirement: A device with a stable internet connection
Course materials
What to bring to class
- Notebook and pen
- Course textbook (see below)
Textbook
Students are required to purchase one of the following textbooks (please check which is required for your class):
- Integrated Chinese Level 1, Part 1 (4th Edition)
ISBN: 9781622911356
or
- Easy Peasy Chinese: Mandarin Chinese for Beginners
ISBN: 9780241513279
We recommend purchasing your textbook once your course has been confirmed (usually within three working days of the proposed start date). The textbook is not included in the enrolment fee.
Please check to see which textbook is required for your class
We recommend purchasing your textbook after the confirmation of your course (usually within three working days of the proposed start). The enrolment fee does not include the textbook.
Certificate of completion
Achievement Recognition
Students who attend at least 80% of the course will receive a Certificate of Attendance from Sydney Community College.
This certificate recognises your commitment to learning Mandarin Chinese and can support your personal or professional development.
Additional information
Mandarin Chinese bundle
- Enrol in three Mandarin Chinese language courses and receive an automatic 15% discount
What's next?
What other Mandarin Chinese classes do we offer?
After completing this course, you can continue your learning with our Mandarin Chinese: Beginners Level 2 course, where you’ll expand your vocabulary, sentence structures, and confidence using Mandarin in everyday situations.
Enrol in both Mandarin Chinese Course: Beginners Level 1 and Beginners Level 2 and save 10% using the promo code GROUP10 at checkout. Please visit our discounts page for full details. Please visit our discounts page for full details.
Course testimonials
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Paul said: I was surprised at how well learning in a zoom environment works. I felt fully engaged with the class and actually prefer it now to going to a class room and learning in-person. I got a lot out of this course and am looking forward to the next stage of it.
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Amanda said: Our tutor was awesome. So experienced and dedicated. Our class was great, lots of lovely people. Venue location is easy to get to. I will definitely be back to do Level 2.
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Theodore said: This was my first class with Fang Zhao. I found that she moderated the class very well. The pace was good and combined language, culture and grammar. She also gave relevant personal examples of experiencing the challenges of learning a second language. I enjoyed the small group Zoom class learning approach more than anticipated. I'm continuing with the next class in the series.
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Patricia said: There is a lot to learn in a short period of time, but the tutor was great and patient. My fellow class mates were also encouraging and there was a great mix of people. Learning about the culture was also great.
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Sonny said: Fang is very knowledgeable and friendly. No exam means less stress. Online course makes it convenient. I learnt more than I expected to.
Course tutors
Mei Zhao
Great reasons to enrol in a short course with us
Small classes
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Our range of venues suit every type of course, are easy to get to, and have the equipment and tech needed to support your learning.
Easy, secure enrolment
Enrol online 24/7 with a safe, convenient 3-step process.
Quality instructors
Our educators bring first-hand experience and knowledge, with up-to-the-minute practices from diverse industries.
Business or pleasure
Our courses help you rapidly increase your skills and knowledge, for professional development or personal interest.
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Classes Online Courses
<p>Begin your journey into the Mandarin Chinese language and culture with our <a href="https://www.sydneycommunitycollege.edu.au/courses/learn-language/mandarin">Mandarin Chinese courses</a> online!</
...If there isn't a class to suit you, please join our waitlist and we will notify you when we have places available. Join waitlist for Mandarin Chinese Course: Beginners Level 1
If there isn't a class to suit you, please join our waitlist and we will notify you when we have places available. Join waitlist for Mandarin Chinese Course: Beginners Level 1
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