I have read through about half this book now. I have taken two semesters of Mandarin at my college so i haven't had trouble with any of the grammar thus far, but it has used a good amount of vocabulary i haven't been exposed to. It does repeat the vocabulary a lot, which is good to help remember it. I enjoy the story from what i have read, but it would be compared to reading somewhere around a 3rd grade English book so dont feel like a fluent Mandarin speaker after reading the book heh heh. Its a great book for beginning Mandarin learners and i would recommend it to others. Just wish i could find the others in this series.
I liked the structure. The pinyin is on the page following the characters, not above each character, so it reduces the temptation to rely on pinyin. The dictionary at the back of the book is fairly complete, although oddly, some easy words are included and some hard words not.The content is about as interesting as is possible for this type of book. The girl in the story has conflict at home that is resolved as she matures, i.e. character development. The story also provides a slice of life in Taiwan.So this book about and for juveniles was helpful for even an old guy like me.
This flash-card style book has been designed as an introduction for beginners wanting to learn Chinese. It introduces a range of Chinese words and phrases, across a variety of everyday topics.This is the second book in the Learn Chinese series, and in this title you will be introduced to more vocabulary as well as a range of useful everyday phrases.These flash cards show the Chinese, English and Pinyin expressions of each word. The Chinese character in each case is displayed first, followed by a card displaying the English translation and Pinyin pronunciation.There is also a useful guide to reading and pronouncing pinyin.Over 250 flash card style pages covering the following topics: Reading pinyin; Days of the week; Months of the year; Family; Directions & getting around; Places; School; Meeting & greeting; Nationalities; Pronouns...to be; Useful answers.
I have purchased all 3 books in this series of learn Chinese ebooks and have found them all so useful. I've always wanted to learn some Chinese, but thought it would be so difficult. When I saw these ebooks, I decided I'd give it a go. I'm so glad that I did because these beginner books have made it so easy to pick up. I wish this author had more books so that I could keep learning more. I like the look and the format of the books, and the way in which it was put together seems really well thought out and easy to follow. I also really like that the character is by itself on one page, then again with the meaning and pronunciation on the next. This makes it really easy to learn them, and then to test yourself to see if you've got it right.
This book introduces a good range of words and phrases, presented in flashcard style format which makes learning basic Chinese a really simple process. The Chinese character, pinyin and English translations are all given. It is easy to test yourself as you go along. All the sections are linked which makes navigating the book really easy.
Being so busy in the run up to my first visit to the mainland, I was pointed to Peter's book. I gave myself the flight from Sydney to learn the basics: hi, bye, yes, no, thanks etc. However, I wanted to make sure that I was respectful and didn't appear to have made just a token gesture, so pronunciation and context were important for me.By the time I got off the plane, I had around 25 useful phrases and a little confidence to give them a go.My Chinese hosts, from Jiangsu province down to western Guangdong, were surprised and very complimentary. They made several comments about my excellent pronunciation for a westerner and a first timer.Peter's book is a must-have for business people and tourists alike who wish to speak and understand enough to communicate, as well as make the effort to comprehend syntax, inflection (all important is this fascinating language) and the context.By the way, my first host happened to be none other than...Mr Wáng!
This popular introduction to Mandarin Chinese is now accompanied by 2 audio CDs covering each of the ten lessons with a special section devoted to the Pinyin dialect. Each lesson uses dialogues to teach the basics of grammar, vocabulary, everyday speech, and the written language. Exercises reinforce the material covered in the dialogues, and each lesson ends with a 'Cultural Insights' section that offers a deeper view into the Chinese people. Their way of thinking and the constants of their daily life.
