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Duration
4 weeksWeekly study
2 hours
Decoding the Chinese Language: Characters and Calligraphy
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Embark on a journey through the modern standard Chinese language
This four-week course will take you on a deep dive into the modern standard Chinese language, helping you learn Chinese by developing your language skills.
You’ll discover Putonghua, the official Mandarin dialect, using engaging video lectures designed to unravel the complexities of this fascinating language.
By immersing yourself in authentic Chinese culture, you’ll dive deeper into the Chinese language, understanding and appreciating the art that reflects the worldviews of ancient Chinese civilisations.
Experience the rich history behind Chinese script
You’ll start by exploring the rich history behind Chinese script, unpacking its transformations over millennia.
By understanding the evolution from ancient symbols to contemporary characters, you’ll gain valuable insights into the world’s most intricate writing system. This course equips you to explain how ancient Chinese people created these characters and how they have evolved into today’s modern forms.
Master the methods of forming Chinese characters
As you delve into the logical methodologies behind forming Chinese characters, you’ll engage with educational videos, participate in quizzes, and discover a traditional Chinese folk song.
These activities not only enhance your understanding but also ensure you retain more information, building a strong foundation for future language acquisition.
Gain hands-on experience in Chinese calligraphy
You’ll learn to craft beautiful characters using dynamic techniques. This hands-on approach enables you to develop basic skills in writing Chinese while connecting with its cultural roots.
By the end of the course, you’ll be confident in explaining the creation and evolution of Chinese characters and ready to identify and appreciate various artistic styles in Chinese calligraphy.
Syllabus
Week 1
Overview of Modern Standard Chinese
Watch the mini-lecture: Overview of Putonghua
Why was the term Putonghua (common speech) introduced to replace the term Guoyu (national language)? Wanna learn about a fun tongue-twister in which every word is pronounced the same with only the tones differing?
Introduction to Pinyin
Learn about the phonetic symbols for Chinese characters (the system to transcribe Mandarin Chinese sounds into a Latin alphabet).
Share your thoughts and feelings
Why are you interested in the Chinese language?
Week 2
Historical Development of Chinese Script
Watch the mini-lectures
Historical development of Chinese script
Watch the video about Chinese oracle-bone inscriptions
Made by New China TV
Suggested reading
"More Than You Want To Know About Simplified Characters"
Week 3
Methods of Forming Chinese Characters
Watch the mini-lectures
Four main methods of forming the Chinese characters: pictographic, ideographic, semantic-semantic compound, and semantic-phonetic compound.
Suggested reading
Learn more about the radicals of the Chinese characters
Sing along!
Learn to sing the Chinese traditional folk song Mo Li Hua (Jasmine Flower)
Week 4
Chinese Calligraphy
Watch the mini-lectures
Tools used for Chinese calligraphy; styles of Chinese calligraphy.
Suggested readings
Technique and the eight different kinds of strokes in Chinese calligraphy
When would you like to start?
Date to be announced
Add to Wishlist to be emailed when new dates are announced
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- explain how the Chinese characters were created by ancient Chinese people
- describe how modern Chinese characters have evolved from their ancient forms
- develop some basic Chinese writing skills
- identify the various artistic styles of Chinese writing
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for anyone interested in the Chinese language and culture and would like to explore the patterns of the seemingly mysterious Chinese writing system.
The course is especially suitable for beginner learners of Chinese – prior knowledge of the language is not required.
Who will you learn with?
I obtained my PhD in Theoretical and Applied Linguistics at the University of Cambridge. I'm now an associate professor at the Communication University of China.
Who developed the course?
Communication University of China
The Communication University of China (CUC) is one of the China’s key universities included in 211 Project and “985 Project Innovation Platform” under the Double First-Class Initiative, which is directly administered by the Ministry of Education. CUC was the first communication university founded in 1954 . In August 2004, it was renamed from Beijing Broadcasting Institute to Communication University of China.
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
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