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Mandarin courses

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Courses for DMU students and staff
Courses for local schools
Courses for the public
Business Mandarin
Confucius Classroom

Courses for DMU students and staff

We offer three rounds of ten-week Mandarin classes across the academic year with start dates in October, January and April. After completing a ten-week course, learners can proceed to the next stage or level. We offer classes both during the daytime (10-12 noon) and in the evening (5-7pm). The HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi) can be taken after forty or sixty hours of learning at each level. Find out more about the HSK.

The next course dates begin in January 2024.

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Courses available:

  1. Beginner Part (Level 1)

    Stage 1
    Course book and units - HSK Standard Course Book 1, Unit 1-8
    Ability levels (based on HSK levels) - For those who have previously never studied Mandarin
    Stage 2
    Course book and units - HSK Standard Course Book 1, Unit 9-15
    Ability levels (based on HSK levels) - For beginners who have studied approximately 20 hours of Mandarin

  2. Elementary Part (Level 2)

    Stage 1
    Course book and units - HSK Standard Course Book 2, Unit 1-8
    Ability levels (based on HSK levels) - For those who have studied approximately 40 hours of Mandarin, mastering about 150 commonly used words and phrases
    Stage 2
    Course book and units - HSK Standard Course Book 2, Unit 9-15
    Ability levels (based on HSK levels) - For those who have studied approximately 60 hours of Mandarin, mastering about 200 commonly used words and basic grammar patterns

  3. Pre-intermediate Part (Level 3)

    Stage 1
    Course book and units - HSK Standard Course Book 3, Unit 1-6
    Ability levels (based on HSK levels) - For those who have mastered 300 commonly used words and related grammar
    Stage 2
    Course book and units - HSK Standard Course Book 3, Unit 7-13
    Ability levels (based on HSK levels) - For those who have mastered about 400 commonly used words and are able to read and write basic Chinese characters
    Stage 3
    Course book and units - HSK Standard Course Book 3, Unit 14-20
    Ability levels (based on HSK levels) - For those who have mastered about 500 commonly used words and are able to read and write Chinese characters

  4. Intermediate Part (Level 4)

    Stage 1
    Course book and units - HSK Standard Course Book 4A, Unit 1-6
    Ability levels (based on HSK levels) - For those who have mastered 600 commonly used words, being able to read or write simple essays in Chinese
    Stage 2
    Course book and units - HSK Standard Course Book 4A+B, Unit 7-13
    Ability levels (based on HSK levels) - For those who have mastered 900 commonly used words, being able to read or write simple essays in Chinese
    Stage 3
    Course book and units - HSK Standard Course Book 4B, Unit 14-20
    Ability levels (based on HSK levels) - For those who have mastered 1200 commonly used words, being able to read or write simple essays in Chinese

  5. Upper Intermediate Part (Level 5)

    Course book and units - HSK Standard Course Book 5A, Unit 1-6
    Ability levels (based on HSK levels) - For those who have mastered 1500 commonly used words, being able to read or write essays in Chinese

DMU Confucius Institute also offers credit-bearing Mandarin courses for DMU students: find out more about our Modern Foreign Languages courses.

Courses for local schools

DMU CI offers different types of Mandarin classes as part of Primary and Secondary school curriculum, including for GCSE, or during after school clubs. Classes are available for schools in Leicester and Leicestershire: email us at CI@dmu.ac.uk or call us at 0116 257 7061 for more details on Mandarin classes for your school.

Classes mainly focus on listening and speaking skills, with some work on writing Chinese characters. Topics include:

  • Greeting and introduction
  • Family members
  • Numbers, dates and times
  • Facial and body parts
  • Foods and drinks
  • Animals
  • Colours
  • Hobbies and sports

DMU CI Mandarin teachers work to make classes both informative and interesting for learners of all ages. Songs, videos and games are widely involved as teaching aids and the Total Physical Response (TPR) method is frequently used in primary schools. Teachers also include aspects of Chinese culture such as calligraphy, paper cutting and Kung Fu to further enhance classes.

All courses can be linked with the officially recognised Chinese Proficiency Tests (YCT and HSK).

Courses for the public

Mandarin classes tailored to all audiences are available and can be studied at DMU CI.

We also offer three rounds of ten-week Mandarin classes a year (start dates in October, January and April) with each course covering twenty hours of learning. After completing a ten-week course, learners can proceed to the next stage or level. Classes are run during the daytime (10-12 noon) and in the evening (6pm-8pm). The HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi) can be taken after forty or sixty hours of learning at each level. Find out more about the HSK.

Mandarin classes during term one will take place on campus once a week. Classes cost £70 per term. 

  1. Daytime classes

    All daytime classes take place from 10am until 12pm.

    Pay in the DMU store.

    Beginner Part I (Level 1, Stage 1)

    • For those that have never previously studied Mandarin. This group will cover HSK Standard course book 1 Lesson 1 - Lesson 8.

