Part 1. Pinyin. This course will take a gradual approach to learning pronunciation. It can feel reassuring to know that Mandarin Chinese uses a "closed" system of pronunciation, meaning there are a predetermined set of sound combinations, and no new sounds can be created, except in rare instances where someone is trying to be funny. The song and chart are only provided to see that a system exists, but will not be required for practice in our course. You will develop pronunciation from words you hear in context over time.
"BPMF" song
Pinyin chart
https://www.pinyin.info/rules/initials_finals.html
Video: lúndūn de húntún
Tones video (start at 1:55)
part 1: https://youtu.be/n_Cj3aOSI1w?si=_w_yGqzEKS4Pm9lL&t=112
part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_Cj3aOSI1w&t=428s
Part 2. Using words. This course will treat "grammar" as merely "where word prefer to go". Just like pronunciation, you will get this gradually by seeing words used in sentences and in larger situational meaning.
Basic question words. https://youtu.be/-LgSAOZ2cBk
YouTube stories. Dr. Riggs made these videos in July 2020 for his new college students to watch before the first semester started. COVID-19 had sent us all home to have classes over Zoom. We needed something fun to get us started in Mandarin Chinese. These are designed to repeat words a lot, so you get it through repeated viewing.
Part 1:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qgns4beSrIA&list=PLg8H7wlQtzsR-aaJOOgt-2spZ_DxkupJL
Part 1b:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5OozGkHjYg&list=PLg8H7wlQtzsSJZa0hklMyl1X0v-LYwRjS
Part 2:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBLPKgCZZSM&list=PLg8H7wlQtzsSLg-LZsAiwfyWT01zuIyDg
Part 3:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txrZLka8ub8&list=PLg8H7wlQtzsR3kwzUPiUXGi1EWGcffHhm
Part 4:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxVxMqGvuYk&list=PLg8H7wlQtzsRyvQCBK6MeQk7Sz0rSSfAQ
Part 3. Enhance Listening. It's never enough to "learn a new word".
Chicken visits:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCaX8Z4AkGZrbO0PFku40RAVqnUaBivyT&si=Quhls2MMRv-25ymh