Textbooks (And Other Resources) Suggested For Overseas-Born Chinese

[Festus Magnus]

Hi all,

 

I'm afraid a judicious search of this wonderfully informative forum hasn't turned up a suitable thread pertaining to my context - if there is, please do point me in the right direction!

 

I myself, while ethnically Chinese, was born overseas (specifically Australia). I have a very light grasp of spoken Chinese as both my parents speak it fluently, but due to a lack of concentrated effort in my youth to learn the language properly, my abilities in Chinese are sorely lacking. While I can engage in a dry conversation about the weather, my vocabulary is wholly unacceptable for engaging in deeper conversation - though my pronunciation is impeccable from what native-born Chinese have told me. In connexion, I have no knowledge whatsoever of written Chinese.

 

I am, however, well versed in learning other languages: I'm fluent in Classical Greek and Latin, with a reasonable grasp of Classical Hebrew and Modern Greek. I don't anticipate that learning Modern Standard Chinese will be as much of a learning curve for others who may not have learnt other languages in addition to their own native tongue.

 

I've borrowed a textbook from a friend titled 'Integrated Chinese' by Liu and Yao. The book is quite good. However, I've noticed that it's focussed mostly on spoken Chinese in everyday circumstances, whereas I'd like to bone up on grammar and reading comprehension as much as I can. In this case, is there any recommendations on textbooks (or other resources) that I may use on the side? Especially in the grammar, I'm much more at home with deductive grammars than inductive, and the more rigorous it is the far more I'll be at ease.

[Shelley]

Have a look at these two posts

http://www.chinese-forums.com/index.php?/topic/48925-best-grammar-book/

http://www.chinese-forums.com/index.php?/topic/48918-share-your-study-planschedual/

 

If you are well versed in English grammar and its terminology i would recommend Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar and the workbook that goes with it.

 

Although you may feel its a bit too basic I would start with the first lesson in New Practical Chinese Reader and work through the lessons and the work books, because this means you will ensure you don't have any gaps which can cause problems later on.

 

You may also find this interesting http://www.chinese-forums.com/index.php?/topic/48842-edex-course-chinese-language-learn-basic-mandarin/

 

Hope you enjoy your Chinese language learning journey

[simc]

You could try the Zhongwen series - they are targeted at overseas Chinese teenagers.

http://www.hwjyw.com/textbooks/downloads/zhongwen/

Do you really need a textbook? Acquiring vocab is best done with reading a lot. Perhaps you could try to bring your reading up to the same level as your speaking and then try to read what you are interested in using a dictionary.

[msittig]

The Zhongwen series is better suited to young learners.

[Sandlin]

As for grammar, I really like a book called Side by Side Chinese & English Grammar.  Side by Side is a series that presents comparative grammar lessons in the target language using native language as a base.  I have this in French-English as well.  Both are excellent.  (at times the SxS C-E book overuses 个 as a measure word where a better one would be do.  For example, it will use 一个电影 instead of more properly,  一部电影.）