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http://www.digmandarin.com/chinese-textbook-reviews-integrated-chinese.html
Chinese Textbook Reviews – Integrated Chinese (中文听说读写)
Posted by BENJAMIN GIBBS
Integrated Chinese is used frequently in the Universities and colleges in
United States which offer Chinese programs. I believe that this is the most suitable program for
English speaking students to master Chinese.The book has integrated the various aspects such as
listening, speaking, reading as well as writing which makes the learning process more holistic.
Besides this integrated methodology the order too helps to strengthen your foundation and this
makes learning the language much simpler and quicker. Integrated Chinese also has some
segments which will help you to prepare to take the Chinese AP exam. This is a part of a special
series which is considered to be full of information and offers good study material. It is ideal for
students who are keen to student Chinese and it is a must have in your Chinese reference library.
Whom is it intended for:
Integrated Chinese is apt for students who desire to have a complete and detailed understanding of
the Chinese language. Integrated Chinese stresses on the practice of both the written as well as the
oral communication skills. Besides this it also helps you to comprehend the culture of China.
Topics:
There is a great variety in the type of topics in Integrated Chinese. Some topics included are
common greetings, family names, dates and time, leisure activities, social visits to your pals, the apt
way to fix up an appointment, mastering the Chinese language, surviving at school, shopping and
travel related topics.
http://www.digmandarin.com/chinese-textbook-reviews-integrated-chinese.html
Enhancing your vocabulary:
Each chapter includes around 40 to 70 new words. At times there may even be around 80 new
words. Idioms (成语) have been fitted in appropriately so that you can understand their usage and
context. Integrated Chinese has some wonderful illustrations which helps to simplify the learning and
understanding process. The end of the book includes a glossary of the vocabulary. This is really
commendable as there are some books which have such tiny characters that it is tough to
distinguish and understand the fine strokes.
Content character:
You will find the characters in simplified as well as traditional forms. But still there are some words
which are seen only in the traditional form. I do pine for them to reveal the stroke order of the
characters in this too, however this is not the case.
Recordings:
Overall the recordings are good. They contain a complete list of the vocabulary as well as articles.
The articles are split into smaller segments and the speed of reading each varies. Some segments
are read slowly, while others are read at normal conversational tones. The quality of the CD is far
better as compared to the tape. You will have to pay extra to get a copy of the CD in case you have
not selected a special package solution.
Grammar:
At the end of every article there are elaborate explanations regarding the new grammar concepts
which have been implemented in the article. The grammar segment will surely give you a detailed
insight about the grammar. These will also contain detailed explanations regarding the sentences
used in the traditional characters, pinyin as well as English translations.
Exercise:
You need to solve some exercises so that you are able to evaluate your understanding and progress
after using the study material provided.
Culture:
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Each chapter contains some culture highlights. This segment focuses on the cultural aspect of the
language.
Cast of Content:
The text revolves around numerous students. Wang Peng, a Chinese freshman from Beijing; Li You,
an American student from New York; GaoWenzhong, an English student; GaoXiaoYin, his older
sister who is a school librarian; Bai Ying Ai, a student from Seoul and Chang Laoshi who is from
China and teaches Chinese in the United States.
Structure:
All of chapters contain two dialogues as well as vocabulary. These dialogues are very clear and
comprehensive. They touch on a specific segment of grammar which blends well with the context.
This is a real exception to the usually boring Chinese textbooks. This book is really visually
enhancing and seems vibrant with colors and illustrations.
How To Use
In case the self learner is a non native Chinese who speaks English, I would suggest starting with
the easier grammar and reading books before finally progressing. I am adept with both Chinese as
well as English and I suggest that it would be ideal for English learners to also enhance their
knowledge using other textbooks as well. At times though, I felt that there was a lot of assumption in
the first level of the book. For instance, the book reflects the belief or assumption that the person
buying the book will have a trainer to teach and guide him/ her thought he various nuances of the
language. The book also assumes that the reader will have at least some functional information
about the correct way to pronounce the four tones. I am glad that this book is being used as the
standard textbook for most colleges as well as universities in my vicinity. However I would never
suggest using this book series without a professional trainer. A trainer surely helps you to kick start
the learning process and makes it easier for you to master the language.