Tsinghua Chinese: Start Talking with 1.3 Billion People

It has been a while since I took this course on edX. It is still available on the archived mode on edX, so felt like I would share my review here.

I took this class in 2016, in its first iteration at an instructor-paced mode. This was my first introduction to learning mandarin from one of the world's top universities. It was a great introduction. Enjoyed the class and learned to speak a few words and form some incorrect sentenses. It is a greatly organized and well-designed class. To practice, I took this class once again in the self-paced mode and advanced my learning. Language learning is a complex process and learning a language that is very different from yours is a challenge. Still, my beginning of learning this beautiful language from the top instructors has helped me to build my interest, sustained my enthusiasm in continuing to learn, and keep building on my skill at my own pace.

Now, I use many other resources and practice with real tourists from China on college campuses and museums! I also practice daily on Duolingo. It is a difficult language for me, and even after five years since I took this class first, I have not lost interest and am still learning there is so much to learn in this language, it will last me for a lifetime! I am glad I took this class on edX when it was first offered in 2016.

There are many other classes teaching this beautiful language on Coursera and other MOOCs. So, check out this class, and if interested check out classes on other MOOCs too. Class-central has a collection of too many classes to choose from! Happy Learning!

I can't recommend this course enough. This is a masterclass on how an online course should be designed, and how a second language should be introduced. Whether you're living in China or overseas, a total novice or just need a refresher, there's something here for you.

The progression of grammar concepts and vocabulary is spot on - not overly repetitive or patronizingly slow, but also not frustratingly difficult. Where this course really shines is in the review questions between the video segments. Whoever designed these questions deserves an award and a promotion; the incorporation of authentic materials (menus, pictures, conversations and spoken phrases), as well as questions that incorporate contextualization skills is leaps and bounds above most language MOOCs that provide bland, fill-in-the-blank, rote memorization drills. The questions that have you listening to a word or phrase and picking out the tones spoken are extremely practical.

On top of the pedagogy here being top notch, the production values are excellent. This is probably the first, and only, MOOC I'll ever experience with a plot twist. Tea Time with Peter is cheesy but endearing. Again, the standard of authentic materials used to support the learning here is second to none.

I'd recommend this to anyone, anywhere. Kudos to everyone involved on this project, it's an inspiration.