Module manager: Zhe Yu
Email: Z.Yu@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
This module is for people who have good basic knowledge of Mandarin, either because you have taken post-beginners modules or because you have prior knowledge equivalent to at least A2 of the CEFR. If you have A2 level, you have a choice of module: post-beginners if you wish to maintain your current level or this module if you wish to move beyond it. If you already have CEFR C1 or above then this module is not for you. It is not possible to take this module if you are enrolled on a single or joint honours degree programme in Chinese. For information about the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) see https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages/table-1-cefr-3.3-common-reference-levels-global-scale).
This module is approved as a discovery module
This module is approved as a skills discovery module
This module covers Mandarin language relevant to the topic of family, friendship and social media. Mandarin Chinese is spoken by over a billion people in China, Taiwan, Singapore and diaspora communities around the world and is an official language of the United Nations. The module is at B1-B2 level of the CEFR. If there are other B1-B2 topics modules available, they can be taken in any order, one or two at a time. If this module runs in both semesters, you can take it in either semester 1 or semester 2 but not both. Please note this is an optional module and runs subject to enrolments. If a low number of students choose this module, then the module may not run and you may be asked to choose another module.
Through this module you will study the Mandarin needed to communicate about family and friendship and to use and communicate about social media. You will become more comfortable with the sounds of the language, starting to understand faster speech or varied accents. You will learn vocabulary and grammatical structures allowing you to, for example, communicate about hypothetical situations, give reasons and explanations, and start to recognise and use different levels of politeness.
You will hear, and gain confidence using, Mandarin as a practical classroom language. Class activities will be communicative/task-based and will involve working in pairs or groups. You will be expected to self study between classes as well as preparing for the assessment.
You are expected to self study between classes as well as preparing for the assessment. You are encouraged to make use of the resources in the Language Zone (https://students.leeds.ac.uk/languagezone), use digital resources, and engage in other opportunities to put language skills into practice outside the taught sessions.
The learning outcomes are mapped to B1 level of the CEFR. If you are working at B2 level you will exceed these.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Use spoken or written Mandarin to communicate about family, friendship and/or social media with sufficient clarity to be understood by a proficient Mandarin user
2. Use Mandarin vocabulary and grammatical structures to communicate about hypothetical situations and give reasons and explanations
3. Identify and persevere with opportunities by adopting appropriate learning strategies
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language Class | 10 | 2 | 20 |
| Private study hours | 80 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 20 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 100 | ||
Feedback in class on grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and levels of politeness. Feedback on a piece of spoken or written work.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Reflection | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
The coursework has a choice of submission formats (e.g. audio, video, or written) according to the assessment brief. The assessment is marked on a pass-fail basis (see https://students.leeds.ac.uk/results/doc/explanation-marks).
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
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