Intro

Young learners new to Chinese build culturally authentic conversational skills through playful, story-based, real-world scenarios. We present and coach real-life stories to help young learners recognize everyday situations, understand their social roles, and confidently behave verbally and non-verbally that are appropriate in Chinese culture, gradually socializing them into Chinese cultural expectations while building clear pronunciation and confidence.

Levels may be adjusted based on student performance to ensure strong mastery before moving forward.

Take an accelerated SPEAK! track, and build strong skills in the READ! track. 

Continue with higher level courses and deepen your cultural competence through modules on Chinese American People · History · Identity · Values.

Strengthen your current skills and prepare with confidence for the AP Chinese exam. Prepare to meet the Chinese language requirements of your target colleges. We also offer recommendation letters and guidance on scholarship opportunities.

Families & Communities · Personal & Public Identities · Beauty & Aesthetics · Contemporary Life · Science & Technology · Global Challenges

Learners new to Chinese build culturally authentic conversational skills through guided, real-world scenarios. We present and coach carefully designed real-life stories, leading learners through rehearsed, successful performances that bring both genuine enjoyment and practical communication skills. Learners develop confidence using culturally appropriate verbal and non-verbal behaviors, build meaningful social relationships with their target interlocutors, and embark on an engaging journey into Chinese culture.

Designed for English-speaking learners, the focus of this level is on communicating in Chinese in practical, everyday situations. The proficiency goal is Novice-High on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Chinese Proficiency Guidelines. Topics include starting conversations, introductions, numbers, dates, time, money, finding people, places and objects, sharing personal information, visiting Chinese cities, and weather.

SPEAK! track helps you learn to speak and understand Chinese as efficiently as possible through pedagogically-designed video, audio, and Hanyu Pinyin (the official Chinese romanization system). The lessons introduce key everyday communicative contexts and their associated grammatical patterns, vocabulary, and relevant sociolinguistic and cultural insights.

READ! track helps you learn to quickly read and write simple, connected Chinese sentences using our cutting-edge methods & technology tools. You will be systematically introduced to high frequency characters and words in contextualized sentences and reading passages as well as in realia such as street signs, notes, and name cards. Basic graded readers and smartphone applications.

By completing this level you will be able to conduct simple, practical conversations with Chinese speakers on a variety of everyday topics. The proficiency goal is ACTFL Intermediate-High. The last few lessons are on the cusp of the ACTFL Advanced. Topics include visiting Chinese cities, buying goods, eating, drinking, phone calls, visiting homes, personal interests, pressing situations.

SPEAK! track continue to introduce most of the remaining high-frequency grammatical patterns and vocabulary of spoken Chinese, and the sociolinguistic and cultural information needed for you to use these linguistic components appropriately.

READ! track help you read simple, connected texts printed in simplified or traditional Chinese characters and recognize about 600 high-frequency characters and common words written with them. You will learn to handle various text communications. Continuing graded readers with engaging storylines and Chinese smartphone applications.

By completing this level you will be able to conduct simple, practical conversations with Chinese speakers on a variety of everyday topics. The proficiency goal is ACTFL Intermediate-High. The last few lessons are on the cusp of the ACTFL Advanced. Topics include visiting Chinese cities, buying goods, eating, drinking, phone calls, visiting homes, personal interests, pressing situations.