Get Talking Chinese Review

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.