History of Chinese Writing

Can I go at my own pace? Will I be able to access the course once it's finished?

Yes! We'll do one lesson per week, but once the course is finished, we'll keep everything available online so that you can go through it at your own pace.

How much Chinese do I need to know to take this course?

None! The course will be taught in English, and doesn't require any knowledge of Chinese. I've designed it so that people who are interested in the origin and evolution of the Chinese script can follow the course whether they know Chinese or not.

However, many of the supplementary/optional readings will be in Chinese. Some of them will assume knowledge of Classical Chinese. And a "side project" we'll be doing in the course will have you learning to recognize small seal script (小篆 xiǎozhuàn), which will require you to know some Chinese characters already.

So, if you don't know any Chinese, or if you're at the beginner end of the spectrum, but you're interested in the history of Chinese writing, you'll have no problem following the course. If you're at a higher level in Chinese, you'll be able to dive deeper and get more out of the supplementary readings and exercises.

How long does the course take to complete?

There are 12 lessons, and we'll be doing one lesson per week. The course begins on 15 April and ends on 4 July, 2025.

Yes, to all you Americans, we realize the humor in starting on Tax Day and ending on Independence Day!

How much time will it require per lesson?

There will be one to two lectures each week (you can attend live or watch the recording), and each will be about an hour. If you're learning to read seal script, you'll also need to dedicate a short block of time each day to the seal script side project.

We'll also do a live "office hour" session once a week on Zoom, so you can pop in and ask questions if you'd like. There will also be a discussion forum, so if you can't make it to the office hours, you can still get your questions answered.

Will I need anything (apps, etc.) in order to take the course?

Nope! We'll provide all readings in PDF form, and there's no textbook or app required for the course. We will, however, be giving lots of book recommendations along the way.

I'll also be providing you with an Anki deck (Anki is a free "smart flashcards" program) to help you learn to recognize and write common characters in small seal script.

 

What time will the live lessons be?

I'll be doing live lessons on Tuesdays at 11am JST. Some lessons will require two lectures, so the second one will be on Thursdays at 5pm JST.

You can watch either (or both) live, or watch the recordings later.

Can I study at my own pace or do I have to take the course live?

Either way. I'm teaching it as a live course, but you don't need to feel pressured to keep pace!

Keep in mind that if you can't show up to the live session, you'll be able to watch the replay at any time. Many people don't show up for the live session, but just watch the replay at their own pace. That's totally fine! You'll get lifetime access to the course, so that's no problem.

What does "lifetime access" mean?

In practical terms, it means the course materials will be available online for as long as Outlier is in business. If we do ever go out of business or otherwise need to remove the course for any reason, we'll make the material available for you to download for a period of at least 6 months.

Can I get a refund if I decide the course isn't for me?

Yes! Our usual refund policy is "30 days from purchase," but since the course doesn't start until 15 April, I'm extending the refund date to "the 15th of June." If you decide you don't like the course for whatever reason, just reach out by then and I'll be happy to refund you.

Will there be assignments or homework?

We'll be giving assigned readings for each unit. There will also be supplementary/optional readings, which will consist of book chapters or journal articles, often in Chinese, and readings of excavated texts. You'll also need to set aside time each week to dedicate to learning seal script if you'll be participating in that project.

Can we collaborate with other students or form study groups?

Definitely! Our live courses usually have a one or two hundred students enrolled, so there should be plenty of students of all backgrounds and interests in this course too.

And sure, working together is no problem! We'll have a private online community where you can work together, ask questions, share notes, etc.