With 1,120 billion speakers, Mandarin Chinese is the second most spoken language in the world (after English) and it also has the highest number of native speakers (over 921 million). China’s millenary history and culture are well known all over the world, and learning Chinese provides access to a rich artistic tradition that includes literature, visual arts, music, food, and film. Thanks to the emergence of China as a major world power and a global economy in the last decades, Mandarin Chinese has become especially important for career opportunities in business, education, arts, and international politics.

Our department offers classes of Mandarin Chinese at the elementary level.

LANG 141: Elementary Chinese I

This course is intended for students whose objective is a working knowledge of standard Mandarin Chinese. While stressing the development of oral communication, the course will also acquaint students with Chinese characters and provide opportunities for discussions on Chinese customs and cultural attitudes. This course is recommended for students with little or no previous knowledge of Chinese.

LANG 142: Elementary Chinese II

This course is a continuation of LANG 141 (Elementary Chinese I). Intended for students whose objective is a working knowledge of Standard Mandarin Chinese, this course continues developing oral communication skills, acquainting students with Chinese characters, and providing opportunities for cultural discussions.