Practical Chinese Reader I [Paperback]

There is no propaganda in these books... and if it seems like there is, it only reflects the overlooked obvious fact that Communism has permeated all facets of life in China including the culture and overall outlook on life, not to mention that the Commercial Press is a state owned enterprise and that these books were composed long before the recent commercial and societal reforms, both of which have been questionably beneficial to China despite Western approval. Many of the images do recall the nineteen seventies, but with the recent retro-revival style trend that began in the early to mid-1990s, they are now more delightful than they are distasteful. The typography is excellent; the books were actually typeset by metal press rather than typewritten. The print quality is not terrible, but for improved quality, there are editions printed in Hong Kong with bleached paper (or high grade off-white paper), richer inking, and sturdier binding. These are more difficult to find unless one has a good Chinese bookshop in the area. The paper used in the Mainland produced editions is unbleached natural pulp based paper; it is somewhat better than newsprint despite how it looks. I have had the original edition for more than ten years without a problem with the binding.

The Pracitcal Chinese Reader series is available in Arabic, French, Spanish, German, and Russian editions, and probably not as widely distributed as the English series is outside of China. There are tapes available from a company in San Francisco, but I would advise against it as the speakers are not native Northern Chinese speakers. Audio supplements are generally not provided for Asian and African languages as they are for most European languages. The best bet is to find native speakers from Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei province, and so forth, or to watch or listen to Chinese Central broadcasts via satellite television or internet radio as the standard is specifically Northern based. VCD format of well-produced television series - Chinese telenovelas - from China are now available; there is ample dialogue, scenes of Chinese life, and subtitles in Chinese for those who need them (non-speakers, the deaf, and students). Be warned that overseas Chinese may not be a good barometer or a way of comparing your progress as the majority of them come from areas that do not naturally speak Northern Chinese, or areas that speak a highly mutated form of it from inundation by Southern Chinese languages. Moreover, the level of language that these books instruct may be more elevated, cultured, and intellectual in flavour than one would encounter from overseas Chinese who were not raised or educated under the PRC system.

Overall, I highly recommend this series as one of the best ways to begin studying Chinese and to advance solidly in the language. Equip yourself with a good dictionary, a guide to master handwritten Chinese («Learn to Write Chinese Characters» by Johan Bjorksten, Yale, is spot on), and a few Chinese friends, and you will be on your way to linguistic success. Also, remember to practise, practise, practise. Chinese is not a difficult language to learn as many of the myths about the language would have us to believe, but the key lies in devoting time to practise it. Good luck!...