Basic Spoken Chinese: An Introduction to Speaking and Listening for Beginners (DVD and MP3 Audio CD Included) (Basic Chinese) - Softcover

Kubler, Cornelius C.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0804840156 ISBN 13: 9780804840156

Publisher: Tuttle Publishing, 2011

Synopsis

You don't need characters to speak Chinese! In fact, for English speakers, learning the characters is an inefficient process and slows down your progress in learning to speak and listen to Chinese.

Instead, use separate but integrated "tracks" to help you efficiently master the basics of spoken and written Chinese. Basic Spoken Chinese provides success at a beginning level of fluency.

• Unlike many textbooks, this book focuses on the challenges faced by native English-speaking students in learning Chinese.
  
• Detailed explanations in English of Chinese pronunciation, grammar, usage, culture, society, and recommended learning approaches.
  
• Included DVD offers videos featuring over 100 native speakers in many diverse Chinese-speaking societies, from mainland China and Taiwan to Singapore and Malaysia. This software program allows the learner to view 40 on-location, native-speaker videos of the book's 40 core Chinese conversations, and interact with them in various ways: user can select/replay any specific portions of the videos; can choose to also view the conversation in pinyin, Simplified Chinese characters, or Traditional Chinese characters (appears beside the video as each spoken line occurs); or can choose to mute any Chinese or American speaker's audio, to practice speaking along with the video
  
• An included Audio disc provides over 6 hours of native-speaker audio, including all of the book's conversations, build ups, new words, supplementary vocabulary, dialogues, and other key items.
  
• Teacher's Guide is available electronically.
  
• A written Character Transcript (Simplified and Traditional) is available electronically.
  

About the Series: Respected Chinese language expert Dr. Cornelius Kubler, who has taught diplomats, business people and students, presents a learning system that uses separate but integrated "tracks" to help you efficiently master the basics of spoken and written Chinese. The materials in Basic Chinese allow you to move from complete beginner level to basic fluency.

About this title

About the Author

Cornelius C. Kubler is Stanfield Professor of Asian Studies at Williams College, where he teaches Chinese and for many years chaired the Department of Asian Studies. He was formerly Chinese Language Training Supervisor and Chair of the Department of Asian and African Languages at the Foreign Service Institute, U.S. Department of State, where he trained American diplomats in Chinese and other languages.

Review

"Meticulously planned, carefully prepared and patiently tested for over a decade, the Basic Chinese series represents the most comprehensive introductory materials available now. The eclectic approach, the flexibility in use, the attention to authenticity of language in its sociolinguistic context, the myriad of audio and visual aids, and the array of rigorously designed exercises makes the Basic Chinese the ideal material for any committed learner embarking on the journey of learning the Chinese language."—Dr. Jun Yang, Senior Lecturer in Chinese, University of Chicago

"Revolutionary in its approach to teaching and learning Chinese as a second language, this textbook series is easily one of the best that are currently on the market. In addition to the highly useful content, grammar explanations and cultural notes for each lesson are extensive, detailed and straightforward. The dream of having engaged and fully-prepared students in every class is an easily reachable reality for any program that adopts this series."—Professor Cecilia Chang, Chair, Department of Asian Studies, Williams College

"This is one of the best elementary Chinese textbooks, I believe, ever produced in the history of teaching Chinese as a second language... A great and unique work which will benefit students and teachers for many years to come."—Dr. Shengli Feng, Professor of Chinese Linguistics, Chinese University of Hong Kong

"Outstanding for its carefully graduated presentation of material in easily digestible sub-units, comprehensive and clearly written grammatical and cultural notes, and perhaps most important of all, its separation of the task of learning to speak the language from the very different processes of learning to read and write Chinese characters... The most exciting Chinese language textbook I have seen in many years."—Dr. James E. Dew, retired associate professor of Chinese, University of Michigan; former Director of the Inter-University Program for Chinese Language Studies in Taipei

"A breath of fresh air... Its dual track for spoken and written language finally gives American students a chance to develop oral proficiency without being slowed down by the character writing... An ideal textbook for any program that seeks to advance rapidly in spoken Chinese and to fully prepare the students for their encounter with China."—Dr. Jingqi Fu, Associate Professor of Chinese, St. Mary's College of Maryland

"Contextualized so learners know not only what to say, but why, when, and with whom it is appropriate to use such language. ...thorough and clear...refreshing."—Dr. Matthew Christensen, Associate Professor of Chinese, Brigham Young University

"Kubler's books distinguish themselves with natural, culturally-rooted dialogues, detailed notes (for both written and spoken language), generous practice activities and an amazing care for organization. These books will be valuable tools for both students and their teachers."—Prof. Eric Pelzl, Wisconsin Lutheran College

"I have been teaching Chinese to high school students for over 25 years and have used a variety of texts. I decided to try "Basic Spoken Chinese" (BSC) with one of my classes on an experimental level, and I have to say it is the best text of its kind that I have ever seen.

"It should be noted that BSC and BWC are intended primarily to be used as college texts. However, this should NOT deter Chinese instructors at the secondary level from considering adopting them. In the final analysis, the difference simply comes down to pace. The lesson plans which accompany the text can easily be modified for high school classes, or the teacher can prepare his own lesson plans, as I do."—Richard Ayres, St. Xavier High School, Louisville, KY

Edition details

• Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0804840156
• ISBN 13: 9780804840156
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 384