HSK Mandarin course for FREE

为庆祝中英正式建交45周年

子午文院将开办一个长达十周——十五个小时的免费汉语课程

Learning Mandarin course from October for FREE

A Free HSK 1 course will start on Friday 27th October for ten weeks in total 15 hours. ( no lesson during X’Mas )

What is HSK?

The Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) is an official examination designed to assess the Chinese language proficiency of non-native speakers from beginners to advanced Level (divided in levels 1-6). It is an internationally recognised standard in assessing your Chinese language level and the result can be used to apply for Confucius Institute Scholarship (CIS). It is also accepted by universities in China as proof of Chinese proficiency. The HSK tests include writing, listening and reading skills.

HSK Exam Duration, Vocabulary and Score

Level Duration Vocabulary(words) Total Score Passing Score
HSK Level 1 40 minutes 150 200 120
HSK Level 2 55 minutes 300 200 120
HSK Level 3 90 minutes 600 300 180
HSK Level 4 105 minutes 1200 300 180
HSK Level 5 125 minutes 2500 300 180
HSK Level 6 140 minutes 5000 300 180

Do I need to learn the characters? Alternatively, how about I learn the pronunciations only?

The big difference between European languages and Chinese is that, the later is a visual language system and means without the reading you cannot communicate to Chinese people. The reason is that one pronunciation can be 40 different meanings on an average, as the result, you will be very confused. A typical example is a story: One man who wants to learn a certain skill with his master, then he described the whole matter; he only had used one pronunciation SHI, and composed in four tones.

The story is below:

Shīshì shī shì shī shíshì, shì shī shìshǐ shī. Shíshìshìshíshī shǐ, shíshì shí shì shǐshí. Shī shì shíshíshī shī shí, shí shìshì shì. Shí shì shì shī shì shíshíshī shī shí shì shī shì shì shì shíshí shì shì shī shíshī shī. Shì shì shì shí shì shì shí shì shí shíshī shǐ shì shī shíshī shī. Shì shíshī shī shī shí, shí shì shǐ shì shí. Shí shí, shí shì shǐ shì shī shí shī shī shí shì shǐshí shī shī. Shì shì shǐ shí shì shì shǐ shíshīshì. Shì shí shí, shí shì shì shì. Shī shì shí shí shì shī shí, shǐ shì shí shì shì shǐ shī. Shī shì shǐ shì shì shí shí shì shǐ shī shì shí shì. Shì shí, shī shì shǐ shì shì shì shì shǐ shí shī shì shí shì. Shì shì shǐ shǐ shī shì shì shí shī shǐ shí shì shǐ shí shì shí shí shí shǐ shī shī shǐ.

Can you understand what he said? No, even to a native Chinese!!

What is the methodology to learn Mandarin Chinese?

The Natural Order

This is the fundamental concept that underlies the Chinese view of the world – a natural order or sequence, emphasising large over small, universal over specific, mankind over the individual.  This philosophy is reflected in the way Chinese people think, speak and write and understanding it is the key to learning Chinese quickly and successfully.

A standard Chinese sentence always follows the TDR sequence.  In other words, the sentence begins with WHEN something is happening, then WHERE, then WHAT.

The TDR method includes in its system a number of simple but powerful tools and techniques to help the learner to grasp more quickly how the Chinese language works.

What the level I can reach after this ten weeks of learning?

You will study 178 Chinese characters which can be combined and composed to 888 daily life sentences, and you will be good enough to pass HSK 1 with nice marks.

What are FREE? What are not FREE from our offering?

Two things are FREE, the tuition fee & using classroom. Two things need to be paid: the textbook Mastering Chinese Characters: A Modern Approach and some materials of characters, in total is £39.00.

Who is the class teacher?

David Su, Mecs’s principal, he will be the teacher for this class, as you have noticed that D Su is one of the best known Chinese language specialists in the U.K.

What is the maximum number of students of the class?

TEN.

What is the course time on Fridays?

8.00 pm to 9.30 pm.

Where is the location of the class?

Our school is located in the Central London: 19-21 Ridgmount St, London WC1E 7AH.

How soon should I do the registration?

As soon as you can, the best time is now.

How can I contact your school?

We don’t take any telephone inquiries, only through emails:

Email: mecsmeridianchinese@gmail.com