Duration
1 weekWeekly study
3 hours100% online
How it works
Discover Contemporary Chinese: A Taster Course
Try a free sample course on Chinese culture
You might know a few basic words in Chinese, but what does real communication and culture look like in everyday life?
This free sample course is suitable for all levels and gives you a chance to explore whether learning more about contemporary Chinese is right for you.
Through short lessons and interactive activities, you’ll get hands-on experience with practical language and cultural insights, helping you see how the full course could fit your learning goals.
Explore the basics of the Chinese language
On this taster course, you’ll sample selected lessons to see how the series is structured from beginner to intermediate levels.
You’ll get a feel for how vocabulary, grammar, and real-life topics are integrated, helping you understand how the full series guides learners step by step toward confident communication.
Develop essential communication skills
Try out practical expressions for everyday interactions and learn key grammar patterns, such as making comparisons and describing experiences.
Through guided activities and discussions, you’ll practice speaking and understanding Chinese in contexts that are relevant to daily life, building confidence as you go.
Gain cultural understanding
Explore themes around society, education, and daily life in contemporary China.
You’ll learn about cultural perspectives that go beyond language, helping you deepen your appreciation of Chinese culture and improve your intercultural communication skills.
Decide if the full course is right for you
As you explore the taster, you’ll reflect on your progress and experience the teaching style for yourself. By the end, you’ll know whether continuing with the full Contemporary Chinese series aligns with your goals.
Syllabus
Week 1
Discover Contemporary Chinese: A Taster Course
Begin Your Learning Journey
Welcome to the taster course! In this activity, you will get an introduction to the Contemporary Chinese series and learn how the taster course fits into it.
Common Expressions for Making Invitations
In this activity, you will learn how to invite someone for a cup of coffee, while gaining exposure to basic vocabulary, sentence patterns, and conversational strategies in Chinese.
Sentence Patterns for Comparisons
In this activity, you will explore different ways to express comparisons in Chinese, including how to indicate stronger, weaker, or equal degrees.
Topic-Based Reading on Part-Time Work
In this activity, you will read a short text about part-time work and develop the skills to discuss the topic independently in Chinese.
Cultural Insights on Education
In this activity, you will examine materials that explore different perspectives on education and helps deepen your understanding of cultural differences.
Review Your Learning Journey
In this activity, you will review the daily expressions, grammar points, topic-based readings, and cultural insights you have encountered throughout the course. You will also complete a short test to check your understanding.
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Explore the progression of the Contemporary Chinese series
- Demonstrate common expressions for daily interactions
- Apply essential grammar patterns to express comparisons
- Engage in discussions about practical topics
- Investigate key aspects of Chinese culture
- Assess whether the full series meets the learning needs
Who is the course for?
This course is ideal for anyone curious about Chinese language and culture, whether you’re a complete beginner or have some prior knowledge and want a practical refresher.
Who will you learn with?
Chinese teacher from Fudan University, has been teaching Chinese in China, Cameroon, Ecuador, the UK, Australia (remotely), and Belgium for over ten years.
Who developed the course?
Chinese Plus
Chinese Plus lends support to domestic and foreign educational institutions, social organizations, and enterprises to take part in Online Chinese Class and set up localized platforms to conduct remote online Chinese education. It offers an all-in-one service package that includes online “teaching, learning, testing, and researching” as well as Chinese-centered online preparatory courses and “Chinese + vocational education” courses, among other services.
Established
2020Location
Beijing, China
| Unlock nowUpgrade and unlock this entire course now | |||
Ways to learn | Subscribe & save | Buy this course | Start learning today |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choose the best way to learn for you! | $349.99 for one year Automatically renews | $54/one-off payment | Free |
| Develop skills to further your career | Fulfill your current learning need | Try this course - with limits | |
| Access to this course | tick | tick | Limited to 1 week |
| Access to 1,000+ courses | tick | cross | cross |
| Learn at your own pace | tick | tick | cross |
| Discuss your learning in comments | tick | tick | tick |
| Tests to check your learning | tick | tick | cross |
| Certificate when you're eligible | Digital only | Printed and digital | cross |
Cancel for free anytime |
Ways to learn
Choose the best way to learn for you!
Buy this course
$54/one-off payment
Fulfill your current learning need
- Access to this course
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Tests to boost your learning
- Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible
Subscribe & save
$349.99 for one year
Automatically renews
Develop skills to further your career
- Access to this course
- Access to 1,000+ courses
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Tests to boost your learning
- Digital certificate when you're eligible
Cancel for free anytime
Start learning today
Free
Try this course - with limits
- Limited to 1 week
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades) | |||
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
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