I need an Advice on learning materials (NCPR + Pimsleur...whats next?)

[spock]

I really want to learn chinese and because I can't afford private tutoring or even proper language course,about six months ago I have started to learn mandarin on my own. I understand how difficult is to learn chinese without any help but I'm doing my best and I'm trying to spend as much time as possible on studying. And more I learn more I am into it.

I have decided to start with NCPR, I must say that book is very good for learning basic dialogues, characters with stroke orders.I have done first 12 lessons so far.

I'm not a big fan of NCPR's audio so in addition I'm listening to Pimsleur Mandarin and it is great, constant repetition is very effective and I have just managed to finished first part of this course. Recently I've started to feel that something is missing, I think it is the grammar. I am having problems with sentences with 的 and 了and with constructing whole sentences.

I did little searching on this forum and I have found information about two books:

Basic Chinese: A Grammar and Workbook by Yip Po-Ching and Don Rimmington

Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (Essential Grammars) by Yip Po-Ching and Don Rimmington

Is it a good idea to use this books in my situation? are they suitable for beginner??

I would be grateful for your advice on this matter.

B.

[anonymoose]

Basic Chinese: A Grammar and Workbook by Yip Po-Ching and Don Rimmington is a very good book for beginners, and I would highly recommend it. It also has exercises to help you practise and check your understanding.

I wouldn't recommend Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (Essential Grammars) by Yip Po-Ching and Don Rimmington for teaching yourself Chinese. It is a reference book which is useful for checking grammar points if you already know some Chinese, but it is not built up in a systematic and didactic style in the way that the other book is.

[querido]

Hi spock.

Good luck.

I agree with anonymoose.

[spock]

thank you very much guys

[roddy]

Decent textbook, selective use of other resources. Logical. As you'd expect.

[sinosplice]

Definitely also check out the Chinese Grammar Wiki.

First make sure you're familiar with all the A1 grammar patterns:

http://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/A1_grammar_points

Once you've got those down, move on to A2, etc.

http://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/A2_grammar_points

The interconnectedness of the wiki format helps you to see the connections between similar patterns.