My OpenLearn Profile
- Personalise your OpenLearn profile
- Save your favourite content
- Get recognition for your learning
This page was published over five years ago. Please be aware that due to the passage of time, the information provided on this page may be out of date or otherwise inaccurate, and any views or opinions expressed may no longer be relevant. Some technical elements such as audio-visual and interactive media may no longer work. For more detail, see our Archive and Deletion Policy.
Do you want to learn some basics in Mandarin Chinese? The tracks presented here are designed to give you a taste of Mandarin Chinese language and culture. You’ll hear short conversations where people greet each other, introduce themselves and their families, describe where they come from and what they do for a living. You’ll hear them talk about sports, ask for directions, buy things, order food in a restaurant, invite someone to dinner – or simply share their experience of learning Chinese. You’ll also find a track to help you with pronunciation and the use of tones. Finally, there’s the chance to listen to interviews in English about Chinese-speaking cultures. Our guide to the language and culture of mainland China is Dr Kan Qian, who is chair of The Open University course: L197: Beginners’ Chinese
You can also download transcripts for all the tracks.
Track 1: Beginners' Chinese
A short introduction to this album.
© The Open University 2010
- Read a transcript of this track - you'll need a PDF viewer, such as Adobe's free Adobe Reader
- Download this track from iTunes U - you'll need Apple's free iTunes software
- See details of the Open University course this album comes from
- Discover more from The Open University and iTunesU at open.edu/itunes
Tracks in this podcast:
About the author
Tags, Ratings and Social Bookmarking
Other content you may like
free course icon
Level
Languages
Beginners’ Chinese: a taster course
Learn about Mandarin Chinese as a tool for communication and gain insights into Chinese society and culture. This free course, Beginners’ Chinese: a taster course, provides a brief introduction to the Chinese language, its scripts and sounds, and how words are formed. You will hear short conversations where people greet each other and introduce themselves, and learn how to ----- from one to ten. You’ll learn different ways of saying your name and greeting people, as well as give your telephone number. This OpenLearn course is introductory material for absolute beginners in Chinese.
free course icon
Level
Languages
Beginners' Chinese
??? will give you the skills you need to speak and understand simple Chinese (Mandarin) in everyday contexts. No previous knowledge of Chinese is required. This key introductory OU level 1 module will take you through a wide range of practical situations such as socialising, shopping and getting around. Study resources include printed materials and a dedicated website with a variety of online activities - which support independent learning. And while you're learning the language you'll explore aspects of Chinese society and culture, which will give you a real feel for the Chinese way of life.
video icon
Languages
Chinese at the tip of your tongue: Culture behind the numbers
Just like in other cultures, numbers have hidden meanings in Chinese culture too. Discover the philosophy behind the figures.
audio icon
Languages
Portales: beginners' Spanish
This series of clips covers a variety of issues about Spanish culture and society. Material is taken from The Open University Course L194 Portales: beginners' Spanish.
free course icon
Level
Languages
Intermediate French: Understanding spoken French
This free course, Intermediate French: Understanding spoken French, is aimed at intermediate learners of French with an interest in language and culture. It is designed to develop your understanding of spoken French through six video portraits of people living in the Touraine region in France and in Brussels in Belgium. It introduces you to naturally spoken language, and gives clear advice on how to use authentic video resources as a useful and enjoyable learning tool. Through completing various activities you will improve your active use of the language, and develop the confidence to access further audio-visual resources and take your French studies to a higher level.
activity icon
Languages
Stereotypes as shared knowledge in a community
Look at stereotypes and how they form part of an asuumed knowledge within a community.
article icon
Languages
European Day of Languages Quiz: Simple version
If you have an older browser, you can still try your hand at the quiz questions.
article icon
Languages
Learn 40 hand signals used by the Aboriginal people of the Western Australian Desert
Long before the invention of telegraphy, never mind mobile phones, the people of the Australian desert had a way to communicate across distances.
article icon
Languages
Catalan resurgent: how a language has gone from ban to boom
Cruelly supressed during the Franco regime, the Catalan language is experiencing a revival - and bringing a sense of pride with it.
©1999-2020. All rights reserved. The Open University is incorporated by Royal Charter (RC 000391), an exempt charity in England & Wales and a charity registered in Scotland (SC 038302). The Open University is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in relation to its secondary activity of credit broking.
We invite you to discuss this subject, but remember this is a public forum.
Please be polite, and avoid your passions turning into contempt for others. We may delete posts that are rude or aggressive, or edit posts containing contact details or links to other websites.