Easy Chinese: Basic Text and Workbook - Mandarin, Level 1 (Books & CD-ROM) [Paperback]

Edward C. Chang (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 4, 2003

Easy Chinese (Mandarin, Level 1) is a self-study course designed for anyone interested in learning the Chinese language using a step-by-step-approach. The program includes a book (Easy Chinese: Basic Text and Workbook) and a CD-ROM (Easy Chinese Tutor). The Easy Chinese Self-Study Program is most appropriate for those who want to learn the Chinese language on their own with the help of a computer; it is also intended for those who are enrolled in a regular class as an enrichment or tutorial program. The Easy Chinese program is noted for the following: teaching Chinese characters, compound words, and sentences that appear most often in modern Chinese publications; emphasizing both reading and writing the Chinese language; employing a systematic and self-paced approach; allowing the learners to learn both traditional and simplified Chinese characters; providing numerous learning tools, examples, sentence patterns, exercises, and self tests; including more than 700 compound words and 1,000 sentences in the first course Easy Chinese: Basic Text and Workbook: Each lesson in the book includes a number of base characters from which many compound words and phrases are formed. Each character set includes traditional and simplified characters, compound words or phrases, pinyin pronunciation guides, and definitions. Except for the first two lessons, each lesson in the first course includes a number of illustrative sentences using words and phrases already introduced. Each set of sentences includes traditional characters, simplified characters, an English translation, and a pinyin pronunciation guide. At the end of each lesson, a variety of exercises are provided to reinforce learning. Both a Chinese index and an English index are included for easy reference. The Easy Chinese Tutor CD-ROM: The Easy Chinese Tutor CD-ROM offers a variety of learning tools, exercises, and tests that are not found in the workbook. Some of the features include: Animated character writing; brief story about each character; templates for printing hollow Chinese characters; using diagrams and boxes to explain sentence structures; pronunciation by a native speaker. System Requirements: Windows 95, 98, or Windows XP; 100 MHZ or faster 4xCD-ROM drive or faster; Speakers.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Edward C. Chang is the translator of How to Read a Chinese Poem: A Bilingual Anthology of Tang Poetry. He is also the author of Walking Into My World of Poetry: A Bilingual Anthology.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Emnes Systems; Book & CD-Rom edition (August 4, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 096616363X
• ISBN-13: 978-0966163636
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 7.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #799,106 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great D.I.Y Way to Learn Chinese!, February 18, 2006

By 

C. Johnson "Hoarder of useless books..." (N.S.W, Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Easy Chinese: Basic Text and Workbook - Mandarin, Level 1 (Books & CD-ROM) (Paperback)

I've been meaning to learn this language for some time now, and finally got around to it by buying a few books about it, here on Amazon. Most books will kick right into the subject going to advanced almost immediately, which makes the learning process very difficult indeed.
This book, Easy Chinese Mandarin, however should definately be on your wish list if you intend to learn this language. I give it a good five stars, simply because it shows the characters in the written language, the pronounciation of the character, and all of its different meanings that go from the most easy of all the characters and then gradually onwards to the more advanced parts in a nice slow and gradual way so that you pace yourself nicely.

The CD-ROM that comes with the book is also an excellent idea. Reading the chinese is one thing, but with all the different phonetics that come with a word are another, and you dont learn this by simply reading off of a book. You actually learn the sounds of the words, you learn how to pronounce it correctly!

I suggest that if you are looking into learning Chinese Mandarin, that you make a start by getting yourself this great book. Enjoy!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Conflicted, August 11, 2007

By 

Goosemeyer (CA, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Easy Chinese: Basic Text and Workbook - Mandarin, Level 1 (Books & CD-ROM) (Paperback)

This is a very difficult review. In the first instance I have to agree with the other reviewer that this is appalling software, totally exhausting a CPU (which, for the non-techs, is absolutely unnecessary). This is especially important because the software is essential to the course, not just an optional extra, and if you use a laptop your fan will be going flat out throughout your lesson which is quite distracting. The interface is also totally modal, like something you would see in the 80s. This gives a very disjointed and inflexible experience.

On the other hand, I really think the course itself is so well designed that it might just succeed in teaching Mandarin to a Westerner, even one with no inherent language ability. It introduces elements in a very deliberate and intelligent way, has most of the content that I had hoped for, and exceeded my expectations.

5 stars for the course design. 0 stars for the accompanying software.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Would I buy it again? - yes, July 16, 2006

By 

Roberto Octavio Galvan Garza "your below than... (Mexico city, Tlalpan Mexico) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Easy Chinese: Basic Text and Workbook - Mandarin, Level 1 (Books & CD-ROM) (Paperback)

First this review is from a beginners point of view, and after looking to buy a chinese "course" among several titles I decided for this book and I do not regret the decision. Now to the review: This book is decent but the software that accompanies it makes it good, do not be discouraged that it is not "excellent", you DO can learn chinese with this book. Firts lets talk about the negative aspects of this book and its CDROM. It focuses on writing and reading and not so much in speaking or hearing. For instance, on the book you barely get any mention of the famous 4 tones of chinese, but in the CDROM you can hear every character of the book and also see a simple diagram of how is the tone pronnounced (like going from a high to low tone ); sadly the pronounciation is not as clear a one would wish and you spend about 3 seconds whenever you want to hear again the last character. This book is not like the one you would find in a formal chinese class, it has no pictures with dialogs and to be honest it is a bit abstract, if you are a good self student then this book is really helpful in learning.
On the good side this book has traditional and simplified forms, the CD shows you how to write the characters and also a has a nice explanation of how many of the characters came to be that REALLY helps to remember them. Also the exercises section of the book is thorough (only with the written chars.) and you know the best way to learn is to practice; I was forgetting, the selection of the characters to learn is very good, you learn popupar characters that let you start recognizing them wherever you read real soon!. My recommendation is to buy two books, not just one, no matter how good people say they are you are better with two sources of information. This book is strong in reading and writing and getting the "idea" of the characters so you should get another that is strong in developing your hearing and speaking abilities.