T'ung & Pollard's Colloquial Chinese - Is this the right text and accompanying audio?

[James3]

I'm a beginner, and finally bought a text book, accompanying audio, and character text (after going through Pimsleur for a while) - but now that they're on the way, I'm wondering if someone could please tell me if these 3 go together? (Probably should have asked that before ordering, lol.) Oh, and I want to learn simplified characters.

1. T'ung & Pollard's Colloquial Chinese paperback
ISBN-13: 978-0415018609 ISBN-10: 0415018609
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0415018609/

2. T'ung & Pollard's Colloquial Chinese audio
ISBN-13: 978-0415523417 ISBN-10: 0415523419
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0415523419/

3. Character Text for Colloquial Chinese: Simplified Character Version paperback
ISBN-10: 0950857211 ISBN-13: 978-0950857213
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0950857211/

I've read several people's suggestions on here, saying they're quite fond of T'ung & Pollard's Colloquial Chinese, but I also think I read that there's more than one version of Colloquial Chinese. I'm hoping this audio resource goes with the text, as well as the character text, and that they're the right version.

 

(I searched, but didn't find any posts answering this. But if you know of one, kindly point me in the right direction.)  Thanks.

[LiMo]

I have both of the books and they are the same as mine. From what I can see these are all correct. The version that differs has the same title but a different author, as these are all from T'ung & Pollard I reckon they are the same. 

 

I would hold off on getting the CDs as I have found all the audio available on the internet, I can't remember where but it was on a university website so I assume it was fairly legit. 

 

Good luck!

(assuming I can find it and it gets past moderation I will post a link to the audio)

[James3]

 

I have both of the books and they are the same as mine. From what I can see these are all correct. The version that differs has the same title but a different author, as these are all from T'ung & Pollard I reckon they are the same.

 

Great, I was hoping...but figured it would make sense to double-check. Oh, I had missed that detail, that the new version is by a different author.

 

 

I would hold off on getting the CDs as I have found all the audio available on the internet, I can't remember where but it was on a university website so I assume it was fairly legit.

 

Oh, I didn't realize the audio was available on the web. Okay. I guess I can return the audio if it's available on the web for download.

 

 

Good luck!

(assuming I can find it and it gets past moderation I will post a link to the audio)

 

Thanks LiMo, I appreciate it.

[Pokarface]

Good choice. You ordered the old-school version. My favorite book/CDs. Colloquial Chinese is a little 'hardcore', but I think you'll love it if you study well and apply it
I know which University published it and I have the link. I can post the link if it's okay with everyone or you can look for it in Columbia University In The City of New York (their website. I'm not telling you to go to NY, lol).

Keeping the original CDs is still a good choice because they use different and more vivid voice actors and because of the differences Gharial has compared before (continue scrolling down to find his post)

Update: It's ok to post the link, http://ealac.columbia.edu/language-programs/chinese/clp-learning-materials/clp_lm_colloquial_chinese/

Wow they have a characters book for Colloquial Chinese?! I didn't know that

[James3]

 

Good choice. You ordered the old-school version. My favorite book/CDs.

 

Great! I've been wondering which textbook to get, and finally stumbled upon someone's comments which spoke very highly of it.

 

 

 

Colloquial Chinese is a little 'hardcore', but I think you'll love it if you study well and apply it 

 

Hopefully I'm up for the challenge.

 

 

 

you can look for it in Columbia University In The City of New York

 

Thanks, I'll have a look.

 

 

Wow they have a characters book for Colloquial Chinese?! I didn't know that 

 

Yeah, I discovered that when doing some searches!

[Pokarface]

Wanna see a magic trick?
The legal audio files

http://ealac.columbia.edu/language-programs/chinese/clp-learning-materials/clp_lm_colloquial_chinese/

 

Update: I posted this right after I found that it was okay to do so instead of doing it in my previous post. No harm intended 

[James3]

Nice trick! Thanks!

[Gharial]

I'd advise that you consider keeping the original audio, as the Columbia files that Pokarface has kindly linked to (thus helping me update my bookmarks!) are re-recordings. I commented before on the differences between the recordings (here: http://www.chinese-forums.com/index.php?/topic/33786-books-in-pinyin-through-to-intermediate-level/?p=253060 ), but I've realized it would be helpful to supply a sample of the original audio. Here then is an mp3 of the first lesson:

 

CC Lesson 1.mp3

 

NB: Any deficiencies in this mp3 (e.g. zuotian 昨天 sounds like "botian") are due to the methods I used to capture it rather than the original recording itself (which is actually perfectly clear!). Very briefly, I used Windows Sound Recorder to capture from a Minidisc (a back-up of the original cassette tape) via my PC's microphone socket, then swiftly converted from .wma to mp3 format using Video to Video Converter's audio profiles. Quick n dirty I know, but stuff like Audacity just didn't do it for me, I'm afraid!

[James3]

Gharial thanks for the suggestion. I read your post on the other thread. I'll take a listen and compare. Appreciate the opportunity to compare (as well as your caveat.)

[Gharial]

Another thing worth pointing out is that the Columbia re-recordings don't AFAIK include the original CC's "The Sounds of Mandarin Chinese" section's audio, which is a vital component of the course (and again, very well recorded and executed).