Curriculum

Absolute Beginner Season 1

In this series, our hosts will walk you through the absolute beginner basics of the Chinese language. You'll learn how to introduce yourself, apologize, ask for permission, count numbers, and more!

Lesson	Title	Topic	Function	Conversation in target language	Cultural Insight	Vocabulary	Expressions	Grammar
1	Meeting - What's your name?	Meeting - What's your name?	basic greeting, introducing oneself, Chinese names	A: 你好。 B: 你好，你叫什么名字？ A: 我叫张林。 B: 我叫王小芳。	Chinese names	你好叫什么名字你我	what is your name I'm _______.	The grammar focus of this lesson. Try to use multiple times in the conversation, and during the lesson banter.
2	Meeting - Where are you from?	Meeting - Where are you from?	asking about nationality stating one's nationality asking a follow-up question	你是哪国人？我是美国人。你呢？我是中国人。	Chinese view towards foreigners	哪国是人美国人你呢中国人	Which country are you from? I am (nationality). And you?	pronouns using the question word 'what'
3	Meeting - China Conversation	Meeting - China Conversation	expressing likes/dislikes/opinions	A: 你喜欢中国吗？ B: 喜欢。 A: 你喜欢中国菜吗？ B: 也喜欢。	Chinese food, Chinese hospitality	喜欢吗中国菜也	Do you like ....? also	expressing nationality forming a follow up question basic sentence word order using 'to be' using the question word 'which'
4	Meeting - Studying Chinese	Meeting - Studying Chinese	talking about one's profession/what one does	A: 你是学生吗？ B: 对。我学中文。你呢？ A: 我是老师。 B: 你可以教我中文！	learning Chinese in China classrooms in China	学生对学中文老师可以教	Are you ....? yes/correct I am a ..... can	asking yes/no question answering yes/no question negating also
5	Meeting - Time for Class	Meeting - Time for Class	asking for the time telling basic time saying goodbye stating something one must do	A: 几点了？ B: 九点。 A: 哦，我要去上课了。 B: 再见。	-	几点了点九哦要去上课再见	What time is it? ___ o'clock. I have to.....	talking about one's profession/what one does using basic sentence word order
6	Eating - What do you want to eat?	Eating - What do you want to eat?	saying one is hungry expressing desire	A: 我饿了。 B: 你想吃什么？ A: 我想吃面条儿。 B: 好。	noodle dishes in China	饿想吃什么面条好	I'm hungry. What do you want .... I want... OK	telling the time 我要.......了。/ I have to/must .....
7	Eating - Get me to a restaurant	Eating - Get me to a restaurant	expressing location expressing existence thanking	A: 不好意思，这儿有饭馆儿吗？ B: 在那儿。 A: 谢谢你。 B: 不客气。	finding good food in China	不好意思这儿有饭馆儿在那儿谢谢你不客气	Is there ......... around here? Over there.	expressing desire - 想 using the question word 'what'
8	Eating - Ordering Noodles	Eating - Ordering Noodles	ordering food	A: 你点什么？ B: 我们想吃面条儿。 A: 你们都吃面条儿吗？ B: 对。	yelling for the waiter in Chinese restaurants	点什么我们想吃你们都对	We would like to eat .... You both....	Using 有 to express existence the preposition 在
9	Eating - Delicious	Eating - Delicious	talking about the food expressing one is 'full'	A: 好吃吗？ B: 嗯，很好吃。 A: 我吃饱了。 B: 我也吃饱了。	Chinese show of hospitality - feeding you	好吃嗯很也吃饱了好	i'm full	making pronouns plural using 都 (both/all)
10	Eating - Waiter, the Bill!	Eating - Waiter, the Bill!	getting the restaurant bill introduction to money/numbers	A: 服务员，买单！ B: 你好，十八元。 A: 哇，真便宜！ B: 十八块钱！	culture of Chinese restaurants yelling for the bill	服务员买单十八元哇真便宜块钱	calling for the bill (买单) so cheap!	very 很 using also, too
11	Essentials - Are you a foreigner?	Essentials - Are you a foreigner?	telling someone you don't understand apologizing	A: 你是外国人吗？ B: 对不起，我听不懂。 A: 哦，你是外国人！ B: 我听不懂。	Chinese love to point out foreigners	外国人对不起听不懂哦是	i don't understand	different ways to refer to money introduction to measure words really + adjective
12	Essentials - Finding a Bathroom	Essentials - Finding a Bathroom	asking where the bathroom is confirming information saying no	A: 洗手间在哪儿？ B: 没有洗手间。 A: 没有洗手间？ B: 没有。	getting 'meiyou'ed (denied) public bathroom situation in China	洗手间在哪儿没有	where is .... 没有 (to not have)	verb complements
13	Essentials - Let me through!	Essentials - Let me through!	asking someone to let you through apologizing saying please	A: 对不起，让一下。 B: 嗯？ A: 请让一下。 B: 哦，对不起。	the art of maneouvering one's way through a crowd in China	对不起让一下嗯请	let me through	using 'where' answering 'no' with '没有'
