The unit is designed for beginners who wish to achieve basic practical language skills for oral and written comprehension and expression in Standard Chinese (Mandarin). It aims at correct pronunciation, fluent speech and a systematic grounding in the basic sentence patterns. The official Pinyin Romanization is used and the standard writing system (the simplified characters) is introduced. Students will learn how to express greetings, exchange names and discuss in simple terms their families, occupations, daily routines and study programs. They will also be able to communicate on the above subjects in the Chinese script. Cultural topics will be discussed in conjunction with the language material.