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Tuttle Learning Chinese Characters: A Revolutionary New Way to Learn and Remember the 800 Most Basic Chinese Characters

Aimed at helping students of Chinese learn and remember Chinese characters—including the pronunciation of characters—fast and effectively, Learning Chinese Characters Volume 1 is a systematic study aid to this difficult language.
Designed specifically to ease students into the daunting process of learning Chinese characters, Learning Chinese Characters Volume 1 incorporates the key principle of visual imagery. A book for serious learners of Chinese, it can be used alongside (or after, or even before) a course in the Chinese language. Concise, clear and appealing, this practical guide is well designed and includes an easy-to-use index.

• ISBN13: 9780804838160
• Condition: New
• Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Rating: (out of 48 reviews)

List Price: $ 29.95
Price: $ 16.83

Chinese (Mandarin), Conversational: Learn to Speak and Understand Mandarin Chinese with Pimsleur Language Programs (Simon & Schuster’s)

This Conversational program contains 8 hours of interactive audio-only instruction, effective language learning with real-life spoken practice sessions. HEAR IT, LEARN IT, SPEAK IT® What is the Pimsleur® difference? The Pimsleur Method provides the most effective language-learning program ever developed. The Pimsleur Method gives you quick command of Mandarin Chinese structure without tedious drills. Learning to speak Mandarin Chinese can actually be enjoyable and rewarding. The key reason most people struggle with new languages is that they aren’t given proper instruction, only bits and pieces of a language. Other language programs sell only these pieces — dictionaries; grammar books and instructions; lists of hundreds or thousands words and definitions; audios containing useless drills. They leave it to you to assemble these pieces as you try to speak. Pimsleur enables you to spend your time learning to speak the language rather than just studying its parts. When you were learning English, could you speak before you knew how to conjugate verbs? Of course you could. That learning process is what Pimsleur replicates. Pimsleur presents the whole language as one integrated piece so you can succeed. With Pimsleur you get: Grammar and vocabulary taught together in everyday conversation, Interactive audio-only instruction that teaches spoken language organically, The flexibility to learn anytime, anywhere, 30-minute lessons designed to optimize the amount of language you can learn in one sitting. Millions of people have used Pimsleur to gain real conversational skills in new languages quickly and easily, wherever and whenever — without textbooks, written exercises, or drills. Conversational Mandarin Chinese includes the 10 lessons from Pimsleur’s Basic Mandarin Chinese plus an additional 6 lessons. The 16 lessons in Conversational Mandarin Chinese are the same first

Rating: (out of 30 reviews)

List Price: $ 49.95
Price: $ 22.00

The First 100 Chinese Characters: Simplified Character Edition: The Quick and Easy Method to Learn the 100 Most Basic Chinese Characters (Tuttle Language Library)

The major struggle facing all beginning Chinese language students is to learn to recognize, read and write hundreds of Chinese characters. This book adopt a structural approach that helps students overcome this initial difficulty and quickly master the basic Chinese characters fundamental to this language. Intended for beginning students, The First 100 Chinese Characters: Simplified Character Edition contains carefully selected and sequenced characters for rapid and effective learning. Each Chinese character is shown separately on a single page, along with its English definitions, hanyu pinyin romanization, alternate form, a stroke-order guide and ample writing space.
Two indexes—alphabetical by the English meanings and by pinyin romanization—are provided at the back of each book for quick and easy reference, along with extra sheets of blank boxes for writing practice.

• ISBN13: 9780804838306
• Condition: New
• Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Rating: (out of 14 reviews)

List Price: $ 14.95
Price: $ 7.00

The First 100 Chinese Characters: Simplified Character Edition: The Quick and Easy Method to Learn the 100 Most Basic Chinese Characters (Tuttle Language Library) Reviews

Review by M. Cheung:

I am learning to speak Mandarin but felt I needed more knowledge of the written language to get a more comprehensive feel for the language. I looked around and settled on this one and it was a good choice. It has just enough information for me to learn the character and its meaning as well as some commonly used phrases in which each character appears. It gives ample space to practice the strokes of the character. The characters are also in a type size that makes it easier to read than some other books I’ve looked at.

