What is Mandarin Chinese? Who are its speakers? Are Chinese characters the same as words? Is it true that the pronunciation of a word can change its meaning? What is the Chinese New Year and why is it important? Why do the phone numbers of Chinese restaurants have so many 8s in them? Explore these questions and begin to master the fundamentals of this ancient language as you learn about the culture, customs, and social trends in modern China. We’ll delve into Chinese history through the lens of language, exploring connections between written and spoken Chinese along the way. Through a variety of multimedia and online tools, fun, engaging games and interactive activities, students will learn to recognize and write commonly occurring characters, conduct self-introductory conversations, and understand simple, useful expressions from day-to-day life. Fred will provide lots of resources so feel free to bring an iPad, laptop or other digital device to use during class.