Course Title: Discover Mandarin: 3-Day Express
Target Audience: Absolute beginners interested in exploring Chinese language and culture.
Course Objective: Engage learners with 15+ practical expressions across daily scenarios (greetings, self-introduction, shopping, time expression) while building foundational knowledge of pronunciation and characters.
Upsell Offer: For clients who book tours through Linkedtours, there is a upsell offer. Please check the details at the end of this course package.
Overall Framework
| Session | Key Topics | New Vocabulary/Phrases | Cultural Elements |
| Day 1 | Greetings & Self-Introduction | 6+ phrases + Pinyin basics | Chinese names, etiquette |
| Day 2 | Numbers, Time & Daily Actions | 5+ phrases + Tones practice | Lunar Calendar, tea culture |
| Day 3 | Shopping & Dining Basics | 4+ phrases + Character writing | Market haggling, chopsticks |
Total Phrases: 15+ (with repetition for fluency)
Duration: 60 mins/session | Class Size: Max 8 students | Platform: Zoom/ClassIn + WeChat group
Session 1: “Hello! My Chinese Name is…”
Goals:
1. Master 6+ basic phrases for greetings and self-introduction.
2. Understand Pinyin initials/finals and tone rules.
3. Experience cultural uniqueness through Chinese names.
Detailed Lesson Plan
Part 1: Warm-Up & Icebreaker (10 mins)
- Activity 1: “Why Mandarin?” Sharing
- Students share their reasons in 1 sentence (e.g., “I love kung fu movies!”).
- Instructor introduces fun facts:
- “There are over 1.3 billion Mandarin speakers—more than English!”
- “Chinese characters are used in Japan/Korea too!”
- Activity 2: Choose Your Chinese Name
- Provide a list of common names with meanings (e.g., 美琳 Měilín “beautiful jade”, 志强 Zhìqiáng “strong will”).
- Let students pick one and practice writing with stroke order demo.
Part 2: Core Lesson (35 mins)
- Step 1: Greetings & Key Phrases
- Phrases to Learn:
1. 你好！(Nǐ hǎo!) – Hello!
2. 谢谢！(Xièxie!) – Thank you!
3. 再见！(Zàijiàn!) – Goodbye!
4. 你叫什么名字？(Nǐ jiào shénme míngzì?) – What's your name?
5. 我叫… (Wǒ jiào…) – My name is…
6. 你是哪国人？(Nǐ shì nǎ guó rén?) – Which country are you from?
- Drills:
- Tone contrast practice: mā (mom) vs. mà (scold).
- Role-play in pairs using the phrases.
- Step 2: Pinyin Foundation
- Initials: b, p, m, f + Finals: a, o, i, u.
- Game: “Pinyin Bingo” – Listen and mark the correct combination (e.g., teacher says “ba”, students find “b + a”).
Part 3: Cultural Integration (10 mins)
- Topic: “Why Do Chinese People Ask ‘Have You Eaten?' (你吃了吗？)”
- Explain how food-related phrases reflect communal culture.
- Homework: Practice writing their Chinese name 5 times and share a photo in the WeChat group.
Part 4: Wrap-Up & Preview (5 mins)
- Recap phrases with a quick quiz.
- Preview Day 2: “Learn to Count & Tell Time Like a Local!”
Session 2: “Numbers, Time & Daily Life”
Goals:
1. Learn numbers 1-100 and time expressions.
2. Use 5+ phrases for daily actions (e.g., eating, working).
3. Explore cultural concepts like the Lunar Calendar.
Detailed Lesson Plan
Part 1: Review & Warm-Up (10 mins)
- Game: “Speed Greeting” – Pair students to greet each other using Day 1 phrases within 30 seconds.
- Cultural Hook: Show a short video of a traditional Chinese tea ceremony.
Part 2: Core Lesson (40 mins)
- Step 1: Numbers & Time
- Phrases to Learn:
1. 现在几点？(Xiànzài jǐ diǎn?) – What time is it?
2. 现在是三点半。(Xiànzài shì sān diǎn bàn.) – It's 3:30.
3. 我每天七点起床。(Wǒ měitiān qī diǎn qǐchuáng.) – I wake up at 7 every day.
4. 我要一杯咖啡。(Wǒ yào yī bēi kāfēi.) – I want a cup of coffee.
5. 多少钱？(Duōshǎo qián?) – How much is it?
- Drills:
- Count 1-100 with rhythm clapping (e.g., “一, 二, 三… 十” then “十一, 十二…”).
- Practice bartering with fake RMB props: “太贵了！(Tài guì le!) – Too expensive!”
- Step 2: Tone Mastery
- Use “Tone Poker” game: Flip cards with words like mā/má/mǎ/mà and race to pronounce them correctly.
Part 3: Cultural Deep Dive (5 mins)
- Topic: “Why Does China Use the Lunar Calendar for Festivals?”
- Compare Spring Festival (春节) and New Year dates with the Gregorian calendar.
Homework: Take a photo of a clock and describe the time in Chinese (e.g., “现在九点十分”).
Session 3: “Market Adventure & Chopstick Challenge”
Goals:
1. Use 4+ phrases for shopping/dining.
2. Write 3 basic characters (e.g., 人, 大, 小).
3. Experience cultural practices like haggling and using chopsticks.
Detailed Lesson Plan
Part 1: Review & Warm-Up (15 mins)
- Role-Play: “Order Coffee” using Day 2 phrases.
- Game: “Number Storm” – Shout random numbers in Chinese (e.g., 45 = 四十五).
Part 2: Core Lesson (35 mins)
- Step 1: Shopping & Dining
- Phrases to Learn:
1. 这个多少钱？(Zhè ge duōshǎo qián?) – How much is this?
2. 便宜一点！(Piányi yīdiǎn!) – Cheaper, please!
3. 我要这个。(Wǒ yào zhè ge.) – I want this.
4. 好吃！(Hǎo chī!) – Delicious!
- Activity: Virtual Market Simulation
- Students “buy” items from a PPT market (e.g., 苹果 píngguǒ “apple”, 茶 chá “tea”) using fake RMB.
- Step 2: Character Writing
- Teach stroke order for 人 (rén “person”), 大 (dà “big”), 小 (xiǎo “small”).
- Contest: Who writes the most balanced character?
Part 3: Cultural Finale (10 mins)
- Chopstick Challenge: Pick up peanuts with chopsticks—prize for the fastest!
- Homework: Share a photo of a self-written character in the WeChat group.
Price & Enrollment Strategy
3-Session Package: $199.9 USD per person
- Included:
- All PDF materials (phrase sheets, writing grids).
- Access to class recordings.
- Free 15-min 1-on-1 consultation post-course.
- Upsell Offer:
1. Enroll in Beginner Level 1 within 7 days to lock in 20% off + a free phrasebook.
2. Free for the clients with an average booking price over $2000 USD per person. 50% off for the clients with an average booking price between $1000 USD and $1999 USD. 30% off below $1000 USD bookings per person.
