Courses

We offer classes in Mandarin Chinese for beginner, intermediate and advanced students. These courses are an opportunity to improve your ability to communicate in Chinese, whether you are a total beginner or reasonably fluent. You will learn in an environment that is fun and relaxed and from teachers who are native speakers of Chinese.

For more information, please email confucius-institute@canterbury.ac.nz

Course Structure:

We base our courses on the standard textbook for the HSK examinations. The HSK examinations are the Chinese equivalent of IELTS; they are an international exam that is recognised worldwide. The HSK exams are based on the frequency of words in Chinese, so you will learn the most widely used Chinese words first. The HSK textbooks are modern and user friendly. 

If you are a total beginner, you should register for Lower Beginners. If you have done a course with us before, ask your teacher which course to register for. You can also do practice exams to see which level is most appropriate. 

PLEASE NOTE: From July 2023, CI will not be accepting registrations for evening courses from students already studying with the University of Canterbury.  If you are interested in studying Chinese, please contact the Faculty of Arts, Chinese School for more information regarding learning Chinese.  

Confucius Institute Evening Class Registration Form 

COURSES (TERM 2, 2023)	TEACHER	START DATE (2023)	END DATE (2023)	TIME	ROOM NUMBER
Lower Beginners (HSK 1A)	Yujia Song	2 May	27 Jun	Tuesdays 6:00 - 7:30pm	Jack Erskine 101
Intermediate Beginners (HSK 2A)	Weibin Zou	24 Apr	26 Jun	Mondays 6.00 - 7.30pm	Jack Erskine 101
Upper Beginners (HSK 2B)	Qi Li	26 Apr	28 Jun	Wednesdays 6.00 - 7.30pm	Jack Erskine 101
Lower Intermediate (HSK 3A)	Jingying Zhao	27 Apr	29 Jun	Thursdays 6.00 - 7.30pm	Jack Erskine 121
Upper Intermediate (HSK 3B)	Hongchun Wang	2 May	27 Jun	Tuesday 6.00 - 7.30pm	Jack Erskine 121
Upper Intermediate (HSK 4A)	Linglin Zhu	2 May	27 Jun	Tuesdays 6.00 - 7.30pm	Jack Erskine 111
Advanced (HSK 6A)	Minxi Lu	27 Apr	29 Jun	Thursdays 6.00 - 7.30pm	Jack Erskine 111
Tai Chi	Hongchun Wang	26 Apr	28 Jun	Wednesdays 6.00 - 7.30pm	Jack Erskine 121

 

Due to ANZAC Day and King's Birthday public holidays, there will be no HSK 1A, HSK 3B and HSK 4A  classes on Tuesday 25th April 2023 and no HSK 2A class on Monday, 5th June 2023.

  

Fees and Lessons for Term 2, 2023 Classes: 

HSK 1A: starting with Lesson 8 (9 x weeks - $135.00)

HSK 2A: starting with Lesson 5 (9 x weeks - $135.00)

HSK 2B: starting with Lesson 13 (10 x weeks - $150.00)

HSK 3A: starting with Lesson 4 (10x weeks - $180.00)

HSK 3B: starting with Lesson 18 (9 x weeks - $162.00)

HSK 4A: continuing with Lesson 2 (9 x weeks - $162.00)

HSK6A: starting with Lesson 1 (10 x weeks - $200.00)

Tai Chi: (10 x weeks - $150.00)

Fees: 
Terms usually consist of 10 sessions. Prices are adjusted to the number of lessons offered. We cannot refund course fees for non-attendance.

Please note that all courses will be offered for 9/10 weeks in Term 1. Prices below are reflective of a 10 week term.

• Beginners levels $150.00
• Intermediate levels $180.00
• Advanced levels $200.00

If a term is shorter than 10 weeks, the prices will be adjusted accordingly.

 

HSK Textbooks/ Workbooks:

If you should require any new or additional textbooks/ workbooks for Term 4, these can be purchased online here: https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/arts/research/ci/shop/

Please note that all purchases from the CIUC shop are available for collection from Room 209, second floor, James Logie Building on the UC Campus, or through HSK in-class delivery. Postage is also available for a small additional cost. Please select your preferred delivery method upon purchase.

 

For more information, please email: confucius-institute@canterbury.ac.nz

The Confucius Institute at the University of Canterbury offers a Chinese calligraphy course. It is held every Tuesday and Thursday from 12pm - 1pm in Room 213, 2nd Floor, James Logie Building.

The calligraphy course is open to everyone and is free.

The Chinese language has its own unique writing system made up of characters or 汉字. They were created about five thousand years ago. There are over 60 000 unique characters but only about 4,000 – 5,000 are used in everyday life. The Chinese writing system is used in China and other Chinese speaking regions such as Singapore. The characters not only serve a practical purpose as the writing system for the Chinese language, but writing them has also become an independent branch of art.

For further information, please contact Linglin Zhu at linglin.zhu@canterbury.ac.nz

Tai Chi classes are back for 2023!

The Confucius Institute at the University of Canterbury has a specialised Martial Instructor, Wang Laoshi (Candice), who has come to New Zealand for the purpose of teaching and demonstrating traditional Chinese Martial Arts, including Tai Chi.

Tai Chi is a proven method of stress reduction and relaxation. It integrates the external or physical and the meditative internal. It improves balance, coordination, flexibility, muscle strength and cardiovascular health. It is gentle enough to be accessible to people of every ability level but can be demanding enough to provide a significant challenge to the professional athlete.

For more information about classes, please check the "Evening Courses" link on our website or alternatively, please email 
confucius-institute@canterbury.ac.nz with any specific queries.

The Chinese Tea House is an opportunity for anyone to practise speaking Chinese with a native speaker or to learn more about Chinese culture. It is offered by the Confucius Institute at the University of Canterbury and is open to everyone – staff, students and the general public included.

Chinese Tea House is held every Tuesday and Thursday throughout the year.  The sessions are from 11am - 12pm in Room 213, 2nd Floor, James Logie Building. All UC staff and students who are interested in the Chinese language and culture, or for practicing Chinese calligraphy and playing Mahjong are welcome to participate.

For more information, please contact Jingying Zhao at jingying.zhao@canterbury.ac.nz