Customer Reviews

Integrated Chinese: Simplified Characters Textbook, Level 1, Part 1

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

(This review is for the 3rd Edition textbook).

I've used several Chinese textbooks, and this one is by far the best. It is very intelligently written, with clear explanations of grammar and usage, and great dialogues and exercises. Unlike the majority of drab Chinese textbooks, this one is a pleasure to read - attractive to look at, with colour and some photos and illustrations. Also great are the "Culture Highlights" at the end of chapters which give more information about language in a cultural context. The book contains the following topics: Greetings, Family, Dates and Time, Hobbies, Visiting Friends, Making Appointments, Studying Chinese, School Life, Shopping, Transportation.

Overall an excellent beginning textbook which I can highly recommend to anyone who wishes to or is already studying Chinese. Along with the supplements (Audio CDs and Multimedia DVDs - which I cannot attest to), it would be highly appropriate for self-study.

This is by far the best way to begin learning Mandarin Chinese. I just finished my second semester of Mandarin at the University of Missouri and have used both part 1 and part 2 of level 1 Integrated Chinese (simplified). Having tried other "over the counter" books from Borders or Barnes & Noble this is without a doubt the best way to get started. Other books that promise a quick, easy, and fun way to learn Chinese are rarely worth the money. This text has all of the above without promising to make you fluent while driving to work.

It's very important to start learning this language in the proper way and this is the only book that set a good foundation for me. The vocabulary is always useful and the grammar explanations are easy to comprehend. The authors also publish a workbook and character exercise book that are indispensable to beginning Chinese. Couple this series of books with a good instructor and the language is fun, interesting, and not near as hard as everyone makes it out to be.

I would recommend this book (and its workbooks) to anyone wanting to learn Chinese even if you aren't taking it as a class somewhere. The only other thing you'd need to go with these books is a native Chinese speaker to help with your pronunciation! Good luck!

I have studied multiple languages over the last few years and I can honestly say that this is the worst series of books I have come across in the classroom setting. There are many things that don't work well with the workbook (a separate book for practice and exercises). In the workbook (which is by the same people and supposedly follows this textbook specifically) there are often questions and structures that you cannot put together with the information provided previously in the textbook. Also, there are quite a few characters and translations needed by the workbook that do not exist in the dictionary in the back of the book. This book also does not follow a very logical sequence as far as vocabulary content. It isn't until the second book in the series that you even learn the words for left and right or any directional vocab. Every time I attempt my homework for this class I am greatly frustrated with the lack of examples in the textbook.

That being said there also doesn't seem to be a good textbook in existence for learning Mandarin as an English speaker.

I first started using this series in my 3rd year of college. At first, I felt like a little kid, because it has drawings and characters and it tries to teach Chinese in the form of a story. But after 2 semesters with this series, I actually rather warmed up to the format. You view a lot of material, but you don't even feel it. And the stories are compelling. I like the story between Li You and Wang Peng, not to mention, it's a really clever take on two phrases! Although, I always did want Bai Yin Ai to end up with Wang Peng, just because they look good together. Then again, I haven't read the 2nd level, so I don't really know if they do! Let's see! Anyway, I do recommend this series, it's really good, you cover a lot of material, and it makes learning Chinese way more fun than it actually is. To the person complaining about how the information in the workbook doesn't add up to the information in the text, it does, but you have to skip forward. So if you're doing Chapter 2 in the workbook, because naturally, you read Chapter 2, and you don't know what to do, because the information you need is not in Chapter 2, then go on and look for the answer further ahead in the book. Usually, what you will need will be in the following chapter. I realized this after a few times. It's weird, but I guess it's also meant to challenge you to think.

I ordered this book to help my daughter catch up during the summer with the class she will be joining in the fall. It was exactly what she needed.

I've just bought this book as we are using it in a Chinese learning group which I have joined. My Chinese language level is above Level 1 Part 1 but I still can learn several things from this book and are sure to buy the higher levels of this book as I am very positive impressed about the great structure and high quality of this book.

I used this book (consistently and with the recordings that you buy separately) to learn Chinese for my first year of college in America and just received a full scholarship to attend Fudan University for a year (the M.I.T. of China) this book is the right material to study. Its up to you to put in the work. Also, all the Chinese people I try to talk to are extremely impressed. Do work.

I only purchased this book b/c it was the one the instructor required. It's not very good as the flow is not intuitive. Not recommended if you're looking to learn on your own. OK if used as part of a class.

This text was recommended by a university professor who is Chinese. She and her friends suggest Integrated Chinese to all those who ask. I can see why. The goal of each study section is explained clearly and with the disks (which much be purchased separately) you can have immediate practice sessions.

I got this book for a college class and it's pretty good for beginners to learn from. Most of the vocabulary is very helpful since applicable to everyday life. They are essential to every language and everyday use. The dialogues are pretty helpful in understanding how words are used, but the main problem I found was the grammar. Basic grammar and sentence structure was good, but my professor told me that the certain use of words in the book is used incorrectly. It creates sentences that are "awkward" in Chinese. Other than that, I would suggest to pick up this book as a review or even a first time learner.