Lesson Channels > Newbie
If you're brand new to Chinese, this level is for you. In our Newbie lessons, hosts Jenny and John (or Jenny and Ken) focus on delivering the most useful phrases for practical situations. Lessons are mainly in English, and when Jenny introduces Chinese words she speaks slowly and clearly. The dialogues are repeated three times, and your hosts then provide linguistic insights to help you learn. Newbie is the best place to start, whether you’re aiming to master the language or you just want a few phrases under your belt for a trip to China.
Latest Lessons:
Newbie - Sending Emails
You could try and mime your way through it to ask for someone’s email address (piano fingers and tongue clicking). You could simply call them every time you needed to speak. Or, you could just listen to this lesson, where you will learn how to ask for someone’s email address in Mandarin Chinese. Good choice, now, you can use that money you save on long-distance phone bills to buy us presents (we’re a 33×34).
Newbie - Surfing the Internet
Think you don’t need to talk about the internet? You’re positive? Okay, tell you what, think very, very carefully about your life sans web…no email, no news, no CHINESEPOD, ye gods! In this podcast, Ken (An Irish Spicoli) and Jenny (Our Little Surfer Girl) teach you how to talk in Mandarin Chinese about surfing the internet. The Chinese love their electronics and you’ve got to fit in! Listen and this lesson will teach you how.
Newbie - University Major: Part 1
Well, now that you’re a Chinese student, chances are you’re gonna be hangin’ with other students, so how to get in on the lingo? In this podcast Ken and Jenny take time from rushing poor pledges to lecture you in a lesson in Mandarin Chinese, teaching you how to ask someone what they are studying. And you’ll also learn how to tell someone what you want to be when you grow up. “Thank you ChinesePod, may I have another?!”
Newbie - Marriage and Divorce
Yes, we realize that the only two things you are ever pronounced in life are “dead” and “man and wife”, but if you think that the 51% split rate is going to sway us from a lesson on the betrothed, then we’d better site irreconcilable differences right now. In this podcast, we unify spoken Mandarin Chinese about marriage/divorce with the English explanation…a match made in the Temple of Heaven. Mazel tov.
Newbie - I'm not hungry
99.9% of us eat Chinese food before ever coming to China. So it should come as no surprise that 99.9% of everything in China revolves around a meal. In this podcast, Ken and Jenny bake up a tasty session on eating, or not, in Mandarin Chinese. In this lesson, you will hear how to invite someone to dinner, and also how to turn down politely, using the oldest excuse in the book.
Newbie - Useful Phrases #2
So you’ve moved up into the Basic Level and you’re feeling pretty good about yourself…so good, you ask your non-English speaking Chinese friend how they’re doing. “Well”, they answer in Mandarin, “horse-horse, tiger-tiger”. Make sense to you? Fortunately, it does to Ken and Jenny. In this podcast, they’ll explain that aforementioned phrase, along with many other useful ones to keep in your pocket…just make sure to take them out before putting them in the washing machine.
Newbie - Explaining Your Occupation
“So…what do you do?” While that might sound like a “Singles’ Night” introduction, we mean it…seriously (you should see our faces right now). In this lesson, you will learn how to ask someone what they do, using Mandarin Chinese. And this podcast will also help you to learn how to give a nice sounding response…and so much more.
Newbie - New Year
When the countdown to midnight begins, you never know who you’re going to be standing next to. In this lesson, learn how to talk about how you plan to spend New Year’s, and also how to wish someone a “Happy New Year” in Mandarin Chinese. Listen to this podcast, and we’ll help you to not be lost for words when you see in the New Year with a Chinese friend.
Newbie - Useful Phrases #1
With these basic sentences you’ll be able to sound like a pro even if you only started studying Chinese five minutes ago. In this lesson, learn some high-frequency sentences in Mandarin Chinese that you will find you can use every day in China or with your Chinese friends. Careful with “Wǒ lái fù qián” though – showing off could get you into trouble…
Newbie - Hotel, Motel, Holiday Inn
You proudly made it out of the airport, into a taxi and found your way to the hotel! While you’ve been busy taking an orange out of the basket, we’ve added another to our “Traveler’s Audio Phrase Book” podcasts by aiding you and your jet-lagged self (drink water) in checking into your hotel. In this lesson you will learn how use Mandarin Chinese to explain to a clerk that you have reserved a room. Sweet dreams!
