Please read our Terms & Conditions for full details about our Language classes.
Mandarin Language classes
Introduction
Classes are held in-person at Lancaster University and online.
Language courses are repeated three times per year, alongside each term:
- Michaelmas Term (October - December),
- Lent Term (January - March),
- Summer Term (April - June).
Exact schedules for each class and registration will be available a few weeks prior to the start of each new term.
Language course cost:
- For Lancaster University students - £40 per term
- For others - £50 per term
If you have any questions about our classes, please contact us.
Textbook and Registration Information Accordion
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Textbooks
Please find below information regarding the textbooks that will be used during the Summer term:
- Beginner Level 1 to Beginner Level 5 classes will use Discover China Student's Book 1.
- Intermediate Level 1 to Intermediate Level 5 classes will use Discover China Student's Book 2.
- Upper-Intermediate Level 1 class will use Discover China Student Book 3.
- Advanced 1 class will use New Practical Chinese Reader Book 3.
We strongly recommend that everyone attends the class with a copy of the textbook. Please ask our team if you are not sure which level you will need.
The textbooks may be available to borrow from our Resource Centre (The Roundhouse, Room A02). We are also working with Lancaster University Library to ensure they stock copies of the textbooks.
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Registration
Registration for the Michaelmas term classes is now open. Please register via the Online Store.
Course Levels
If you are unsure which level to sign-up for, please contact us. One of our teachers can recommend a level to join based on your previous experience.
Extra-curricular class information Accordion
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Beginner Level 1
A 9 week Mandarin Chinese language course for students, staff and general public from week beginning 16 October 2023 to week beginning 11 December 2023.
For beginners with no prior knowledge. Taught primarily with Roman alphabet (Pinyin). Introductory learning to read in Chinese Characters.
When: Tuesday afternoons from 12.15pm-1.45pm (in-person) OR Tuesday evenings from 6.15pm-7:45pm (online)
Textbook: Discover China Student Book 1 (red), units 1-3
Registration: Arts and Social Science (FASS) | Lancaster University Online Store (lancaster-university.co.uk)
Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) proficiency tests
Students completing the Beginner 1-4 classes can aim to take Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) proficiency test level 1.
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Beginner Level 2 (Hybrid: in-person and online attendance available)
A 9 week Mandarin Chinese language course for students, staff and general public from week beginning 16 October 2023 to week beginning 11 December 2023.
For those who have learned around 200 Chinese words. Continued teaching in Pinyin, with expansion in the use of Chinese Characters.
When:Tuesday evenings 6.15pm–7.45pm
Textbook: Discover China Student Book 1 (red), units 4-6
Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) proficiency tests
Students completing the Beginner 1-4 classes can aim to take Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) proficiency test level 1.
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Beginner Level 3
A 9 week Mandarin Chinese language course for students, staff and general public from week beginning 16 October 2023 to week beginning 11 December 2023.
For those who have learned around 400 Chinese words. Requires some knowledge and use of Chinese Characters.
When: Wednesday evenings 6.15pm–7.45pm
Textbook: Discover China. Student's Book One, units 7-9
Registration: Chinese Language Beginner Course Level 3 (In-Person Class) | Lancaster University Online Store (lancaster-university.co.uk)
Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) proficiency tests
Students completing the Beginner 1-4 classes can aim to take Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) proficiency test level 1.
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Beginner Level 4
A 9 week Mandarin Chinese language course for students, staff and general public from week beginning 16 October 2023 to week beginning 11 December 2023.
For those who have learned around 600 Chinese words. This course is designed to be taught with little to no Pinyin, almost entirely with Chinese Characters.
When: Thursday evenings 6.15pm–7.45pm
Textbook: Discover China. Student's Book One, units 10-12
Registration: Chinese Language Beginner Course Level 4 (In-Person Class) | Lancaster University Online Store (lancaster-university.co.uk)
Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) proficiency tests
Students completing the Beginner 1-4 classes can aim to take Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) proficiency test level 1.
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Beginner level 5 Review and Chinese character class
A 9 week Mandarin Chinese language course for students, staff and general public from week beginning 16 October 2023 to week beginning 11 December 2023.
This class will review Discover China book 1 and focus on Chinese characters to prepare learners for Discover China book 2.
When:Monday evenings 6.15pm–7.45pm
Textbook: Discover China. Student's Book One
Hanyu Shuiping kaoshi (HSK) proficiency tests
Students completing the Beginner 5 classes can aim to take Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) proficiency test level 2.
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Intermediate Level 1
A 9 week Mandarin Chinese language course for students, staff and general public from week beginning 16 October 2023 to week beginning 11 December 2023.
This is an intermediate level course for people who speak some degree of Mandarin Chinese.
