Chinese I begins a five-year program of study in which you will learn the language spoken by more than 1.4 billion people worldwide. As you progress, you will read the 2,500-year-old writings of Confucius, study 10th-century Tang poetry, and witness the evolution of the language today as it follows popular culture in East Asia. You will become ambassadors, bridging the worlds of East and West, well equipped to take advantage of the many opportunities in business, politics, and international relations that arise from China’s status as East Asia’s great power and the world’s second-largest economy. In this beginning course, we focus on accurate pronunciation, mastery of tones, and simple sentences and introduce elements of culture and etiquette. You will make presentations in Chinese about your family, pets, and hobbies and enjoy learning popular Chinese folk songs, celebrating Chinese New Year in an authentic fashion, and practicing the art of Chinese calligraphy.

Chinese Course Rotation
2025-26 Chinese III
2026-27 Chinese I, Advanced Chinese IV
2027-28 Chinese II, AP Chinese Language and Culture