Starting Chinese with NPCR

[Kherith]

Hello everyone,

 

I read through the forum what are supposed to be the best ways to handle Chinese language and I did not find a convenient answer. There are some pieces of well-written articles but I found that it did it not suit my expectations.

 

From what I have read, the best textbook to learn Chinese is the NPCR. Thus, what should I buy ? I think there is a textbook and a workbook for each volume. Is there something else ? Is the audio part included  in the textbook ?

 

I also would like your opinion on how to start. Should I focus on pinyin, grammar, vocabulary or does the order of learning depend on myself ?

 

Do you have any other recommendations on resources to use along with the NPCR ?

 

And finally, do you know what level I can expect reaching after thoroughly studying each volume ? (After vol 1, after vol 2... ?) + ccan you estimate how much time woul be needed for one volume ? Even if I know that it varies a lot depending on people.

Thank you very much.

[icebear]

I would rather suggest the Road to Success （成功之路）. It's advantage over other series (I think) is many more books in the series which allows for a more gradual progression with stronger reinforcement, at least through the intermediate level. I also find the grammar and exercises more thorough and compelling, which is a challenge with these sorts of books.

[Kherith]

Anyone having an opinion on Road to Success/NPCR ?

Icebear, could you give me more info on how to study chinese with this series of book for a beginner like me ?

[icebear]

could you give me more info on how to study chinese with this series of book for a beginner like me ?

Work through the lessons, flashcard the words, get familiar with the characters, listen to the mp3s, do the exercises, review all with a tutor for about an hour a lesson.

Do a lesson every 3-7 days. Don't get hung up on reviewing old lessons too much - just push ahead. Later lessons will reinforce what you've seen already.

After a book you should be ready for grade readers. Halfway through the series switch from graded readers to native content.

Don't get hung up on what you don't know.

[Kherith]

Is there the right amount of each (vocab, grammar, writing etc) in each lesson or should I adjust with something else you think ?
"After a book" means after the Threshold book ?
As for a tutor, I have some chinese friends, I guess they can help me.

Thank you very much for your help ;)

[Ania]

I actually started with NPCR a year ago and I really liked it. I like the fact that there are exercises in the book, but we still get a workbook For me reinforcement is very important. I haven't seen the first volume of Road to Success, but right now I'm working with RtS Elementary and I really like it as well. NPCR and RtS are actually pretty similar in their format, so I think you should be fine whichever one you choose. 

 

I really didn't have any specific manner in which I aproached the book. I just listened to/read the texts, did all the exercides etc. I;m sure that I don't remember every single word that was in the book, but I'm not a fan learning words by heart, so i'll learn them next time I see them

[John Zhouran]

I use the NPCR books at the Confucius Institute and have become accustomed to their style and approach.  I like the text but due to a lack of detailed explanation would not recommend them to self learners. However they are probably the most widely used text, and I have also attended short courses in China that follow the text and recommended the book for its grammar section at the end of each chapter. The other advantage for me is it correlates strongly with the HSK test. While the order of words is not identical because of the books dialogue, I have found it matches the mock tests in style and context. The 2^nd addition of the NPCR has a improved layout, and updated diagrams.

[Kherith]

Is it better to take the 2nd edition books ? Because I want to order online on a website and they only have the 1st edition OR the 2nd edition textbook with the 1st edition workbook. It wouldnt match if I take different editions right ?

 

EDIT: AH, I also thought about buying "Tuttle Learning Chinese Characters" what do you thinkof that ? Sounds good according to what I read on the forum.

Anyway, I have the feeling that Road to Success might suit me more but since I didnt have the chance to really check to content and NPCR is more popular Im afraid to make a mistake if I use RtS. What is more, I like that there is a workbook for NPCR, which is not the case for RtS I think ?

[John Zhouran]

I have both editions of the first book in the NPCR series. The 2nd Edition uses better graphics and shading and which helps when your staring at the text  for long periods. The second edition also comes with 1 CD where as the first edition has a few CD's but with the same content. Check if it is included if you are buying it from a bookshop.  Quick check of both editions suggests the text is the same, so the 1st edition workbook will match the 2nd edition text.

[Kherith]

Ok I will buy onliny so won't be able to check. Thus I guess I can buy 1st edition workbooks with 2nd edition textbooks, thanks

[Ania]

One more thing about the audio for NPCR - the first edition has regular audio CDs, while the 2nd one has mp3 audio (which is why only 1 CD is needed). Not sure if it makes any difference for you, but I thought I'd mention that. 

 

And yes, one advantage of NPCR is that it has a seperate workbook, which is very important for self-study. I found it very useful and I still plan on getting NPCR 2 after I'm done with RtS Elementary. 

[Kherith]

Thank you everyone. I decided after reading your answers and look up a bit more to start with:

- NPCR vol. 1&2 (textbook + workbook)

- Tuttle Learning Chinese Characters (any opinion on this ? Good/ Useful ?)

 

And I think I should add a grammar book, I was thinking of Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar. Any opinion on this or another grammar book ?

 

Any other  suggestion to start ?

Thank you very much, I guess these are my last questions before I officially start

[PBolchover]

I also like "Road to Success".  I don't have experience of the early books, but the Elementary and Upper Elementary are very good.  The texts in Upper Elementary are about different aspects of Chinese culture, history, legends etc, which I much prefer to the "adventures of foreign-language students in China".

 

Of course, it is always possible to switch book series, after e.g. books 1 and 2 of NPCR.

[Ania]

Of course, it is always possible to switch book series, after e.g. books 1 and 2 of NPCR.

 

Or you could even go through two books which are in theory at the same level. For example apart from NPCR 1 I studied three more abslute beginner books and each and every one of them taught me something different, had a slightly different approach etc. Of course after finishing one, the first chapters of the second one were just a simple revision, but further chapters covered completely different vocabulary, different aspects of grammar etc. I intend to do exactly the same with elementary books - after I'm done with RtS Elementary, I might get NPCR 2, because I'm sure there is still a bunch of things which I can learn even having covered another book at the same level. Plus since I'm studying on my own, it will help me reinforce some things/words that I already studied, but might not remember. 

[Kherith]

Hello,

 

I received today my books which all look great. I just have one question: does anyone have the content of NPCR 2/3/4/5/6 (2nd edition)? I cant find the summary anywhere online, I would like to get it in order to have a guideline of what is coming next. Thank you !

[SiMaKe]

Follow the link below to see the table of contents for Vol 2, 3, 4 original edition. The newer editions are not much different.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Chinese-Textbook-English-Mandarin/dp/7561911297

 

Vol 2 is on top - click Look Inside 

Vol 3, 4 are near the bottom in the section:

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