↓ Continue below for the full course overview
Course Details
Winter 2027 Founding Cohort
Course Dates: January 19–March 11, 2027
Schedule: Tuesdays & Thursdays • 6:30–7:45 PM Mountain Time
Length: 8 weeks • 16 live classes
Location: Live on Zoom
Class Size: Small-group instruction to encourage participation, conversation, and individual attention.
Reserved Wrap-Up Date: Thursday, March 18, 2027
This additional date is reserved in case Mandarin Made Clear needs to reschedule a class due to instructor illness or another unforeseen circumstance. If it isn't needed for a rescheduled class, it will instead be used as an optional review session, question-and-answer discussion, and guidance for continuing your Mandarin studies.
Need a different schedule? During enrollment, you'll be able to tell us which days and times work best for you. As interest grows, additional course sections may be offered to better meet student schedules.
Tuition and Materials
Founding Cohort Tuition: $295 USD
Students in the first Beginner Mandarin Foundations class will receive this introductory tuition rate as members of the Mandarin Made Clear founding cohort.
Required Course Materials
Students should have the following materials before the course begins:
HSK Standard Course 1 (Primary textbook)
Learning Chinese Characters, Volume 1 by Tuttle (Character writing workbook)
Original Mandarin Made Clear lesson guides, worksheets, vocabulary sheets, and review materials are included with tuition.
View Required Course Materials page for textbook information, ISBNs, and purchase options →
What You'll Learn
By the end of this course, you'll have the foundational skills and confidence to communicate in everyday Mandarin, along with a clear understanding of how the language works.
📣 Pronunciation & Tones
💬 Everyday Conversation
🌍 Real-World Mandarin
📖 Essential Chinese Characters
🧩 Grammar Made Clear
🗣️ Speaking with Confidence
This Course Is Right for You If:
✧ You're starting Mandarin for the first time.
✧ You've tried learning Mandarin before but found it confusing or overwhelming.
✧ You want to understand how Mandarin works—not just memorize vocabulary.
✧ You prefer a clear, structured, step-by-step learning approach.
✧ You're learning Mandarin for travel, work, family, or personal enrichment.
Your Learning Journey
Follow a carefully structured path that takes you from the basics toward confident communication, one step at a time.
Getting Started with Mandarin
Pinyin and pronunciation
The four tones
Essential greetings
Introducing yourself
Talking About Everyday Life
Family and friends
School and work
Nationalities and languages
Time and dates
Daily Communication
Asking and answering questions
Ordering food and drinks
Shopping
Talking about routines and activities
Understanding How Mandarin Works
Core sentence patterns
Measure words
Asking questions naturally
Common grammar structures
Reading and Writing Chinese Characters
High-frequency beginner characters
Character components
Reading short texts
Learning proper stroke order
Building Lasting Skills
Listening with confidence
Speaking naturally
Effective study habits
Building a foundation for lifelong learning
Technology Requirements
A reliable internet connection
Zoom installed on your device
A microphone and speakers, or a headset with microphone
A webcam (recommended for speaking practice and class participation)
For the best learning experience, we strongly recommend attending class on a desktop or laptop computer. While tablets and smartphones can be used, some class activities and shared materials are easier to view and use on a larger screen.
Attendance and Registration Policies
Regular attendance is strongly encouraged because each lesson builds on previous material. Information about missed classes, cancellations, refunds, course transfers, and student responsibilities is provided in the Registration Terms & Policies.
Begin Your Mandarin Adventure
Your Mandarin journey starts with a single step.
Whether you're learning Mandarin for travel, work, personal enrichment, or simply the joy of learning something new, Beginner Mandarin Foundations is a welcoming place to begin.
With clear instruction, practical communication, and steady progress, you'll build confidence one lesson at a time.