Review by Nathan Dummitt:

This book is most useful for students with no exposure to the Chinese writing system. After a clear and thorough introduction to the history and development of Chinese characters, students are introduced to 100 basic characters – a nice attainable number for the first year of high school instruction or the first semester at the university level. Each entry includes several example compounds (very important for Chinese, in which disparate characters can be combined discretely to form unexpected words) as well as nice, large boxes for practicing. While the Matthews have made a nice introduction to Chinese characters, more serious students of the language will outgrow it quite quickly. Their newer book Tuttle Learning Chinese Characters Volume 1: A Revolutionary New Way to Learn and Remember the 800 Most Basic Chinese Characters provides several hundred more characters (without the practice space) for the more ambitious.

Nathan Dummitt

author of Chinese Through Tone & Color

Buy The First 100 Chinese Characters: Simplified Character Edition: The Quick and Easy Method to Learn the 100 Most Basic Chinese Characters (Tuttle Language Library) now for only $ 7.00!

Chinese (Mandarin), Basic: Learn to Speak and Understand Mandarin Chinese with Pimsleur Language Programs (Simon & Schuster’s Pimsleur)

This Basic program contains 5 hours of audio-only, effective language learning with real-life spoken practice sessions. HEAR IT, LEARN IT, SPEAK IT® What is the Pimsleur® difference? The Pimsleur Method provides the most effective language-learning program ever developed. The Pimsleur Method gives you quick command of Mandarin Chinese structure without tedious drills. Learning to speak Mandarin Chinese can actually be enjoyable and rewarding. The key reason most people struggle with new languages is that they aren’t given proper instruction, only bits and pieces of a language. Other language programs sell only pieces — dictionaries; grammar books and instructions; lists of hundreds or thousands of words and definitions; audios containing useless drills. They leave it to you to assemble these pieces as you try to speak. Pimsleur enables you to spend your time learning to speak the language rather than just studying its parts. When you were learning English, could you speak before you knew how to conjugate verbs? Of course you could. That same learning process is what Pimsleur replicates. Pimsleur presents the whole language as one integrated piece so you can succeed. With Pimsleur you get: Grammar and vocabulary taught together in everyday conversation, Interactive audio-only instruction that teaches spoken language organically, The flexibility to learn anytime, anywhere, 30-minute lessons designed to optimize the amount of language you can learn in one sitting. Millions of people have used Pimsleur to gain real conversational skills in new languages quickly and easily, wherever and whenever — without textbooks, written exercises, or drills. The 10 lessons in the Basic Mandarin Chinese are the same as the first 10 lessons in the Pimsleur Comprehensive Mandarin Chinese Level 1. The 10 lessons in Basic

Rating: (out of 8 reviews)

List Price: $ 24.95
Price: $ 4.49

Chinese (Mandarin), Basic: Learn to Speak and Understand Mandarin Chinese with Pimsleur Language Programs (Simon & Schuster’s Pimsleur) Reviews

Review by D. Young:

I used Pimsleur’s Basic Mandarin Chinese (which is just the first 10 lessons of Pimsleur’s Mandarin I series) prior to a 10 day visit to China in March 2008 (Beijing and Liaoning provinces). I was aiming to pick up some basic language to help navigate my way around and order in restaurants (I was off the tourist trail some of the time).

Summary: Pimsleur is extremely good, but do NOT get the Basic Mandarin Chinese product. At the very least, get the Conversation Mandarin Chinese product (which is the first 16 lessons of Pimsleur’s Mandarin I series). Here is my reasoning.

