What you'll learn
Begin your journey into the Mandarin Chinese language and culture with our Mandarin Chinese courses online!
This beginner-friendly course is designed for complete beginners and offers a clear, supportive introduction to Mandarin Chinese — no prior experience required. You’ll start learning practical, everyday Mandarin from the very first classes, building confidence step by step.
Mandarin Chinese is often more logical than people expect. The language has no verb conjugations, no plurals, and no grammatical gender, making it highly accessible for beginners. You’ll learn how Mandarin works through Pinyin (the phonetic system used to represent sounds), while gradually being introduced to commonly used Chinese characters.
As a tonal language, Mandarin places strong emphasis on listening and pronunciation. With guidance from an experienced native Mandarin-speaking tutor, you’ll learn to recognise and use tones accurately, communicate using simple sentence structures, and understand how spoken and written Mandarin work together. Alongside language skills, you’ll gain insight into Chinese culture and everyday communication.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this Mandarin Chinese: Beginners Level 1 course, you should be able to:
- Understand the difference between the Pinyin system and written Chinese characters
- Hear, recognise, and pronounce Mandarin tones
- Greet people and introduce yourself and others using basic sentence structures
- Ask and answer simple questions, including personal information and country of origin
- Use basic negative structures in Mandarin
- Indicate possession and belonging
- Use common measure words correctly
- Say numbers, including phone numbers and age
- Tell the time, days of the week, and months of the year
- Distinguish between formal and familiar speech
- Recognise and use basic Chinese characters and vocabulary
- Demonstrate introductory understanding of Chinese culture
Course content
What will be covered in this Mandarin Chinese: Beginners Level 1 course?
Topics
- Greetings
- Introducing yourself and asking names, countries, and nationalities
- Alphabet (Pinyin) and numbers
- Dates and time
- Family members
- Basic Mandarin vocabulary
- Chinese culture
Grammar
- Use of tones
- Asking simple questions
- Basic sentence structures
- Forming negative sentences
- Introduction to measure words
Intended audience
Who is this Mandarin Chinese: Beginners Level 1 course for?
- Complete beginners with no prior experience learning Mandarin Chinese
- Learners interested in Chinese language and culture
- People planning travel or personal connections in Chinese-speaking regions
- Anyone curious about learning a tonal language in a structured, supportive environment
Course venue
Online via Zoom
- Zoom details will be emailed with your enrolment confirmation
- A device with a stable internet connection is required
Course materials
What to bring to class
- Notebook and pen
- Course textbook (see below)
Textbook
Students need to purchase the course textbook for our Learn Mandarin Chinese for Beginners Course and Learn Mandarin Chinese for Beginners: Level 2 Course.
Integrated Chinese Level 1, Part 1, 4th Edition (3rd Edition is okay)
ISBN: 9781622911356
or
Easy Peasy Chinese: Mandarin Chinese for Beginners
ISBN: 9780241513279
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
Upon successful completion of the course with at least 80% attendance, you will receive a Certificate of Attendance, recognising your participation and commitment to learning Mandarin Chinese.
Additional information
- Course delivery: Fully online through interactive virtual classrooms
- Certificate: A Certificate of Attendance is provided to students who successfully complete the course
- 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 may wish to continue with Mandarin Chinese Course: Beginners Level 2, where you’ll build on your foundation and develop greater 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
-
Phillip said: I felt that the class was very informative and the tutor was very helpful. She was always able to answer our questions and volunteered extra information to help us better understand the subject.
-
Frankie said: I did the taster with the tutor and she was great at explaining. I missed that term so signed up for the next term. Unfortunately my work and travel for it then got in the way. If I had had some idea of The language to start with I probably could have kept up but I didn’t. I tried keeping up by ordering the recordings but didn’t get back to them. So totally my fault that I didn’t get through it, the course was still great.
-
Sinead said: Learning things that I didn't understand when I tried to learn Chinese as a child.
-
Kerrie said: Although the course was delivered via Zoom our tutor was able to engage the whole class, making lessons most interactive and interesting. I felt participants learnt a lot, particularly with explanation of cultural situations that enhanced our understanding. I would be happy to continue with Zoom lessons.
-
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.
Course tutors
Fang Zhao
Great reasons to enrol in a short course with us
Small classes
A personal approach means quality learning, so you can enjoy plenty of interaction with your instructor and the chance to ask questions.
Short & sweet
Our short courses & workshops get straight to the point, providing the skills you need with minimal commitment of your precious time.
Facilities & equipment
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, and you can change your mind up to 7 days before class starts.
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.