14	Essentials - Can you write that down?	Essentials - Can you write that down?	expressing desire asking about location asking someone to write something down	A: 我们想去北海公园儿，你知道在哪儿吗？ B: 知道。 A: 你可以写一下吗？ B: 当然。 A: 谢谢。	homonyms in Chinese, getting things written down for clarity's sake	想北海公园知道在哪儿去可以写一下当然	We want to go to.... Do you know where it is? I know Can you write it down? Of course	moderating tone of voice with 一下
15	Essentials - No, thanks!	Essentials - No, thanks!	inviting someone to do something refusing/declining making a suggestion	A: 来，尝一尝。 B: 不要，谢谢。 A: 来吧。很好吃。 B: 我不要。	Aggresive nature of 'sales' in China	来尝不要吧很好吃	have a taste i don't want it come on	review of: moderating tone expressing desire asking/answering a yes/no question
16	Getting Around - Finding the Subway	Getting Around - Finding the Subway	asking directions giving directions	A: 请问，地铁在哪儿？ B: 在前面。 A: 远吗？ B: 不远。	asking for directions in China	请问地铁在前面远	excuse me, where is....? up ahead is it far?	reduplication of verbs suggestion particle 'ba' 要 as 'to want'
17	Getting Around - Does this bus go to .....?	Getting Around - Does this bus go to .....?	asking bus directions talking about locations/places asking how much something costs expressing monetary terms	A: 到大旺路吗？ B: 不到。七路车到。 A: 车票多少钱？ B: 两块钱。	methods for paying for the bus, bus taking tips	到南京路七车车票多少钱两块	Does this go to ....? bus number ____ goes there how much is ....?	using the question word 'where' directional phrases
18	Getting Around - How do I get home?	Getting Around - How do I get home?	asking how to get somewhere taking a taxi where is there a ....? expressing distance far/near	A: 我怎么回家？ B: 你可以坐出租车。 A: 这儿有地铁站吗？ B: 地铁站有点儿远。	taxi culture in China	怎么回可以坐出租车这儿有地铁站有点儿远	How do i get home? You can take a taxi. Is there .... here? .... is a little ....	numbers 1 - 10 how much
19	Getting Around - I want to go here.	Getting Around - I want to go here.	asking where one wants to go expressing desire clarifying	A: 你想去哪儿？ B: 我想去学院路。 A: 什么路？ B: 看这儿。 A: 哦，我知道了。学院路。好的。	taxi tips	想去哪儿路什么看这儿知道	Where do you want to go? I want to go to.... What road? Look here. Oh, I know.	怎么 - how, how come 坐.... (bus, taxi, train) - to 'take' 有一点儿.... 'a little ....' - to express extent
20	Asking Directions	Asking Directions	asking directions	A: 去天安门怎么走？ B: 直走，然后左转。 A: 好的，直走，然后左转。 B: 在你的右边。	Things to see around Tiananmen Square	天安门怎么走直然后左转右右边	How do I get to .... go straight and then to turn left all right it's on your right side	using the question word 'where'
21	Buying - This and That	Buying - This and That	asking how much something costs using this/that	A: 这个多少钱？ B: 十五块钱。 A: 那个呢？ B: 十九块钱。 A: 好, 我买这个。	shopping in stores	这个多少钱十五块那个呢十九买	how much is this? what about that one? I'll buy this	possessive pronouns
22	Buying - Getting a Better Price	Buying - Getting a Better Price	bargaining for a better price	A: 二十块钱？太贵了！ B: 不贵。 A: 便宜一点儿吧。 B: 十块怎么样？ A: 好的。	the secrets of bargaining in China	二十块钱太贵了不便宜一点儿吧十怎么样	too expensive could you make it a little cheaper how about _______.	more on measure words numbers 11 to 20 this and that
23	Buying - Finding a Phone Card	Buying - Finding a Phone Card	asking where something is telling someone you don't understand	A: 我在哪儿可以买电话卡？ B: 在便利店。 A: 对不起，我听不董。 B: 小商店。在那边。	Different telephone cards	可以买电话卡便利店对不起听不懂小商店那边	where can i .... over there	tai... le (adding emphasis) a little .... (___ 一点儿)
24	Buying - Finding a Phone Card	Buying - Finding a Phone Card	asking advice on how one should do something using 'or' asking how to do something	A: 我要去北京。我应该怎么去？ B: 你可以坐火车或者坐飞机。 A: 我怎么买火车票？ B: 你可以在火车站买。	convenience stores in China	要去北京应该怎么可以坐火车或者飞机票火车站	to have to... how should i get there? you can ... or .... how do i ....	using 'where'
25	Getting a train ticket	Getting a train ticket	buying a train ticket talking about times and time of day	A: 我要一张到北京的票。 B: 今天的吗？ A: 对。 B: 你要上午11点的，下午3点的，还是晚上7点的？ A: 7点的。	taking trains in China	要张到北京今天上午下午还是晚上的	I want... for today? or (for questions) - 还是 telling time	to have to do something '要' 'or' for statements - 或者