I highly rate Pimsleur’s approach to learning Mandarin Chinese. Pimsleur has you listening to native speakers and doing intensive repetition. As a result, you acquire a very good accent – the Chinese people I spoke to on my travels all understood me perfectly, and those who spoke English told me I had an excellent accent. However, the vocabulary in the first 10 lessons is limited, and much is not relevant to the casual traveller. Furthermore, you really need to learn Pinyin if you’re travelling – so you can say place names, etc, correctly in your conversation. Pimsleur discourages this.

Disadvantages:

1. Limited vocabulary – in 5 hours of lessons, and with all the repetition Pimsleur does, you naturally learn a limited set of vocabulary. You don’t even learn all the numbers from 1-10! On the plus side, what you do learn you will know very well and will be able to use in conversation. I’ve written out the complete list of the vocabulary and phrases you do learn below.

2. Vocabulary and phrases not targeted to the causal traveller – the Basic series is just the first 10 lessons of the larger Pimsleur Mandarin I series, the latter of which is geared towards teaching you to speak conversational Mandarin. Many basic phrases useful to travellers are not covered, such as `How much is this?’ – essential for bargaining in markets, or common phrases useful in restaurants, such as `please wait 5 minutes’, `bill please’, or directions such as `turn left/right’.

3. You don’t learn any Pinyin or Chinese characters. Pimsleur worries that if you read Pinyin, you’ll acquire an American accent. I think this is a valid concern, however, to learn additional vocabulary, and read place names and the like, you need Pinyin at some point. My solution was to do the whole Pimsleur series first, and only then learn Pinyin (there are lots of online lessons to learn Pinyin).

Advantages:

1. Great accent.

2. Everything Pimsleur teaches you, you learn, and learn really well. It becomes intuitive. You can and do use it in conversation with native Chinese. Although not everything was relevant to my needs, I was able to order drinks in restaurants and have some basic conversations with taxi drivers.

Recommendation:

If you are going to learn Mandarin Chinese, I highly rate doing one of the Pimsleur series. Chinese is not a language you can learn from a book. But if I were to do it again, I would do the Conversational Mandarin Chinese – the first 16 lessons. The first 10 lessons are insufficient. I suggest you start by doing a Pimsleur series, then once you’re speaking confidently and your accent is pretty good, use online lessons to learn Pinyin/Characters and to extend your vocabulary as needed.

Vocabulary and Phrases taught:

1. Vocabulary: Excuse me, please let me ask, English, Mandarin language, American person, I, you, can (not) speak, to be (am), (yes/no question particle), a little

I can(not) speak English. I am (not) American.

2. Vocabulary: Chinese person, hello, how are you?, (very/not) well, thank you, goodbye

I don’t speak well.

3. Vocabulary: how about (you), but

4. Vocabulary: to understand (the situation), what, road, street, where, located, here, over there

I don’t understand what you’re saying.

You speak Mandarin very well.

Where is Long Piece Street?

College Road is over there.

5. Vocabulary: to eat, to drink, would (not) like, something, to know

I would like to eat something.

Do you know?

6. Vocabulary: my place, your place, when, now, later, to go

Where do you want to go to drink/eat?

7. Vocabulary: tea, beer, (not) OK

8. Vocabulary: restaurant, hotel, lunch, or (for questions), to do, to buy, to want(order), two (glasses), with, whom

I would like to order two beers.

I would like to eat lunch with you.

9. Vocabulary: o’clock, what time, one, nine, eight, or (for statements), impossible

What don’t I understand?

10. Vocabulary: anything, five, three, four, am going to (want to), as for me,

What time is it?

Is it four o’clock?

Review by Doc Dave:

Overall I really like this program, and it’s helping me to learn some Chinese.

Things I like best: 1) They use two speakers, a man and a woman. In my opinion the woman speaks more clearly and I find it easier to hear and repeat after her lines, however having two speakers really helps when you’re having trouble hearing exactly how they are pronuncing something. 2) There is sufficient repetition to really learn the material well.

