Description:This course provides an introduction to modern standard Chinese, commonly called Mandarin. The course presupposes no prior background in the language, and its purpose is to develop: a) Basic conversational abilities (pronunciation, fundamental grammatical patterns, common vocabulary, and standard usage), b) Basic reading and writing skills (in both the traditional character set and the simplified), and c) An understanding of the language learning process so that you are able to continue studying effectively on your own. Included is a complete online textbook, audio files for some lessons, and study materials including notes on character stroke order.

Description:This course is an introduction to the Japanese language, providing opportunities to acquire basic skills for conversation, reading and writing. The program emphasizes ACTIVE command of Japanese, not passive knowledge. The goal is not simply to study the grammar and vocabulary, but to acquire the ability to use Japanese accurately and appropriately with increasing spontaneity. Students learn Hiragana and Katakana (the Japanese phonetic symbols), then approximately 50 Kanji (Sino-Japanese characters) in this course. Included are links to online study materials and review exercises for each lesson.