This is a truly self-access course that will appeal to anyone who is learning alone or who needs extra material to supplement a course. You decide whether or not to learn the script; if it's not necessary for you, the book makes it easy to follow the pinyin transcriptions.
There is comprehensive teaching of the Chinese script and the pinyin transcriptions (rendering the Chinese in English spelling) will help you speak and understand.
The units are carefully graded so that you consolidate your knowledge and build your confidence as you work through the book. The new language is introduced through dialogues based on everyday situations so you will learn what it most useful in preparation for a trip to China.
The grammar explanations are simple and do not assume that you have learned Chinese or any other language before.
There are exercises throughout (with answers at the back of the book) so you can check your progress and identify areas that are causing you problems.
Finally, there are English-Chinese and Chinese-English vocabulary listings for quick reference.
The accompanying cassette provides approximately 2 hours of listening material. The cassette (0 340 80470 X) and book (0 340 80467 X) can also be purchased separately.
Alternatively, the listening material is also available on a double CD which can be purchased on its own (0 340 80471 8) or in a pack with the book (0 340 80469 6).
Making friends I; making friends II; making friends III; at the Lis' I;
at the Lis' II; in the house; my family; my home; hotels; weather, dates and
seasons; in the restaurant; grammar review; an introduction to Chinese
characters; shopping; buying tickets I; buying tickets II; directions and
transport; at the post office; at the railway station; change money?;
traveller's notes; farewell to all that!; key to the exercises;
Chinese-English vocabulary; English-Chinese Vocabulary; character texts for
chapters one-five and seven-11.
Elizabeth Scurfield is a former Chair of Modern Languages at the University of Westminster and author of the current edition of Teach Yourself Chinese. She is a founder member of the Department of Chinese at the University of Westminster.
