European Chinese Language learning Textbooks

[yellowpower]

Hi there

curious to know what chinese language textbooks are used in Europe (England, France, Denmark, Germany, etc), are they publications from North America and China primarily?

Was wondering who are some European publishers of textbooks for learning Mandarin at the intermediate to advanced level (and I'm not referring to Berlitz or Living Language). Can anyone share the name of the textbooks and publishers used in some European universities and their learning experiences with them.

Thanks.

[Erbse]

In Germany there are several books, but I want to point out "Chinesisch für Deutsche 1" 978-3875483840 and the follow up "Chinesisch für Deutsche 2" 978-3875484496. I think they are pretty good.

[edelweis]

University level textbooks in French: I know only of some beginner and intermediate books, never inquired about higher level since I'm barely past beginner myself. The references below are for university students who major in Chinese.

"C'est du chinois" by Monique Hoa (careful: not "C'est du chinois pour tous", which is a watered down version). This textbook has 4 volumes: two levels of "writing and reading" and two levels of "speaking and listening" (the latter are all pinyin , include lots of grammar and exercises and come with CDs). Each level is generally studied in one university year. So the 4 books take two years to study if you're a beginner intending to major in Chinese. (The Chinese Cultural Center also uses these books, but at only 1.5 class hours per week they require 6+ years to finish).

The title is the popular joking expression "C'est du Chinois" (it's all Chinese to me), but these are serious dense textbooks with lots of vocabulary, complete separation of written and spoken aspects (which some find a big advantage pedagogically since the speaking basics do not match the writing basics), cultural tips, optional Traditional characters vocabulary and texts in the "reading and writing" textbooks, and some different fonts and handwriting so that you get used to reading semi-cursive etc.

They are edited by You Feng (in addition to publishing books, they also have a bookshop in Paris with lots of books both imported and published in France).

1st level books

2nd level books

"Méthode de chinois premier niveau" by Wu Yongyi, Liu Hong, Isabelle Rabut. This is the textbook used at the INALCO - Langues'O (National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations). It's for beginners, who are supposed to study it in one year called "Initiation" before starting the Chinese major proper. (The Chinese major at INALCO is not for beginners). I have no details about it except that it is physically heavy (un pavé) and probably intense, since you're supposed to catch up on people who have studied Chinese in middle and high school.

Like "C'est du chinois" it includes both simplified and traditional characters. (students are supposed to learn to read both and write one, which they choose for themselves).

There are also some university-level grammar books in French such as "Elements fondamentaux de la phrase chinoise" etc.