Educational Resource Libraries & Collections
Some educational websites offer extensive libraries of learning materials rather than focusing on a single type of resource. These collections may include free courses, textbooks, videos, audio, worksheets, cultural materials, proficiency-focused lessons, and other resources useful for studying Chinese.
The resources below are not devoted exclusively to Chinese learning, and their coverage and depth can vary. They are included because they contain substantial collections worth searching, particularly when you are looking for quality learning materials that do not fit neatly into a single resource category.
Educational Resource Collections
MERLOT (Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching) is a large, curated collection of online educational materials contributed and reviewed by educators, learners, and researchers. Chinese learners can search its World Languages and Chinese collections for online courses, open textbooks, pronunciation and vocabulary practice, interactive exercises, teacher resources, and other learning materials, including resources from universities such as MIT. MERLOT itself is free to search and use, although many listings lead to external websites, so availability, licensing, and any costs associated with individual resources can vary.
Free / Paid
OER Commons is a free digital library of openly licensed educational materials for learners, teachers, and anyone looking for resources they can legally access and reuse. The collection includes textbooks, courses, lesson plans, activities, assessments, videos, and other materials covering a wide range of subjects, including world languages. Because resources come from many different institutions and contributors, the format, level, and quality can vary, but search filters make it easier to narrow results by subject, education level, material type, and usage rights. Many resources can also be adapted or redistributed depending on their individual open license.
Free
Open Culture is a free educational and cultural resource that gathers material from around the web, including online courses, eBooks, audiobooks, textbooks, movies, podcasts, language lessons and other educational media. For Chinese learners, its language section can be useful for finding free Mandarin lessons and supplementary study material, while the broader site is also valuable for anyone interested in free academic and cultural resources. Most of the material Open Culture highlights is free, although some linked third-party sites may offer additional paid content or services.
Free