Chinese Course (Lvl 1), 5 Weeks, 7PM EST
Tue & Thurs | Bopomofo | Accent Reduction | Traditional Chinese | Singing & Acting
Service Description
Classes are limited to 10 participants, with two 90-minute sessions each week. Please note that the schedule may adjust for holidays. "Speaking First" Pedagogy: Led by our star coach, Sebastian, this course prioritizes oral skills to ensure you build a strong foundation in Mandarin Chinese pronunciation through Bopomofo, the native phonetic system. By focusing on accurate pronunciation from the start, you’ll be understood more easily, boosting your confidence. This focus on speaking will also enhance your listening comprehension as you train your ear to recognize and produce authentic sounds. As you practice speaking with written materials, your reading abilities will naturally improve as well. Accent Reduction: While Pinyin may appear intuitive, it often leads to approximate rather than precise pronunciation. This course will help you master authentic Mandarin pronunciation through Bopomofo, no matter your native language. With his extensive training in English, German, French, and Italian diction, Sebastian has a deep understanding of the pronunciation challenges faced by non-native Mandarin speakers and effective techniques for overcoming them. Acting & Singing: Dramatic and musical literature offers a vibrant, immersive way to learn language and culture. With his background in theatre and vocal performance, Sebastian incorporates these materials into the course, making language learning dynamic and enriching. This approach broadens your cultural perspective and enhances language fluency through creative expression. Traditional Chinese Character Recognition: This course will use Traditional Chinese characters, but you'll also have exercises featuring Traditional and Simplified Chinese side by side. With practice, you'll develop the ability to recognize both character sets. Once you have a foundational understanding of Bopomofo, you'll be able to pronounce any Traditional Chinese character with Bopomofo notation. Over time, this skill will allow you to read Chinese literature from centuries past without relying on Simplified Chinese transcriptions. The Power of Bopomofo Typing: Typing in Bopomofo is more efficient than in Pinyin, as Bopomofo requires a maximum of 4 keystrokes per character, including tone markers, while Pinyin may require up to 6. Please see the policy section below for the full course booking policy.
Cancellation Policy
COURSE BOOKING POLICY Registration and Payment: - At the time of booking, you will pay a deposit. - For bookings made 72 hours or more before the course starts: Your card will have the tuition amount held as early as 10 days before the start date, but it will not be charged until 72 hours before the first session, unless you cancel during the Partial Refund window as listed in the Cancellation and Transfer section below. - For bookings made less than 72 hours before the course starts: The tuition will be charged immediately at the time of booking. Cancellation and Transfer: - Full Refund: You may cancel your enrollment up to 10 days before the first session and receive a full refund. The deposit will be refunded in the form of an eGift Card. - Partial Refund: If you cancel between 10 days and 72 hours before the first session, you will receive a 50% refund. - No Refund: No refunds will be issued if you cancel less than 72 hours before the first session. - Transfer: The course is transferable at any point, allowing you to transfer your spot to another person if you are unable to attend. For cancellation and transfer requests, please email bookings@infinityisland.com. Instructor Cancellations: - If a session is canceled by the instructor or due to unforeseen circumstances (such as an act of God), a makeup session will be scheduled. - Please refer to "Absence and Makeup Sessions" of this policy if you are unable to attend the makeup session. Absence and Makeup Sessions: - If you miss a session, you may attend a makeup session at another time, subject to availability. - Alternatively, you will have the option to watch a recording of the missed session. Transparency and Participation: This course involves interactive sessions between the instructor and participants. Therefore, participants are required to turn on their webcams and actively engage, treating the virtual sessions as they would a physical class. If you are uncomfortable with this requirement, please refrain from purchasing the course. Code of Conduct: All participants are expected to: - Show respect to others during discussions and interactions. - Refrain from any form of hate speech or discriminatory behavior. - Maintain confidentiality regarding any personal or sensitive information shared during the course. Removal Policy: Failure to comply with the above policies may result in the participant being removed from the course without a refund.
Contact Details
+1 9177652362
info@infinityisland.com