Things I don’t like about the program: 1) There is absolutely no written material for the course. I understand that the purpose of the program is to teach you how to speak (and not read or write), but how difficult would it have been to include a 1-2 page transcript of the words and phrases that are being taught? They can say all they want about how “that’s not how you learn a language naturally…you do it by listening,”…fine, but I still want to know how the words look in writing. And why hinder the people who want to reinforce their learning through seeing it in print, when it would seem so easy to just throw in a cheap transcript and leave the options to the learner. 2) Although the amount of repetition is warranted, it gets a little frustrating when after an hour or so into the CDs you’re still working on a few variations of a very few sentences. I don’t really fault the program for this however, its just a difficult language to learn I think. I haven’t tried others, so I can’t make comparisons with other products, but overall I think it’s a decent program at a pretty reasonable price.

Buy Chinese (Mandarin), Basic: Learn to Speak and Understand Mandarin Chinese with Pimsleur Language Programs (Simon & Schuster’s Pimsleur) now for only $ 4.49!

Fluenz Version F2: Mandarin 1+2+3 (Win/Mac) with software DVDs, audio CDs, podcasts, and Navigator. Learn Chinese with the latest upgrade.

The only interactive language program featuring real teachers who guide learners every step of the way, explaining in English the intricacies and shortcuts of Chinese. Ideal for those who thrive in a teacher-oriented learning environment, who need to understand how the language works in plain English, and who seek relevant Chinese they can actually use while in China.The team behind the application combines recent Harvard and Cornell graduates, some of whom went to China to learn the language and understand the specific challenges for English-speakers, seasoned Chinese teachers trained in the teaching of Mandarin to non-Chinese learners, and veterans of technology start-ups.Fluenz Mandarin 1+2+3 is composed of 75 full sessions that each include up to two hours and thirty minutes of training. Every session features a set of clear, common sense tools that progressively increase the learner’s range of communication. Instead of endless expressions that follow simple present tense sentences no one really needs (This is an apple, The woman runs), Fluenz builds steadily from useful structures like questions and commands (Where can I get a taxi?, Stop here), and useful vocabulary (restaurants, transportation, directions, etc.) to more and more complex speech. The third level focuses on work-related activities through intensive training with the past tense, the present progressive, subtle forms of description, measure words, conditionals, and strategies for using the right word order.The only interactive Mandarin program offering an immersive environment that recreates the best elements of great one-on-one tutoring. A Great Teacher on Your Computer
Discover Mandarin through the power of two great tutors with the comprehensive 1+2+3 program. The Fluenz custom-made approach guides you in English every step of the way through the challenges of Mandarin, while immersing you in the beauty of Chinese culture. A Proven Track Record
Fluenz’s unique approach is currently being

• The most comprehensive digital program to learn Chinese, Fluenz Mandarin 1+2+3 will guide you in English through the challenges of Mandarin with a proven system.
• Language tutors Yi Wei and Sonia Gil, recent graduates from Harvard and Cornell, will take you every step of the way by recreating a one-on-one tutoring experience that places you in real-world contexts and immerses you in a fascinating culture.
• Fluenz blends beautiful full-motion video with a range of engaging, interactive workouts to improve your reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills — including a recording engine to perfect your accent.
• Fluenz’s unique approach is currently being used by elite units of the US Navy, senior personnel at the UN and UNICEF, executives of Fortune 500 companies, and students at Harvard Business School and other leading universities.
• Includes Mandarin 1+2 and Mandarin 3 DVD-ROMs with a total of 75 sessions that take up to 2 hours and 30 minutes each, two audio CDs for additional training, downloadable podcasts, and the handy Fluenz Navigator for on-the-go referencing of important words and phrases.

Rating: (out of 16 reviews)

List Price: $ 519.00
Price: $ 418.00

Reading & Writing Chinese Traditional Character Edition

Reading and Writing Chinese has been the standard text for foreign students and teachers of the Chinese Writing System since Tuttle first published it over 20 years ago. This new, completely revised edition offers students a more convenient, efficient, and up-to-date introduction to the writing system.