4.7 starsaverage rating on Google
1,400+courses to choose from
99%customer support rating
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!</
...<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
Related courses
-
Cantonese Course: Beginners Level 1
Learn to speak Cantonese and explore a vibrant spoken language with our Cantonese language short courses online! Have you always wanted to learn Cantonese but weren’t sure where to begin? This beginner-friendly course offers a supportive introduction to the Cantonese language and is designed for complete beginners — no prior experience required. Cantonese is widely spoken in Hong Kong and southern mainland China and is known for its rich tones and expressive spoken style. From the...
Learn more about Cantonese Course: Beginners Level 1 -
Cantonese Course: Beginners Level 2
Learn to speak Cantonese with our Cantonese language short courses online & in Sydney. This online Level 2 Cantonese course follows our Cantonese Course: Beginners Level 1 and will give you confidence in speaking and understanding the Cantonese language. Each class will look at different situational topics that are designed to boost your conversation skills by expanding your vocabulary, grammar, and understanding of the language and culture. Upon completion of this level 2...
Learn more about Cantonese Course: Beginners Level 2 -
Indonesian Course: Beginners Level 1
Improve your work skills and improve your linguistic abilities and learn to speak Bahasa Indonesian with our Indonesian language short courses online and in Sydney! Join our Indonesian Course: Beginners Level 1 and embark on a journey to master the basics of Bahasa Indonesian. Taught by qualified and experienced tutors, this course offers a friendly and relaxed learning environment that allows you to explore Indonesian culture while developing your language skills. Whether you...
Learn more about Indonesian Course: Beginners Level 1 -
Japanese Course: Beginners Level 1
Begin your journey into the dynamic world of Japanese language and culture with our with our Japanese language courses online! Whether your interest comes from Japanese film, anime, food, travel, or simple curiosity about the language itself, this beginner-friendly course offers a clear and supportive introduction to Japanese for complete beginners. This beginner-friendly course is designed for complete beginners and offers a clear, supportive introduction to Japanese — no prior...
Learn more about Japanese Course: Beginners Level 1 -
Korean Course: Beginners Level 1
Curious about the Korean language? Learn the basics with our Korean language short courses. Whether you’ve been inspired by Korean music and pop culture, are planning to travel, or simply enjoy learning new languages, this beginner-friendly course provides a welcoming introduction to Korean for complete beginners — no prior experience required. Korean is a unique and logical language with its own writing system, and this course places strong emphasis on learning Hangeul, the Korean...
Learn more about Korean Course: Beginners Level 1 -
Mandarin Chinese Course: Beginners Level 2
Improve your work skills and expand your global opportunities by learning Mandarin Chinese language short courses online & in Sydney! You had a taste of Mandarin Chinese in our Mandarin Chinese Course: Beginners Level 1 and would like to build on your language skills? Our Chinese Mandarin Course: Beginners Level 2 will give you the platform to practice and improve your basic language skills by looking at new situational topics such as going to the market, asking for directions,...
Learn more about Mandarin Chinese Course: Beginners Level 2 -
Mandarin Chinese Course: Intermediate Level 1
Improve your work skills and expand your global opportunities by learning to speak Chinese Mandarin with our Mandarin Chinese language short courses online & in Sydney! Have you started learning Mandarin Chinese in our Mandarin Chinese Course: Beginners Level 1 and Mandarin Chinese Course: Beginners Level 2 and would like to build on your language skills? This Chinese Mandarin intermediate course will give you the platform to practice your language skills and add some new ones by...
Learn more about Mandarin Chinese Course: Intermediate Level 1 -
Mandarin Chinese Course: Intermediate Level 2
Improve your work skills and expand your global opportunities by learning to speak Chinese Mandarin with our Mandarin Chinese language short courses online & in Sydney! Have you started learning Mandarin Chinese in our Mandarin Chinese Course: Beginners Level 1 & Level 2 and Mandarin Chinese Course: Intermediate and would like to build on your language skills? This Chinese Mandarin Intermediate Level 2 course will give you the platform to practice your language skills and add some...
Learn more about Mandarin Chinese Course: Intermediate Level 2 -
Thai Course: Beginners Level 1
Broaden your cultural horizons and discover the Thai language with our Thai language short courses online! Have you always wanted to learn Thai but weren’t sure where to begin? This beginner-friendly course offers a practical and supportive introduction to the Thai language and is designed for complete beginners — no prior experience required. Thai is a tonal language, and this course places clear emphasis on pronunciation from the very beginning. With guidance from an experienced...
Learn more about Thai Course: Beginners Level 1 -
Vietnamese Course: Beginners Level 1
Start your Vietnamese language learning with our Vietnamese language short courses online & in Sydney! This online Vietnamese beginner's course is the perfect course to start your journey and build a solid foundation. Here you'll learn how to communicate in Vietnamese in a relaxed, practical, and interactive class. Explore how to have conversations with simple vocabulary and basic sentences while being introduced to the beautiful Vietnamese culture. Vietnamese is a tonal language,...
Learn more about Vietnamese Course: Beginners Level 1
