Job Discussion Forums

[stunnershades]

Doing a simple google search yields many attracting websites and promising books but can anyone with experience learning Chinese offer advice on a certain book or method of really absorbing this impossible backwards language? I heard a guy tell me once he listened to some CD used for teaching Taiwanese children Chinese and it changed his life. WTH? Please help.

[GMatt]

The Chinese language textbook series that's used in most North American unis is the New Practical Chinese reader published by the Beijing Language and Culture University press (http://www.blcup.com/en/view_1.asp?s=1&id=3). You can order the books at their website for next to nothing. Make sure you buy the whole package though, which comes with the textbook, workbook, instructor's book (good to give to your tutor), audio cds, and dvd with corny enactments of the dialogues.

I find it extremely well-structured, informative, and occasionally even humourous/fun. Highly recommend it. That said, it's geared towards mainland China so you'll be learning simplified characters and mainland language particulars.

Good luck in your studies.

Oh, and PUT YA STUNNA SHADES UP

[TwinStarLA]

You might want to check out Pimsleur. It is a fun audio course, that actually makes Chinese seem learnable. If you have problems understanding what they're saying, you can "cheat" and look at the scripts online. It is an expensive course, but I was able to borrow it from the library in the US.