Chinese Language and Culture Workshops
Chinese Language and Culture Workshops
This introductory programme introduces the basics of the Chinese language together with cultural knowledge useful for travelling, working, and personal enrichment.
Designed for learners with no prior background in the Chinese language, this workshop equips participants with common greetings and everyday expressions used in daily communication, helping them build confidence in using Mandarin in real-life situations.
Makan & Speak Mandarin: Navigating Singapore's Food Culture
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Date: 5 September, 12 September, 19 September 2026 Schedule: 2pm to 4pm, every Saturday for 3 sessions (2 hours each session) Location: Online via Zoom (first 2 sessions), Physical face-to-face at food center (last session) Price: $163.50 (GST inclusive) Instructor: Dr Leong Yue Hoong Registration Period: 3rd to 30th August 2026 |
Registration Details
Registration starts one month before course start. Once registration ends, no late appeals are allowed.
↓ Register by clicking the link button below ↓
Target Audience
- Expats, international students, and foreign professionals or their dependents relocated to Singapore
- Tourists seeking an authentic cultural immersion experience beyond typical sight-seeing
Pre-requisites
- None (No prior knowledge of Mandarin or Chinese dialects required)
Course Information
This workshop is a practical, community-focused cultural integration program, helping foreigners transition from feeling like tourists to dining confidently like locals.
Over 3 sequential, highly interactive sessions, participants will bridge the language and cultural gaps found in Singapore's hawker centres and local coffee shops (Kopitiams).
By marrying basic Chinese conversational linguistics with food heritage, participants learn not only what to order, but exactly how to interact with local vendors in their native tongue.
Workshop Structure
Session 1: Deciphering the Kopitiam & The Beverage Matrix
- Focus: Mastering local hot and cold drinks using traditional Hokkien/Malay modifiers, alongside foundational dining courtesies.
Session 2: Hawker Rice, Poultry, and Customised Ordering
- Focus: Learning how to identify iconic local Chinese rice dishes and state specific preferences (spice levels, takeaway options, and dietary limits) in Chinese.
Session 3: Noodles, Soups, and the Live Ordering Excursion
- Focus: Mastering food varieties and concluding with a real-time, field-based evaluation at a local food centre. Note: The cost of food purchases is not included in the course fee