Interactions I - A Cognitive Approach to Beginning Chinese - Chinese in Context Language Learning Series

Yan, Margaret Mian; Liu, Jennifer Li-chia

ISBN 10: 0253211220 / ISBN 13: 9780253211224

Published by Indiana University Press, Bloomington, Indiana, 1998

About this Item

419 Pages. Light wear to covers. No marks of any sort to the interior text pages. Nothing is filled in. This book is an innovative system for English-speaking students of Chinese. These texts make learning Chinese an interactive, cognitive process rather than a matter of simple rote or drill. Lesson topics revolve around typical events occurring in a college setting. The authors have created four personas with whom the student can identify-a mainland Chinese, a Taiwanese, a non-Chinese American, and a Chinese American. The lessons use real-world communication episodes rather than grammar-centered texts. Complicated grammatical matters are dealt with after the student has developed some familiarity with the language. Each lesson provides the essential cultural information (values, attitudes, behaviors) that can assist the student in developing a better understanding of the Chinese language and people. The texts involve heavy use of graphics, cross-references, and indexes to facilitate review, preview, and retention of vocabulary, grammar, and character recognition. This book, Interactions I, presents 13 Lessons plus Five Appendixes, and Indexes. Contents: Preface, Acknowledgments, A Note to Students, Abbreviations, Conventions, Cast of Characters, Lessons - Introduction, The Chinese Sound System, The Chinese Writing System, What Day is Today, Do You Have a Class Today, Where Are You Going, How Much Is It, Do You Know Her, What Number Are You Calling? What Should We Order? How Was the Movie? How Is This Coat? and Did You Have a Nice Thanksgiving?

Seller Inventory # 19311

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Interactions I - A Cognitive Approach to Beginning Chinese - Chinese in Context Language Learning Series
• Publisher: Indiana University Press, Bloomington, Indiana
• Publication Date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0253211220
• ISBN 13: 9780253211224
• Binding: Trade Paperback
• Illustrator: Kung, Chee Cheong
• Edition: Third Printing
• Condition: Very Good

About this title

Synopsis

The need for a modern text to teach Chinese to English-speaking students has long been recognized. Even today Chinese tends to be taught by rote rather than concept for the want of pedagogically sophisticated course materials. Jennifer Liu and Margaret Yan, two Indiana University professors, have now produced a cognitively based first year course for learning Chinese. The innovative features of their texts include.

* An introduction to the cultural and social contexts of Chinese
* A presentation of Chinese calligraphy
* Lessons with real-life situations and lively dialogue
* Explanations of Chinese pronunciation and grammar
* Illustrations including cartoons
* Chinese characters with mnemonic visuals
* Criteria-grouped vocabulary
* An instructor's manual
* Student workbook

Language Notes

Text: English, Chinese