Chinese: The meaning of characters
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
- Course Code: LBC06
- Dates: 06/07/24 - 06/07/24
- Time: 10:00 - 13:00
- Taught: Sat, Daytime
- Duration: 1 session
- Location: Online
- Tutor: Joyce Lee
Course Code: LBC06
Duration: 1 session
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
The course is about the fascinating world of Chinese characters, exploring their origins, structure, and semantic distinctions to understand the profound meanings embedded within them.
This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.
What will we cover?
Topics we will cover include the history and evolution of Chinese characters, the principles of character formation, the significance of radicals, and the relationships between characters and their meaning.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
By the end of the course, you should be able to analyse and interpret the meanings of Chinese characters. You will gain insights into the cultural and historical contexts that have shaped the language, allowing you to appreciate the richness and depth of Chinese characters.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
The course is designed to accommodate learners, from beginners with no prior knowledge of Chinese characters to those with intermediate ability seeking a deeper understanding. No specific skills are required, but a passion for language and culture will enhance your learning experience.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
The course is based on the communicative approach:
- active students’ interaction
- emphasis on speaking and listening skills
- pair and group work
- role plays
- use of realia, pictures and authentic material
- use of audio-visual techniques when appropriate
Please note, students are expected to participate in oral classroom activities and to do some homework as and when required.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Tutor's own material.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Other Chinese culture workshops.
Joyce is a qualified teacher, with a PGCE in Mandarin and many years’ experiences of teaching in second and third level education. She is also experienced in working with exam boards. Joyce is enthusiastic about teaching Mandarin Chinese. She believes that when learning a language, it is important for students to grasp the wider culture associated with the language. As such, she enjoys helping students expand their cultural under-standing, discovering more about the society of the country the language originates from. She also engages actively in professional development by attending regular confer-ences to keep her knowledge of teaching methods updated.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
