Conversational Chinese 301

Conversational Chinese 301 is a very good learning material for beginner students of Chinese.

The series consists of two volumes for a total of 40 lessons and 8 reviews. Alongside the books there are six audio CDs and it is possible to buy also the DVDs, although, after checking them, I don't find them as useful as the books and CDs.

The course has a good balance between conversation, grammar, exercises and new words. ...
...enable learners to have simple conversations. I also like the black and white cartoon illustrations in the books.

Each lesson in the books and CDs is divided into six parts:

1. Sentences

They give a "taste" of the subject that will be discussed in the unit. The sentences are between four and eight per unit, written in Chinese characters with translation in pinyin and English.

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Conversational Chinese 301 is a very good learning material for beginner students of Chinese.

The series consists of two volumes for a total of 40 lessons and 8 reviews. Alongside the books there are six audio CDs and it is possible to buy also the DVDs, although, after checking them, I don't find them as useful as the books and CDs.

The course has a good balance between conversation, grammar, exercises and new words. The book is aimed to teach basics of Chinese and enable learners to have simple conversations. I also like the black and white cartoon illustrations in the books.

Each lesson in the books and CDs is divided into six parts:

1. Sentences

They give a "taste" of the subject that will be discussed in the unit. The sentences are between four and eight per unit, written in Chinese characters with translation in pinyin and English.

2. Conversation

The conversations incorporate all of the sentences just learned but without the English translation this time.

At the bottom of some conversations there are notes explaining peculiarities of Chinese grammar.

3. Substitution and Extension

Here the learner can utilise the new expressions and put them into practice. Part of this unit is written only in Chinese characters but some expressions are written in Pinyin, and by listening to the CD the learner can recognise the words and expressions and combine them for everyday conversations.

4. New Words

This is the vocabulary section of the lesson and the words are written in Chinese, Pinyin and English. There are approximately twenty new words per unit.

5. Grammar

Here there are further explanations of the concepts shown in the unit.

6. Exercises

This unit focuses on writing and listening skills with particular attention to the pronunciation of Chinese words and similar sounding words. It also encourages to speak about yourself and people you know using the words you learned before. 

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