Publisher: McGraw-Hill

Description

This is a book and CD package intended for self-study or study in a group. It is part of a series developed for a range of languages (most of which do not seem to be European languages, e.g. Japanese, Arabic). The text consists of eight Topics, each with two or three sub-sections. Each Topic sub-section introduces basic vocabulary in English, pinyin, and simplified characters (hanzi), then provides a short "Language Focus" section which offers some explanations of pronunciation or grammar in English, followed by several paper and pencil Activities such as matching exercises or word squares. (Answers are included at the back of the text.) Activities occasionally use the CD to provide listening practice. Each Topic also includes a learning game, the pieces for which are at the back of the text on tear-out card sheets. A "Reference" section at the end gives a very brief overview of Chinese characters and pinyin. Oddly, the authors deliberately chose not to include pinyin tone marks in this text, saying "Don't worry too much at first about the tones, as the context will help you to be understood even if your pronunciation is not perfect." This seems questionable advice in a heavily tonal language like Chinese, in which the tone changes the entire meaning of a word.

Strengths   

There is a nice variety of activites and learning games. Most of the explanations and activities use hanzi and pinyin together, rather than expecting the learner to remember a character after seeing it only once. The low cost includes the audio CD.

Weaknesses   

No tone marks on pinyin. No practice dialogues. No glossary or index. Illustrations are amateurish. The table of contents is incomplete or inaccurate. Limited language coverage.

Recommendation

The lack of dialogues, tone marks on pinyin, and an index are serious problems. This book would make a good supplement to another text because it contains so many good activities, but would be a difficult choice as a standalone text for a class or for individual study. The limited language coverage would make this book suitable only for true beginners.

Details:

Book Name:    Read & Speak Chinese for Beginners
Book Type:    Textbook & CD
Age Range:    Adult
Number of Pages:    96
Number of Lessons:    8
Dialogues:    no
Vocabulary:    yes
Grammar:    some
pinyin, zhuyin, or both:    pinyin (no tones)
Explanations in English:    yes
Character instruction (traditional or simplified):some reading, simplified
Illustrations (color, b&w, none):    b&w
Class/Group Activities (games, songs, etc.):    yes
Glossary - pinyin, zhuyin, hanzi, English:    none
Index - pinyin, English, both:    none
Textbook available:    yes
Workbook  available:    no
Teacher's Book available:    no
Practice Media Available (Tape, CD, CDROM):    CD
Cost:    16.95

Lessons:

1: What's your name?
- Basic greetings
- Saying and asking about names

2: Where are you from?
- Countries
- Saying where you're from

3: What's this?
- Asking about what things are
- Ordering drinks and snacks

4: Where is it?
- Describing where things are
- Expressing negatives

5: What's it like?
- Describing characteristics
- Adjectives
- Parts of the body (not listed in table of contents)

6: How do I get there?
- Places around town
- Transportation
- Directions and instructions

7: Who's this?
- Describing your family
- Possessives (my, your, etc.)
- Numbers 1-10

8: What do you do?
- Describing occupations
- Talking about where you work