Learn to speak Cantonese and explore a vibrant spoken language with our Cantonese language short courses online!
Have you always wanted to learn Cantonese but weren’t sure where to begin? This beginner-friendly course offers a supportive introduction to the Cantonese language and is designed for complete beginners — no prior experience required.
Cantonese is widely spoken in Hong Kong and southern mainland China and is known for its rich tones and expressive spoken style. From the very first classes, you’ll start learning practical, everyday Cantonese, focusing on clear pronunciation, simple sentence structures, and communication for real-life situations.
As a tonal language, Cantonese places strong emphasis on listening and speaking. With guidance from an experienced tutor, you’ll learn to recognise and use tones accurately, helping you be understood in everyday interactions. You’ll also be introduced to commonly used written characters and gain insight into Cantonese culture, customs, and communication styles.
By the end of this Cantonese: Beginners Level 1 course, you should be able to:
- Recognise and use different Cantonese tones and understand how they affect meaning
- Communicate in a limited but practical way in everyday situations
- Use basic sentence structures and foundational grammar
- Read and write simple Chinese characters related to course topics
- Demonstrate introductory understanding of Cantonese culture and social practices
What will be covered in this Cantonese: Beginners Level 1 course?
- Greetings and introductions
- Asking and responding to simple questions
- Shopping
- Hobbies and daily routines
- Seasons, time, and days of the week
- Family members and relationships
- Cultural practices and taboos
- Basic language principles
- Pronunciation
- Recognising and using tones
- Sentence structure
- Gender
- Formal and familiar speech
Who is this Cantonese: Beginners Level 1 course for?
- Complete beginners with no prior experience learning Cantonese
- Learners interested in spoken Cantonese for travel, culture, or personal connection
- Heritage learners wanting to strengthen spoken language foundations
- Anyone curious about learning a tonal language in a supportive environment
Online via Zoom
- Zoom details will be emailed to you with your enrolment confirmation
- A device with a stable internet connection is required
- We recommend using a computer rather than a mobile phone or tablet
What to bring to class
- Notebook and pen
- Course textbook (see below)
Please purchase the course textbook – which is used for our Learn Cantonese: Beginners Course and Learn Cantonese: Level 2 Course.
Colloquial Cantonese: The Complete Course for Beginners (2010 version and later)
ISBN: 978-113-895-822-7
We recommend purchasing your textbook after your Cantonese course has been confirmed (usually within three working days of the proposed start). The textbook is not included in the enrolment fee.
Achievement Recognition
Upon successful completion of the course with at least 80% attendance, you will receive a Certificate of Attendance, recognising your participation and commitment to learning Cantonese.
- Course delivery: Fully online through interactive virtual classrooms
- Certificate: A Certificate of Attendance is provided to students who successfully complete the course
- Bundle discount: Enrol in two Cantonese language courses and receive an automatic 15% discount
What other Cantonese language courses do we offer?
After completing this course, you may wish to continue with Cantonese Course: Beginners Level 2, where you’ll build on your spoken skills and expand your vocabulary and sentence structures.
Enrol in both Cantonese Course: Beginners Level 1 and Beginners Level 2 and save 10% using the promo code GROUP10 at checkout. Please visit our discounts page for full details.
