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Discover Contemporary Chinese: A Taster Course

Explore essential Chinese language and culture with a free sample course from Contemporary Chinese.

Discover Contemporary Chinese: A Taster Course

  • 1 week

  • 3 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Open level

Find out more about how to join this 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

    2020
  • Location

    Beijing, China
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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Upgrade and unlock this entire course now

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)

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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