Dialogues/Texts with full English translation?

[HedgePig]

I'm looking for good self-study resources. I recently bought NPCR 2 and going through the 1st couple of lessons hasn't left me too impressed, although there are aspects I do like. Part of the problem may be that I'm just not familiar yet with NPCR's approach. However; I feel the need for a full English translation of the text, rather than explanations of just the key points. While I've found the first 2 lessons fairly easy, I'd like to know for sure that I'm understanding them correctly and I am not mistranslating something. I also found the grammar explanations very confusing. (I mean I understand the grammar but because I've come across it elsewhere.)

If anyone has any suggestions for textbooks (around NPCR 2 level or a little higher) particularly ones suitable for self study, I'd like to hear.

Regards

HedgePig

[Don_Horhe]

Check out Sinolingua's (华语教学出版社) Contemporary Chinese series (当代中文). They come in 4 levels, each one consisting of a textbook, exercise book, teacher's book and CD. If my memory serves me right, texts and vocabulary are given in characters (both simplified and traditional), Pinyin and English.

[HedgePig]

Thanks for the suggestion Don. I'll look out for this series.

I'm going to continue with NPCR for a while longer and see if I "get into it" but I think I'll miss the full English translation once things become a bit more difficult. So far NPCR 2 is largely presenting material I know with some new vocabulary. However, I don't mind this as the reviewing is still good for me.

Regards

HedgePig

[imron]

Not a textbook as such, but how about this. Dozens of short interviews with native speakers covering a variety of backgrounds and topics, with traditional, simplified, pinyin, english and a video clip for each one.

It covers a variety of difficulty levels, but you should be able to work through it quite easily on your own given all the different options they provide.

[HedgePig]

Thanks imron - I'd seen that site before but forgotten about it. I think it's a little bit (a lot?) above my level but it's exactly the kind of thing that I'm looking for. I might try one or two easier ones and see how it goes.

Regards

HedgePig