    Beginner Part II (Level 1, Stage 2)

    • For those that have studied approximately 20 hours of Mandarin. This group will cover HSK Standard course book 1 Unit 9 - Unit 15.

    Elementary Part I (Level 2, Stage 1)

    • For those that have studied approximately 40 hours of Mandarin; mastering about 150 commonly used words and related grammar. This group will cover HSK Standard course book 2 Unit 1 - Unit 8.

  2. Evening classes

    All evening classes take place from 6pm until 8pm.

    Pay in the DMU store.

    Beginner Part I (Level 1, Stage 1)

    • For those that have never previously studied Mandarin. This group will cover HSK Standard course book 1 Unit 1 - Unit 8.

    Beginner Part I (Level 1, Stage 1)

    • For those that have never previously studied Mandarin. This group will cover HSK Standard course book 1 Unit 1 - Unit 8.

    Beginner Part II (Level 1, Stage 2)

    • For those that have studied approximately 20 hours of Mandarin. This group will cover HSK Standard course book 1 Unit 9 - Unit 15.

    Elementary Part I (Level 2, Stage 1)

    • For those that have studied approximately 40 hours of Mandarin; mastering about 150 commonly used words and related grammar. This group will cover HSK Standard course book 2 Unit 1 - Unit 8.

    Elementary Part II (Level 2, Stage 2)

    • For those that have studied approximately 60 hours of Mandarin, mastering about 200 commonly used words. This group will cover HSK Standard course book 2 Unit 9 - Unit 15.

    Pre-intermediate Part I (Level 3, Stage 1)

    • For those that have mastered 300 commonly used words and related grammar, able to read Chinese characters. This group will cover HSK Standard course book 3 Unit 1 - Unit 5.

    Pre-intermediate Part II (Level 3, Stage 2)

    • For those that have mastered about 400 commonly used words and are able to read and write Chinese characters. This group will cover HSK Standard course book 3 Unit 6 - Unit 10.

    Pre-intermediate Part III (Level 3, Stage 3)

    • For those that have mastered about 500 commonly used words and are able to read and write Chinese characters. This group will cover HSK Standard course book 3 Unit 11 - Unit 15.

    Pre-intermediate Part IV (Level 3, Stage 4)

    • For those who have mastered about 525 commonly used words and are able to read and write Chinese characters. This group will cover HSK Standard course book 3 Unit 16 - Unit 20.

    Intermediate Part I (Level 4, Stage 1)

    • For those that have mastered about 600 commonly used words and are able to read and write Chinese characters. This group will cover HSK Standard course book 4 Unit 1 - Unit 5.

  3. Progression route

    After completing 10 weeks of classes, learners of each level can progress to the next stage. The progression route is:

    • Beginner Part I (Level 1 Stage 1)
    • Beginner Part II (Level 1 Stage 2)
    • Elementary Part I (Level 2 Stage 1)
    • Elementary Part II (Level 2 Stage 2)
    • Pre-intermediate Part I (Level 3 Stage 1)
    • Pre-intermediate Part II (Level 3 Stage 2)
    • Pre-intermediate Part III (Level 3 Stage 3)
    • Pre-intermediate Part IV (Level 3 Stage 4)
    • Intermediate Part I (Level 4 Stage 1)
    • Intermediate Part II (Level 4 Stage 2)

We are also able to offer tailor-made courses in your workplace or other community setting, email us at CI@dmu.ac.uk to discuss your requirements.

Business Mandarin

DMU CI offers support, consultancy and workshops to local businesses, civic organisations and the wider community in areas including: 

  • Mandarin for Business in the 2020s
  • Business Opportunities with China in the 2020s
  • Mandarin Learning and Comparative Culture
  • Translation and Interpretation for Sino-UK businesses
  • Standardised Business Chinese Tests

Find out more about our Business Mandarin course or email us at CI@dmu.ac.uk or call us at 0116 257 7061 to discuss your requirements.

Confucius Classroom

A Confucius Classroom is a recognised model centre for promoting Mandarin and Chinese culture. Each Confucius Classroom is affiliated to a Confucius Institute, which supports its Confucius Classrooms with teachers and teaching material as well as annual financing. It also helps support the development of the Confucius Classroom management, facilities and other activities.

The first DMU CI-affiliated Confucius Classroom was opened at Little Bowden Primary School in Market Harborough, Leicestershire in September 2017. This school is highly regarded by the local community and performs exceptionally well. It has offered Mandarin lessons to its pupils since September 2014 and the demand for Mandarin lessons in the area has increased rapidly.

In addition to regular Mandarin lessons, each school associated with a Confucius Classroom has a China focus event and Special Day celebrations at which the students are introduced to various aspects of Chinese cultural heritage. Little Bowden Primary School has also been working closely with a number of secondary schools in Market Harborough who have established positive partnerships with secondary schools in China. Students at these schools are able to use the Confucius Classroom as a base for undertaking joint projects and participating in relevant Confucius Institute programmes.