If you are serious about learning Chinese, this book and its sequel "Intermediate Chinese" by Yong Ho, head of the Chinese program at the United Nations, are just about ideal. They are by no means phrase books, but form a basis for a thorough but practical study of Chinese. I came to the study of Chinese some twenty years ago because my work took me to China. I have since been six times for visits of two to four weeks, but have never become really proficient. I have bought a number of texts and worked through carefully what was previously the best of them, "Practical Chinese Readers I." I therefore started Ho's second volume, but I found his explanations so wonderfully clear that I went back to read his "Beginner's Chinese".These books are a work of art and science and are incomprably better than anything I have previously found. Ho has put his Ph.D. in linguistics to good use. He has listened to his English-speaking students and understood their problems. He has also thought about his native language and culture and come to a deep understanding of it which he is able to convey in clear concepts and good English. His exercises show how well he understands the problems of his students. There are a number of exercises which ask "What is wrong with this?" followed by Chinese sentences that make exactly the mistakes I tend to make.Each book has ten lessons centered on very practical situations, such as getting something to eat. The new speech patterns and vocabulary of each lesson are carefully introduced, then applied applied in practical conversations that provide just the right amount of drill and repetition. They, like nearly all Chinese in the book, are given in simplified characters, pinyin (the phonetic script), and idiomatic English translation. Besides the conversations, there is expository text for practice in reading using the characters and words that have been introduced in the conversations. The "Cultural Insight" passages are original and sometimes stunningly perceptive. There are answer keys to the exercises given in both pinyin and characters.By all means get the editions with the CD. The recordings are clear though not dramatic in the sense that they do not give the illusion that you are listening to a live conversation.These books use simplified characters only. They do not show how to write the characters. That is not a big problem, for there are several good books that teach only that. Like all Chinese textbooks of my acquaintance, these say nothing about how to find characters in a dictionary. The best advice on that subject is to find the "Field Guide to Chinese Characters" on the Internet.
Ready...set...talk! This compact guide provides a fun and easy way to get a handle on all aspects of Mandarin Chinese-reading, writing, speaking, and listening-as well as a look at the fantastic culture of China. Includes an audio Cd for easy pronunciation practice.
If you want to learn Mandarin Chinese and you must do it on your own, Get Talking Chinese is the best way to start.
The book covers the language in its spoken and written forms; that is, it uses the Pinyin system as the pronunciation guide and includes a CD with audio of the lessons, and it includes the Chinese characters for its vocabulary set as well as guidelines for drawing the characters. Some Chinese language instruction books focus either on the spoken language or the written language; the former using a pronunciation guide, such as Pinyin, almost exclusively with little or no reference to Chinese characters, and the latter focusing on the characters themselves with little support for the vocabulary needs of the beginning student. Get Talking Chinese is a great improvement over those books because it covers both the spoken and written forms. It has what a beginner needs.
The best part of Get Talking Chinese is its format and design--its use of pictures, drawings, and color, especially color. It is so visually appealing that it draws you in. Once you're in, you discover interesting tidbits about Chinese culture. Every page is a delight--and you want to learn.
I found Get Talking Chinese by accident in the children's section of a book store. That is so unfair to adults. Mastering the contents of this little book will provide a solid foundation for Mandarin Chinese no matter how old you are.
I am dismayed that some people gave this book a poor score for not being something that it doesn't claim to be. It is not a comprehensive Chinese/English Dictionary. As the title and cover state, it is a beginner's dictionary for first-time learners. It is primarily designed for the student to look up an English word and find the pinyin and characters and how to use them. I have completed my first year of college Chinese classes and could not have survived without this dictionary. The font is a bit bigger than other dictionaries which makes it easier to see all the parts of the characters. The dictionary includes example phrases and sentences which are invaluable for getting the grammar right. My Chinese teacher commented on my correct use of grammar and vocabulary in my writing and asked how I was doing it. I gave all the credit to this dictionary and when she looked at it, she recommended it to her other classes. For a new student learning Chinese the way it's being taught at universities, this is the best there is. (I've purchased 6 Chinese/English dictionaries. Some of the others cover a lot more vocabulary but this is by far the best for a new learner)
Each Oxford Beginner's Bilingual Dictionary is designed to offer English speaking adult learners a comprehensive, straightforward introduction to foreign languages, covering all the vocabulary needed for the first years of study, along with notes on grammar and usage and guidance on the culture where the language is spoken.
These easy-to-use references break from standard dictionary design. Clear entries with examples showing how the language works in context make it quick and simple to find the translation you're looking for, and the bold, color layout makes the dictionary easy to navigate, allowing you to get to grips with the language fast. All main translations are preceded by an equals sign so that they are instantly identifiable, and all parts of the entry are spelled out in full, avoiding confusing jargon and abbreviations. Grammar and usage notes throughout the text warn of possible translation pitfalls, and thousands of example phrases show how the language is used in real life.
At the center of each dictionary is a section devoted to useful information on the country, countries, or regions where the language is spoken. This includes background on lifestyles and culture, tips on etiquette and interaction, and a phrasefinder that provides handy phrases for use when traveling abroad. The dictionary also includes a section on core vocabulary--all the words you absolutely must know at a beginner's level, whether you are a student, traveler, or business person.
The Oxford Beginner's Bilingual Dictionary is the perfect tool for adult language learners who need basic vocabulary at their fingertips fast.