When:Tuesday evenings 6.15pm–7.45pm
Textbook: Discover China Student's Book 2, units 1-3
Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) proficiency tests
Students completing the Intermediate 1-2 classes can aim to take Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) proficiency test level 2.
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Intermediate Level 2
A 9 week Mandarin Chinese language course for students, staff and general public from week beginning 16 October 2023 to week beginning 11 December 2023.
This is an intermediate level course for people who speak some degree of Mandarin Chinese.
When:Monday evenings 6.15pm–7.45pm
Textbook: Discover China Student's Book 2, units 4-6
Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) proficiency tests
Students completing the Intermediate 1-2 classes can aim to take Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) proficiency test level 2.
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Intermediate Level 3
A 9 week Mandarin Chinese language course for students, staff and general public from week beginning 16 October 2023 to week beginning 11 December 2023.
This is an intermediate level course for people who speak some degree of Mandarin Chinese.
When:Wednesday evenings 6.15pm-7.45pm
Textbook: Discover China Student's Book 2, units 7-9
Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) proficiency tests
Students completing the Intermediate 3-5 classes can aim to take Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) proficiency test level 3.
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Intermediate Level 4
A 9 week Mandarin Chinese language course for students, staff and general public from week beginning 16 October 2023 to week beginning 11 December 2023.
This is an intermediate level course for people who speak some degree of Mandarin Chinese.
When:Tuesday evenings 5.00pm-6.30pm
Textbook: Discover China Student's Book 2, units 10-12
Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) proficiency tests
Students completing the Intermediate 3-5 classes can aim to take Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) proficiency test level 3.
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Intermediate level 5 Review and Chinese character class (online)
A 9 week Mandarin Chinese language course for students, staff and general public from week beginning 16 October 2023 to week beginning 11 December 2023.
This class will review Discover China book 2 and focus on Chinese characters to prepare learners for Discover China book 3.
When:Monday evenings 6.15pm-7.45pm
Where: Online via Microsoft Teams. A link will be sent by the class teacher to join the class online.
Textbook: Discover China Student's Book 2
Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) proficiency tests
Students completing the Intermediate 3-5 classes can aim to take Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) proficiency test level 3.
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Upper-Intermediate Level 1 (online)
A 9 week Mandarin Chinese language course for students, staff and general public from week beginning 16 October 2023 to week beginning 11 December 2023.
When:Thursday evenings 6.15pm-7.45pm
Textbook: Discover China student book 3, units 1-3
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Advanced Course (online)
A 9 week Mandarin Chinese language course for students, staff and general public from week beginning 16 October 2023 to week beginning 11 December 2023.
When: Wednesday evenings, 6.15pm-7.45pm
Textbook: New Practical Chinese Reader book 3, lessons 35-37
Registration: Chinese Language Advanced 1 course (Online Class) | Lancaster University Online Store (lancaster-university.co.uk)
Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) proficiency tests
Students completing the Advanced classes can aim to take Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) proficiency test level 4.
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Advanced 2 Course
A 9 week Mandarin Chinese language course for students, staff and general public from week beginning 16 October 2023 to week beginning 11 December 2023.
This course is an advanced level course tailored to learners at HSK 6 level.
When: Tuesday afternoons, 12.15pm-1.45pm
Teaching materials: The materials are provided by the class teacher.
Registration: Chinese Language Advanced 2 course (In-Person Class) | Lancaster University Online Store (lancaster-university.co.uk)
Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) proficiency tests
Students completing the Advanced classes can aim to take Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) proficiency test level 6.
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Chinese language and culture course for Lancaster University staff
A 9 week Mandarin Chinese language course for students, staff and general public from week beginning 16 October 2023 to week beginning 11 December 2023.
This course is tailored to all Lancaster University staff to learn about Chinese language and culture.
When: Wednesday afternoons, 12pm-12.50pm
Teaching materials: The materials are provided by the class teacher.
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Chinese characters course
A 9 week course to learn about Chinese characters including the formation of ancient Characters, strokes, structures, radicals and different writing patterns, combining calligraphy practice with pen and brush from week beginning 16 October 2023 to week beginning 11 December 2023.
When: Thursday evenings, 6.15pm-7.45pm
Registration: Chinese character course (In-Person Class) | Lancaster University Online Store (lancaster-university.co.uk)
This course is aimed at beginner levels students. The aim of the course is to develop an understanding of Chinese characters, have a basic aesthetic sense of calligraphy, and master the ability to learn and write Chinese characters independently.
1 to 1 classes
If you are interested in a more personal session, we can also offer tailored 1:1 sessions on a more flexible basis. 1:1 classes on campus are usually £40 per hour. Classes taught off campus, or teaching to a small group may be charged differently.
For all enquiries of this type, please contact us.