Introduction Intermediate Textbook consists of two parts: Lessons 1 to 8 are written by the editors in e-mail to introduce the present society in China by a girl named Isabella; Lessons 9 to 22 are revised short passages to introduce the history, geography, culture and economic development in China of different time and places, reflecting Chinese people’s opinions about social life and society. In the e-mails from Lessons 1 to 8, we’ve tried to cover the remained more than 300 A-level words (totally there are 1,033 A-level words, and we have put near 700 A-level words in Primary Textbook). And in lessons 9 to 22, we have mainly covered the B- and C-level words to make sure that all the words in the texts are practical and useful. The exercises designed in Intermediate Workbook differ a bit from Primary Workbook: the former focuses on word-building while the latter focuses on sentences. “Word-building exercise” is designed to enrich the learner’s vocabulary; “Phrase exercise” emphasizes on the collocation of words; “New word exercise” and “Fill in the blanks” check the learner’s understanding of the given words. “Grammar exercise” focuses on some important Chinese grammar, and “Dialogue exercise” from Lessons 12 to 22 is to improve the learner’s skill in oral communication. Generally speaking, Intermediate Textbook is designed for about 4 to 6 hours’ study per week for about one year’s teaching.
Zheng Guoxiong
(International Cultural Exchange School of Fudan University)
Shortly after the publication of New Concept Chinese ( by Beijing Languages & Culture University Press), I edited a second series of Chinese textbooks entitled Chinese for English-Speakers, mainly for the Europeans and Americans, hoping to make the Chinese-language-learning interesting and practical. Here, “interesting” means that we have tried our best to find some interesting topics and contents for the reader; while “practical” means that the words, expressions and sentences in the texts are frequently used in Chinese daily life.
Now this new series of Chinese for English-Speakers mainly distinguish itself in the following four aspects:
First, we have enriched the vocabulary with A-level words. Primary Textbook and the first ten lessons in Intermediate Textbook have almost covered all the 1,033 A-level words, which are the most frequently used words in daily life and henceforth make a basic knowledge for the learner and prepare the reader for a further learning of Chinese language.
Second, we have paid special attention to grammar and main points in Chinese language learning. For example, the classifier (or the measure word) is always regarded as being the most difficult in Chinese language teaching and learning for an English speaker. So in this series of Chinese for English-Speakers, we have changed the usual detached teaching method of classifier-learning and, instead, focused on teaching the classifier (or the measure word) in a condensed way, e.g., the lesson We’re Singing the Song of Classifiers together with Please Tell Me the Classifiers in Primary Textbook may impress you somehow as funny and functional as well.
Third, the topics and contents of this Chinese for English-Speakers are deliberately chosen for 3 reasons: 1) trying to show the history and traditional culture of China; 2) to reflect the focused issues of modern China; 3) to explain the moral attitude of Chinese people and the difference between Chinese and foreign cultures.
All the topics and materials in the textbooks are selected through repeated comparisons, a planned survey and from experimental teaching in order to be objective and up-to-date. In introducing Chinese and global celebrities, for example, we choose topics about Confucius, Sun Yat-sen, Lu Xun, Mei Lanfang, Marco Polo and Bill Gates to profile their life or personality. As for the introduction of China’s geography and famous scenery, we only select some typical ones for a brief and concise introduction. Since the cities always reflect truthfully the modern life of a country, we choose Beijing — capital of PRC and a city with a long history — and Shanghai — a modern metropolitan as our topics. On the focused issues of present China, we introduce some topics about China’s peasants, population control, education, economical development and environmental protection, etc., which are mainly concerned by many curious foreigners.
Fourth, we have designed in the supplementary workbooks a large amount of exercises and have paid special attention to the reappearing and use of the new words and expressions, the important grammar and syntax in the textbooks. Therefore the reader can review what he/she has learned from the texts and master the skill of the language by practice.
Altogether this series of Chinese for English-Speakers has 3 levels: Primary Level, Intermediate Level and Advanced Level. Each of them includes a textbook and a workbook besides a Primary Character Book for beginners’ imitation. There’re 22 lessons in each textbook for foreign learners at certain level. Each textbook is designed for about 4 to 6 hours’ study per week for about one year’s teaching. While Primary Character Book is designed for the beginner to practice writing about 5 to 7 Chinese characters every day, i.e., 25 to 35 characters per week (from Monday to Friday).
Last but not least, this series of Chinese for English-Speakers is edited in both original complex and simplified form of Chinese characters for the learner’s sake that he/she can choose to learn according to his/her pleasure. Actually, I myself quite agree with Mr. Yuan Xiaoyuan that the foreigner may learn Chinese in a way that they can “know the original complex form but write in simplified one.” The reason is that you will not be able to read the Chinese newspaper printed abroad or the original text of Chinese classics without knowing the original complex form; and similarly you will have difficulty in taking notes if you cannot write in simplified form. That’s, of course, my own humble opinion for your reference.
Above all, I’m obliged to Prof. Zhu Yongsheng, Dean of International Cultural Exchange School of Fudan University, for his sincere help and support.
Lesson 1 Environment
Lesson 2 Safety
Lesson 3 Love
Lesson 4 Woman
Lesson 5 Education
Lesson 6 Pets
Lesson 7 Football
Lesson 8 Friendship
Lesson 9 About “Lu Xun”
Lesson 10 The Hometown of Confucius
Lesson 11 Parental Love
Lesson 12 Crutch
Lesson 13 Mordern Architecture in Shanghai
Lesson 14 Ancient Trees in Beijing
Lesson 15 An Introduction Letter
Lesson 16 Applause
Lesson 17 A Coward Became a Hero
Lesson 18 To Develop Northeast China
Lesson 19 Economy in China
Lesson 20 An Accidental Mistake
Lesson 21 A Story of Glasses
Lesson 22 Changjiang and Huanghe River
Index of Grammar
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