Intermediate Spoken Chinese: A Practical Approach to Fluency in Spoken Mandarin (Audio & Video Included) (Tuttle Specials) - Softcover

Kubler, Cornelius C.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0804850496 ISBN 13: 9780804850490

Publisher: Tuttle Publishing, 2018

Synopsis

Welcome to the world's most efficient method of learning Mandarin Chinese, whether you are striving to learn Chinese on your own, or studying in a classroom setting.

Part of the widely-used and highly acclaimed Kubler series, Intermediate Spoken Chinese provides separate but integrated "tracks" to help you learn to read, write and speak Chinese efficiently, at your own pace. Some students and teachers wish to emphasize speaking ability first, whereas others want to focus on learning to read and write Chinese at the same time. These Chinese language study books allow you the flexibility to acquire the spoken language and the written language with the method that best fits your needs.

Intermediate Spoken Chinese allows you to experience real-life situations in different Mandarin-speaking locales. (It also exposes you to the authentic range of Chinese accents; you're not limited only to learning an imaginary "textbook Beijing accent" as in other books.) Each of the everyday situations explored here—from shopping at a market to playing unexpected phone tag—is one you're likely to encounter as you interact with Chinese language speakers.

You can choose to use this book with its corresponding Intermediate Chinese Practice Essentials Workbook, available separately, that offers you a wide range of one-of-a-kind activities to help you practice the language skills you learn here.

Key features of Intermediate Spoken Chinese:

• Clear and detailed explanations of natural, colloquial Chinese grammar, pronunciation and usage
• Recommended strategies to help you learn to speak Chinese more efficiently
• Experience the actual speaking styles of Chinese people in various parts of mainland China as well as Taiwan, Macao, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia
• Notes on Chinese culture and society allow you to understand situational etiquette
• Discussions of challenges faced specifically by English speakers who are learning Chinese and how to overcome them
• Audio recordings by native speakers of all the vocabulary, dialogues, and other vital items
• A separate Teacher's Guide and a full character transcript (Simplified and Traditional) are both available electronically
• An accompanying software program contains 56 videos shot on location which allows you to view conversations involving Chinese speakers from different parts of China

With this language learning set that includes a textbook, CD-ROM, and DVD, you will be speaking Chinese gracefully and fluidly and feel confident traveling in the Mandarin-speaking world.

About this title

About the Author

Cornelius C. Kubler, Stanfield Professor of Asian Studies at Williams College, received his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees in linguistics from Cornell University. He earned a second M.A. in Chinese literature from National Taiwan University.

From 1980-1991 he was employed at the Foreign Service Institute, U.S. Department of State, where he served as Language Training Supervisor in Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, and Mongolian; as Principal of the advanced Chinese field school in Taiwan; and as Chair of the Department of Asian and African Languages.

Since joining Williams College in 1991, he has chaired the former Department of Chinese and Asian Studies Program as well as the Department of Asian Studies, which he was instrumental in founding. He has also served as visiting professor at Eisenhower College, Portland State University, Middlebury College, National Taiwan Normal University, Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages.

Kubler, who is author or coauthor of 20 books and over 50 articles on Chinese language pedagogy and linguistics, frequently serves as reviewer or consultant for Chinese and Asian Studies programs in the U.S. and overseas. He has served as Chair of the Test Development Committee for the SAT Subject Test in Chinese and as member of the Executive Committee of the Association of Departments of Foreign Languages of the Modern Language Association. He is currently serving as American Co-Director of The Johns Hopkins University-Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies in Nanjing, China.

Review

"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

"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

"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. —Richard Ayres, St. Xavier High School, Louisville, KY

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

Edition details

• Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
• Publication date: 2018
• ISBN 10: 0804850496
• ISBN 13: 9780804850490
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 384