Mandarin level 2

Revised August 2025

Prerequisite for entry

Successful completion of Mandarin Level 1+ at UCL CLIE, or equivalent

Term duration

10 x 2-hour classes.

Course Overview

This course builds on your foundational knowledge of Mandarin, offering:

• A chance to revise and consolidate your skills in Chinese characters, vocabulary, sentence structures, and pronunciation.
• New ways to handle everyday situations in Mandarin more confidently.
• Opportunities to deepen your understanding of Chinese culture.

Aims and objectives

Functions

• Asking for and giving directions.
• Talking about different types of transport.
• Describing recreational activities.
• Asking and answering questions about holiday plans.

Course content

Main topics/themes:

• Locations and directions.
• Advertisements and transportation.
• Sports and recreational activities.
• Likes, dislikes, and holiday plans.

Phonetics

• Pronunciation:
  • The retroflex “r”.
  • Differences between “q” and “ch” and “zh” and “ch”.
  • Sentence intonation.

Grammar

• Expressing existence with 有.
• Asking questions with 有没有.
• Using 在 to describe locations.
• Directions and types of student housing.
• Forming alternative questions with 还是.
• Questions ending in 好吗.
• Expressing superlatives with 最.
• Using the particle 吧.
• Describing modes of transport and holiday activities.
• Using modal verbs 可以 and 会.
• Pivotal sentences.
• Talking about past experiences with 过.
• Types of sports and abilities.
• Expressing alternatives using 或者 and 还是.
• Describing regular events with 每……都…….

Learning resources

Books

Discover China: Student's Book One, edited by Chen Xin, Jing Lili
Chapters 9-12. London: Macmillan. ISBN: 9780230405950

Discover China Workbook Two (Units 9-12). Macmillan, ISBN: 9780230405950

Bilingual Dictionaries

• Oxford Concise English Chinese/Chinese English Dictionary

Websites

Dictionary

In addition there are supplementary materials for self-study in the Self-Access Centre.