Fall 2008 Chinese Language and Culture Classes

"If you want to get ahead, learn Mandarin."

Mandarin Chinese is the standard and most widely spoken dialect of the Chinese language. As such, Mandarin Chinese is essential for Americans interested in doing business, vacationing, or studying in China. As Chinese businesses, tourists, and scholars travel to the United States in growing numbers, Americans are also finding Mandarin Chinese very useful here at home.

Join us for practical and enjoyable courses in Mandarin Chinese. All courses have one session per week and are held in the Confucius Institute Seminar Room at the KU Edwards Campus, except as noted.

CIKU Fall Chinese Language and Culture Classes Enrollment Form

Note: if this dynamic pdf form does not work with your browser, please send an email to ciku@ku.edu with your name, phone number, email address, mailing address, the name of the class you wish to attend, and any other questions or relevant information.

Curious about China? Check out our China Demystified course to put the daily news on China into perspective and learn some useful phrases in Chinese.

Want to get started learning Chinese? Or keep up the momentum with what you have learned so far? Enroll in Chinese I, II, or III, designed primarily for working adults who want to learn Chinese but don’t have time for a college-level class.

Would you like to give your children a head start on Chinese? and have some fun learning with your kids? Try Parent and child Chinese for parents and children.

China Demystified (Introduction to Chinese Language and Culture)

Not a day goes by without more news stories on China. The nightly stock market news reports highlight our increasingly vital links to China’s burgeoning economy. Chinese is now being taught in an increasing number of public schools. The Olympics will be in held in China next summer. How do you read all those Chinese place names cited in the press? Where is Beijing? Shenzhen? What is the significance of the Beijing Olympics for China’s international relations? What do all those characters on t-shirts and tattoos mean? What is Confucianism? What is Taiji? Want to get up to speed on China? This 12 week course will include a overview of the basics on China, as well as an introduction to the language. Each week, the class will include a lecture on China, including geography, history, economics, art, food, and etiquette, followed by a lesson in Chinese language covering essential phrases and some common characters. 

Tuesdays: 7:00-8:30pm (RC Rm 2) Sep. 9 - Nov. 25.

Fee; $250, includes printed and audio instructional materials.
Enroll and pay (by mail) by Sep. 8 for a reduced fee of $200.

Chinese I

If you are planning to travel to China or are just curious about the Chinese language, this course is an easy and practical way to get started. Learn useful phrases for everyday situations in easy to follow, conversational lessons. The course also includes an introduction to Chinese characters as well as instruction in the standard, “pinyin,” spelling system for writing Chinese with a Latin alphabet. Learn how to pronounce the Chinese names that make news announcers stumble! 
 
12 weeks, one session per week, 1.5 hours per session.

1. Tuesday Section: 7:00-8:30pm Sep. 9-Nov.25
2. Wednesday section: 7:00-8:30 pm, Sep. 10 – Dec. 3 (no class Nov. 26)
3. Saturday section: 10:00-11:30pm Sep 13 - Dec. 6 (no class Nov. 29)

Course fee: $250, includes printed and audio instructional materials.
Enroll and pay (by mail) by the day before class starts for a reduced fee of $200.

Chinese II

Building on the foundation laid in Chinese I, this course includes new practical, conversational structures and new characters. Students who have completed a Confucius Institute or other course that covers about 200-300 words in spoken vocabulary may also find this level appropriate.

12 weeks, one session per week, 1.5 hours per session.

1. Monday: 7:00-8:30pm, Sep.8 – Nov. 24
2. Wednesday: 7:00-8:30pm, Sep 10- Nov. 26

Course fee: $250, includes printed and audio instructional materials.
Enroll and pay (by mail) by the day before class starts for a reduced fee of $200. (see above)

Chinese III

This course is a continuation of Chinese II, with more complex sentence structures and situations in Chinese. It is designed for students who have completed two semesters at the Confucius Institute or who have studied elsewhere and have a spoken vocabulary or roughly 300-500 words.

12 weeks, one session per week, 1.5 hours per session.

not currently scheduled

Survival Chinese

Leaving for China soon? Struggling with tapes and a phrase book? Here is a quick course that covers the basics. Learn to say “hello,” “thank you,” “where is...?” You will also learn to recognize a few common characters. (“Which is the “entrance” sign?”)

Course fee: $100 (discount not available) Enroll online to save your place and pay on the first day of class.

This course is not currently scheduled.

Parent and Child Chinese

Introduction to Chinese language and culture for parents and young children (ages 4-8.). Learn standard Mandarin Chinese phrases, songs, poems and games that you can practice with your child. Parents will be given guidance on ways to reinforce the language lessons at home. Children must enroll and attend with an adult. A parent or responsible adult must be with each child at all times.

10 weeks, one session per week, 1 hour per session

Saturday 9:00am-10:00am Sep. 13-Nov.15 (10 weeks)

Course fee: $130 for one parent and one child (total), $50 for additional child
Enroll and pay (by mail) by the day before class starts for a reduced fee of $100.(for one parent and one child) and $35 for additional child. (see above)

Enrollment: To enroll early and take advantage of the discount, when available, download the online form and mail the completed form, with a check made out to the University of Kansas, to the Confucius Institute (see address below). To reserve a place and pay the full fee on the first day of class, fill out the online form. Please pay by check made out to the University of Kansas. (We regret that we are not able to accept payment by credit or debit card.) No refunds will be provided after the second week of class.

For more information, please email us at ciku@ku.edu or call 913-897-8613.

Note: All classes subject to cancellation depending upon enrollment levels and other issues byond the control of the Confucius Institute.

These are non-credit courses, and no academic credit is offered through the University of Kansas. For students interested in more advanced, intensive, and academic study of the Chinese language, please consider the offerings at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Johnson County Community College, and Kansas State University.

Cultural Programs: In addition to Chinese language classes, the Confucius Institute will also offer cultural events, workshops, and other programming throughout the year. Information on these events will be sent out by email notification and posted on our website.

Contact Information: Confucius Institute, Regnier Hall, 12610 Quivira Road, Edwards Campus, University of Kansas , Overland Park, KS 66213.

Tel: 913-897-8613, ciku@ku.edu, www.confucius.ku.edu.