Start learning Mandarin in a small, friendly class in your local community.

This beginner-friendly class is a relaxed and enjoyable way to start learning Mandarin, meet people and develop a new language skill close to home.

In a small class with a friendly atmosphere, you'll have the chance to practise at your own pace, ask questions and build your confidence using Mandarin in everyday situations.

You don't need any previous knowledge of Mandarin, just come along and give it a try!

Try a class for free

Not sure if Mandarin is right for you?

Come along for a free trial class and experience the class before deciding whether you'd like to enrol.

It's a chance to meet the teacher, get a feel for the class and take your first steps in Mandarin. No previous experience required.

What will you learn? Over eight weeks, you'll be introduced to useful Mandarin for everyday life, with a focus on speaking and listening.

You'll explore:

-Everyday Mandarin words and expressions

-Listening and understanding simple Mandarin

-Basic conversation and practical phrases

-Mandarin pronunciation and tones

-An introduction to Chinese language and culture

The class is designed to give beginners a comfortable starting point and help you gradually become more familiar with Mandarin.

Our small class environment gives you an opportunity to learn, practise and connect with others in your local community.

Whether you're interested in Mandarin for travel, culture, personal interest or simply want to learn a new language, you're welcome to join us.

Course Details 8-week course Commencing Monday 19 October 2026 North & West Melbourne Neighbourhood Centre, 58 Errol Street Time: 3:00pm - 4:00 pm $140 full fee ($100 concession)

Want to develop your Mandarin further? You can also join our Reading & Writing class and build a broader foundation in Mandarin.

Book Both Classes: When you enrol in both Speaking & Listening and Reading & Writing, you'll receive 50% off the Reading & Writing class.

Ready to give Mandarin a try? Come along, meet your local community and start learning a new language.

Book your place today!

NWMNC has now been in operation for over 50 years and is proudly run by a loyal and committed team of volunteers and paid staff. Our programs and activities respond to the needs of communities from North Melbourne and West Melbourne, providing an accessible and inclusive agenda which fosters belonging and community spirit, reduces social dislocation and ultimately improves wellbeing of the people. The centre works closely with its community partners and is supported by funding and goodwill from the community, the City of Melbourne council, and the Victorian Government.

Refunds will be paid in full for programs that are cancelled by The NWMNC. Refunds via EFT to the individual or sponsoring agency are preferred.

Participants who wish to withdraw from a course, workshop, program or activity need to inform NWMNC two working days prior to commencement date to receive a full refund or credit less any non refundable deposit.

Refunds are not available once the program or activity has commenced. However a credit is available on a pro rata basis, less a 20% administration fee, up to half-way through the program, providing NWMNC is advised of the planned absence at least 24 hours prior to the commencement of the class or activity. Fees and charges are non-refundable after that period.

We will however always provide refunds or credits for exceptional circumstances provided that the participant can show a specific medical certificate or details of extreme personal hardship.

If a participant is unhappy with the refund or how it was handled, they may lodge an official complaint.

Policy

NWMNC is committed to handling personal information responsibly and with respect for the principle that people have control over the way information about them is handled.

NWMNC will endeavour to protect confidentiality, and will create an environment of respect and privacy for program participants, service users, staff and volunteers. Confidentiality applies to verbal information, written information and information stored electronically.

Staff may share information with their supervisor for the purposes of supervision and debriefing. Information disclosed will be treated confidentially by the supervisor.

Information about staff, volunteers, program participants and NWMNC users shall remain confidential except where the person gives consent or where it involves:

• serious illegal actions on the part of a person involved with NWMNC
• any issue which could endanger the safety of other people
• any issue which could endanger a person and/or dependent children
• where a staff member is obliged to make a notification to the Department of Health, Department of Human Services or Depatment of Education.

In such a case, the person concerned must be informed directly that any information they give (ie on violent crimes, child abuse) may need to be reported to the relevant authority in accordance with Victorian or Federal laws.

Principles

Personal information is collected for purposes directly related to a service or activity of NWMNC.

When collecting personal information, we will be open about why it is being collected and to whom it might be disclosed. The individual concerned must be aware of the purposes for which information is collected and who has access to the information.

NWMNC endeavours to protect records by reasonable safeguards against loss, unauthorised access, use, modification or disclosure, or against any other use.

A period for which each type of information is kept in hard copy and electronically is established.

Criteria will be developed for obtaining, retaining, destroying or de-identifying personal information.

If at any point confidential personal information is to be handled for purposes not in accordance with why it was collected, the person’s consent will be obtained.

Files created by staff when at work remain the property of NWMNC.