Mandarin may be more interesting than you thought it was. It's a language that's unlike any other. There are no plurals, no genders, and no tenses. This course introduces students to standard Mandarin Chinese language and is designed for students with no or minimal previous background in spoken or written Mandarin. Students in this course focus on learning essential vocabulary, practicing pronunciation, and understanding simple grammatical structures. This knowledge prepares students to effectively communicate in Mandarin on a limited range of topics related to everyday situations. Students practice listening and speaking in real-life situations, learn to read and write Chinese characters and examine how culture and language interact in China. In-class activities and course assignments aim to assist students as they develop the four-factor proficiency and confidence necessary to initiate simple conversations. We can also have extracurricular experiences, and we can meet in our spare time for face-to-face communication, which will provide ample opportunities for practical participation. Most likely, your first few Chinese classes will focus mostly on listening and speaking, and will gradually incorporate reading and writing as you go, since these are the most difficult of the four.