Start with what you can understand and do
Age alone does not determine a Mandarin starting point. An adult new to Chinese may benefit from the same first words as a child; an experienced younger learner may be ready for a later course.
If you are completely new
Begin with family words and Chinese greetings. Listen when useful, say one model sentence and make a short recording. Use pinyin and English while the written characters are unfamiliar.
If you already know some Mandarin
| Your current experience | A place to explore |
|---|---|
| Familiar words, greetings and very short sentences | Getting Started · Courses 1–4 |
| Simple exchanges; ready to follow short readings with support | Building Foundations · Courses 5–8 |
| Short texts and simple explanations of events | Reading & Connecting · Courses 9–12 |
| Longer supported readings and reasons backed by textual details | Exploring & Expressing · Courses 13–16 |
Open the course’s “Before you start” and “By the end, you can…” sections. Try one lesson, then move earlier if the language makes it difficult to follow the meaning. You can revisit any course.
For adult learners
The early lessons include family and school settings. Replace a person, job, object or daily activity in a model with something relevant to you. The later courses offer stories, science, history and literature; choose them when the language and reading demands fit your experience.
For children and teenagers
Choose manageable language and suitable themes together. A parent or carer can help a younger learner with microphone permission and printing. Later literary and social topics suit teenagers and adults ready for extended reading and discussion.
Check what you remember later
A completed task is a record of practice. On another day, try a few words without looking at pinyin or English, then revisit the examples you needed help with.