Cantonese Course: Beginners Level 1
Learn to speak Cantonese and explore this vibrant spoken language in a supportive, beginner-friendly online course. Designed for complete beginners, this class introduces you to practical, everyday Cantonese with a strong focus on pronunciation, tones, and real-life communication.
Cantonese is widely spoken in Hong Kong and southern mainland China and is known for its rich tonal system and expressive style. From your first lesson, you’ll practise greetings, simple conversations, and useful sentence structures to help you communicate with confidence.
With guidance from an experienced tutor, you’ll develop accurate tone recognition and speaking skills, while also gaining an introduction to commonly used written characters and insights into Cantonese culture and social customs.
Course Content
- Greetings and introductions, shopping, hobbies, family, time and seasons
- Pronunciation and accurate tone recognition
- Basic sentence structures, grammar, and formal vs familiar speech
Textbook
Colloquial Cantonese: The Complete Course for Beginners (2010 version or later)
ISBN: 978-113-895-822-7
Please purchase the textbook after your course is confirmed. The cost of the textbook is not included in the enrolment fee.
Certificate of Attendance
Students who complete the course with at least 80% attendance will receive a Certificate of Attendance recognising their commitment and participation.
Additional Information
- Delivery: Fully online via interactive Zoom sessions
- Bundle discount: Enrol in two Cantonese courses and receive an automatic discount
- Next step: Continue with Cantonese Course: Beginners Level 2
Details
You will learn
- Recognise and accurately use Cantonese tones
- Communicate in simple everyday situations
- Read and write basic Chinese characters
You will get
- Interactive live online classes via Zoom
- Structured beginner-friendly course materials
- Certificate of Attendance (with 80% attendance)
Appropriate for
Complete beginners with no prior Cantonese experience, heritage learners, travellers, and anyone wanting practical spoken Cantonese skills.
Preparation
What to bring
- Notebook and pen
- Colloquial Cantonese textbook (2010 edition or later)
- Computer with stable internet connection
What to wear
Your Teacher
Sydney Community College
38 reviewsSydney Community College is a registered charity with a voluntary Board of Directors.
The College has a mission to offer innovative continuing adult education and training programmes that support individual efforts and facilitate sustainable social change.
We do this by:
- Providing quality continuing adult education opportunities for people to build practical and theoretical skills and develop knowledge;
- Leveraging from and developing community capacity and inclusivity;
- Developing innovative affordable and accessible skills training programmes;
- Partnering with like organisations to deliver learning opportunities for disadvantaged individuals and communities;
- Partnering with all levels of government to deliver education policy objectives.
Cancellations & Refunds
If the organiser cancels the class:
You are entitled to a full refund.
If you can't attend the class:
You’re welcome to send someone in your place.
OR
- A refund can be requested 10 days before class starts. An admin fee of AU$45.00 applies.
Terms & Conditions
At Sydney Community College, we know that plans can change unexpectedly. Whether it’s a shift in your schedule, a family emergency, or just a change of heart, we want to support you in the fairest way possible.
At the same time, we’re a not-for-profit organisation that commits resources to running each class—so last-minute cancellations can significantly impact our ability to offer quality, affordable programs.
That’s why we’ve created a simple, transparent policy that balances your need for flexibility with our need to plan and deliver courses sustainably. Our cancellation policy offers two clear options, depending on when you notify us:
Cancel More Than 10 Days Before the Course Starts – You can choose to receive a full refund, minus a $45 administration fee OR a non-refundable credit note valid for 12 months for the full value you paid for the course. This credit can be used towards any future course at the College.
Option 2: Cancel Within 10 Days of the Course Starting - You’ll receive a credit note valid for 12 months for 50% of the course fee you paid for the course. This credit can be used towards any future course at the College.
Please note that both refund and credit options are only available before the course begins. Once the course has started—or if you decide to withdraw after it has commenced—no refunds or credits can be issued. If you need to cancel your enrolment, just email us and we’ll take care of it based on the timelines above.
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Cantonese Course: Beginners Level 1
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