Taiwan Center for Mandarin Learning
Professional Mandarin instruction for adults in the Washington DC area.
Taiwan Center for Mandarin Learning (TCML) is a project sponsored by the Overseas Community Affairs Council to promote Mandarin learning.
Beginner
No prior background required.
This course is designed for absolute beginners with no prior background in Mandarin Chinese. It focuses on building a solid foundation in basic communication skills for everyday life and travel.
Intermediate Low
For learners with basic speaking skills.
This Intermediate Low course is designed for learners who already have a basic foundation in Mandarin Chinese and are ready to expand their speaking ability, listening comprehension, and conversational confidence in everyday situations.
Intermediate High
For learners ready for more complex communication.
This Intermediate High course is designed for learners who can already handle everyday
conversations in Mandarin Chinese and are ready to engage in more detailed, nuanced, and situation-based communication. The course emphasizes extended speaking, clearer expression of ideas, and culturally appropriate language use in social, travel, and workplace contexts.
Advanced
For learners ready for advanced discussion and cultural depth.
This Advanced course is designed for learners with strong Mandarin communication skills who are ready to engage in in-depth discussions, authentic texts, and culturally rich topics. The course
emphasizes extended discourse, critical thinking, and confident expression in academic, cultural, and real-world contexts.
View the detailed learning goals and schedule below.
Detailed Learning Goals
- Monday 7:30-9:00 pm (Intermediate Low and Intermediate High Conversation)
- Wednesday 7:30-9:00 pm (Basic Conversation)
- Thursday 8:00-9:00 pm (Theme-based discussion)
Course topics include:
- Pinyin and pronunciation
- Greetings and self-introductions
- Talking about family and number of people
- Classmates, quantities, and basic classifiers
- Common kinship terms and cultural awareness
- Seasons, weather, and personal preferences
- Simple daily routines and schedules (waking up, going to work or school, daily activities)
Course topics include:
- Introduction to Chinese characters and writing concepts(六書)
- Talking about learning progress and personal feelings
- Asking about time, inviting friends, and making plans
- Gift-giving, celebrations, and expressing congratulations
- Phone conversations and confirming identity
- Personal preferences and simple comparisons
- Shopping conversations, expressing wants, and budgeting
- Dining out, ordering food, and describing flavors and eating habits
- Drink customization, café conversations, and personal taste
- Shopping for clothes, discussing styles and colors, and asking prices
Course topics include:
- Housing and relocation, describing living situations, and time planning
- Using location words, describing places, neighborhoods, and surroundings
- Sharing travel experiences and describing natural scenery
- Festivals and celebrations, discussing customs and activities, and expressing invitations and thanks
- Introduction to the lunar calendar and traditional solar terms
- Workplace transitions, adapting to new environments, and onboarding conversations
- Tea culture, describing tastes and aromas, and hosting guests politely
- Workplace relationships, business travel planning, schedules, and task discussions
- Expressing responsibility, apologizing appropriately, and asking for forgiveness
Course topics include:
- Reading and discussing selected texts related to Taiwanese culture and history
- Reading and discussing current events and contemporary issues
- Airport pickup, arrival situations, first meetings, and adapting to a new environment
- Describing housing needs, furniture and facilities, and evaluating living conditions
- Night market experiences, describing street food flavors, and lively atmospheres
- Taipei’s cultural attractions, with in-depth exploration of major landmarks
- Wedding customs, red envelope etiquette, and appropriate congratulatory expressions
- Introduction to Indigenous cultures, festivals, and ethnic group characteristics
- TOCFL Band B mock test practice, focusing on advanced reading and language use
2025 – 2026 School Year
Fall 2025: September 7th, 2025 – December, 2025
Spring 2026: January 2026 – May 2026
Class Information
In Person
Sun 1:30 – 3:00 pm (All Levels)
Cabin John Middle School
10701 Gainsborough Rd, Potomac, MD 20854
Online
Mon 7:30 – 9:00 pm (Intermediate Low and Intermediate High Conversation)
Wed 7:30 – 9:00 pm (Basic Conversation)
Thu 8:00 – 9:00 pm (Theme-based discussion)
Link will be provided after registration.
Tuition
In Person: $200 / semester; $340 / school year.
Online: $200 / semester; $340 / school year.
In Person + Online: $225 / semester; $380 / school year.
Includes all textbooks and materials.
The Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language (TOCFL)
All students will participate and ultimately pass “The Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language (TOCFL)” which is jointly promoted by the Ministry of Education, Overseas Community Affairs Council, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from (1) Novice level, (2) Band A (3) Band B (4) Band C. Participation of the tests is NOT a required for joining any of the classes but highly encouraged.
Children’s Mandarin Mock Exam Download:
兒童華語文能力測驗(CCCC)模擬試題下載 – Google Drive
Adult TOCFL Practice Exam Download:
華測模擬試題下載 – Google Drive
Online Practice Exam 線上練習平台:
The interface is similar to an actual exam (介面就跟電腦測驗一樣)
https://cbt.sc-top.org.tw/sctopj/
For additional Information:
TOCFL – https://www.tw.org/tocfl/
TOCFL Test – https://tocfl.edu.tw/index.php/exam/test
華語文能力測驗簡介 – https://depart.moe.edu.tw/LA/cp.aspx