Classroom Chinese is a small fixed script - if you are starting a course in China or Taiwan, these are the lines in the air from day one.
What the teacher says
| 上课 / 下课 | class begins / class is over |
| 打开书，第…页 | open your books to page… |
| 跟我读 / 大家念 | repeat after me / everyone read |
| 听写 | dictation - the dreaded word |
| 有没有问题？ | any questions? |
| 再复习一下 | review it once more |
What you will need to say
老师，我有一个问题 (teacher, I have a question - 老师 is the address form, no name needed). The survival stack: 我听不懂 (I don't understand), 请再说一遍 (please say it again), 请说慢一点 (slower please), 这是什么意思？ (what does this mean?), 这个怎么念/怎么写？ (how is this read/written?).
The meta-phrases
对 or 不对 answer "is this right?" drills. 我知道 / 我不知道 admit or deny knowledge of the answer - not "I understand". 用中文怎么说…? is the all-purpose lookup ("how do you say…in Chinese?"), and 请帮我一下 gets help from the classmate beside you. Homework is 作业; the exam is 考试; results are 成绩.
For the teacher's side
Running the class adds a few more: 翻到…页 (turn to page…), 看黑板 (look at the board), 注意听 (listen carefully), 轮流读 (take turns reading), 安静 (quiet down - the blunt one), and 今天就到这里 (that's all for today). Praise runs simple and frequent: 很好, 不错, 有进步. If you are teaching, the phrase pill decks plus your textbook's command vocabulary will carry the first weeks.
Common questions
How do you say "I don't understand" in Chinese?
我听不懂 (I hear but don't get it) - for listening specifically. 我不懂 and 我不明白 are the general "I don't understand" for concepts.
How do you address a teacher in Chinese?
老师 - used alone or with the surname (王老师). It works for any teacher regardless of age; 教授 for professors specifically.
How do you ask someone to repeat in Mandarin?
请再说一遍 - "please say it once more". 请说慢一点 asks for slower; 你说什么？ is blunt "what did you say?".