• ISBN13: 9780804832069
• Condition: USED – Very Good
• Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Rating: (out of 47 reviews)

List Price: $ 24.95
Price: $ 13.05

SPEAK E-Z CHINESE In Phonetic English

Now readers can by-pass the complex Pinyin system in favor of user-friendly words and sentences provided in straightforward phonetic English. Packed with humorous slang and favorite Chinese idioms, only SPEAK E-Z CHINESE provides the means to communicate in fresh, contemporary Mandarin at only a glance. Free audio companion offered online at www.CathayCafe.com.

Rating: (out of 19 reviews)

List Price: $ 11.95
Price: $ 10.20

Learn to Write Chinese Characters (Yale Language Series)

An introductory manual for writing Chinese characters specifically designed for English-speaking readers. The author guides the reader through the fundamentals of writing, introduces the various scripts used in China and demonstrates how to write with a fountain pen rather than a brush.

• ISBN13: 9780300057713
• Condition: New
• Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Rating: (out of 16 reviews)

List Price: $ 25.00
Price: $ 7.50

Learn to Write Chinese Characters (Yale Language Series) Reviews

Review by Elbert D. Porter:

This book teaches the principles of sound and beautiful writing – the names of the strokes, the order in which they are written, aesthetic principles, and the common radicals. Then it provides a famous poem to practice with, and a list of a hundred common characters, sorted by frequency of usage. When the simplified character differs from the traditional, both are given. Transliterations are in pin-yin. This is far and away the best book I’ve found for learning to write the characters. I regretted the transition away from this book to other resources, principally because other resources usually use the printed form that ignores the aesthetic principles and turns beauty into ugliness. That sounds harsh, doesn’t it? But it’s true! If you’re going to learn to write, start with this book, so you won’t have to go back later to correct bad habits.

Review by Lisbeth West:

I have just started learning to write Chinese characters and THIS is the holy grail of beiginners’ books. I looked through many listmania and reviews on Amazon.com’s site (thank you ALL!) and decided to start with this primer. As a hands-on learner, I know now why it has been recommended so highly by those who teach, speak, or are just learning the Chinese language.I am reminded of the first days in school when we had to practice writing our ABCs on a tablet with pencil. We wrote those damned letters over and over again, didn’t we? The teacher stood at the blackboard and showed us the best way to make the lines and the order of the “character’s strokes.”This book is the Mrs. Hatfield of my first grade class in Chinese. Each stroke is shown carefully. Each stroke is also shown when it is not written correctly and gives the “name” of the error (eg. “fish hook, etc.)Tao only knows how a Swedish author conceived of and wrote such a wonderful primer to the language. It makes sense, however, that a person whose first language is NOT Chinese would be so specific about the right and wrong way to hold the pen, use the correct posture and table angle, and keep “between the lines.”I don’t get too hard on myself when I can’t make a character look the way they does in the book. I look back at how I wrote my name in first grade and now understand the true meaning of “penmanship”. The author urges the learner to practice each stroke at least one hundred times until you go on to the next stroke. Add them together and you get a beautiful character. Don’t practice each stroke individually over the course of days and many sheets of paper, and the character resemble the rough letters I wrote in my first grade homeworlk.DO NOT attempt to do this at home (learn to write Chinese characters) without this very important primer. It is invaluable, extraordinary, and shows a great deal of thought and study by the author and those who assisted him in compiling this material. I do my 100 + strokes a day. I don’t jump ahead and do what I thought I could do — “Oh that character looks easy, it’s just an upside down Y.”I know this edition will get dog eared and I will probably buy another to replace this text. It has no equal. Aside from the friends in China who supported me and applaud me for learning their language, this small text tells me that I CAN learn a language and fulfill a longtime dream. Hurrah! and thank you, Mr. Bjorksten.from Lodro Dawa, my Buddhist nickname.
(Someday I will learn to write it AND learn its lesson for wisdom in this lifetime.)

Buy Learn to Write Chinese Characters (Yale Language Series) now for only $ 7.50!