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Essential Chinese
250 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 14, 2013
It's excellent. If you can get a teacher, too, all the better. Also, always check out Tim Ferriss when learning languages. Finally, just wish the online component was more comprehensive.
November 6, 2018
This is the first Chinese instructional book that I finished. This is also one of the four books in Living Language Mandarin Chinese, Complete Edition.
So, what did I learn from this book? I can now, albeit in short sentences: count, make small talk, talk about myself, talk about family, order in a restaurant, talk about hobbies and work etc.
I have a small notebook where I write down the new vocabulary in characters and pinyin. I memorize it faster that way. It is also really helpful to keep repeating the audio whenever you can: I managed to internalize the four tones without obsessing over them. I glance over my notes while listening to the audio, to associate the characters, pinyin and the sound of the words in my head.
As for writing Chinese, the Character guide included in the Complete Edition has been really helpful. Chinese characters are written with specific stroke orders. If you want to learn how to write in Chinese, I suggest installing apps on your phone that illustrate stroke orders as the Character guide in the Complete Edition only illustrates them more generally.
The best part of this book however, is the grammar summary at the end of the book. Although I finished all the ten lessons, I refer to the grammar summary whenever I want to construct my own sentences. The Living Language series is a good value for money.
So, what did I learn from this book? I can now, albeit in short sentences: count, make small talk, talk about myself, talk about family, order in a restaurant, talk about hobbies and work etc.
I have a small notebook where I write down the new vocabulary in characters and pinyin. I memorize it faster that way. It is also really helpful to keep repeating the audio whenever you can: I managed to internalize the four tones without obsessing over them. I glance over my notes while listening to the audio, to associate the characters, pinyin and the sound of the words in my head.
As for writing Chinese, the Character guide included in the Complete Edition has been really helpful. Chinese characters are written with specific stroke orders. If you want to learn how to write in Chinese, I suggest installing apps on your phone that illustrate stroke orders as the Character guide in the Complete Edition only illustrates them more generally.
The best part of this book however, is the grammar summary at the end of the book. Although I finished all the ten lessons, I refer to the grammar summary whenever I want to construct my own sentences. The Living Language series is a good value for money.
February 18, 2021
I finally finished this, even the index. I read the index words with a native. He told me that this books seems to have not been made by a Chinese person (that's correct) because it seemed easier and a bit unprofessional. I don't know what game that the idea, but this was a good intro to Mandarin. Of course, this wasn't the only resource I had. I also practiced words on Ninchanese.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews