This book has a good command of the rules of pinyin, giving you a solid foundation on Chinese phonetics.
I like this one, and I’m sure most of you will, too.
You’ll understand the pronunciation of each character and the difference in the tones used. There are dialogues and grammar explanations in every lesson. This way, you’ll familiarize yourself with the lessons’ practical side.
The advantage of using this book is that you’ll understand all the vocabulary in-depth.
Other books in the list provide sample sentences for select characters only, but with this book, you’ll know how each character can be used in a sentence.
The best part is that you can use all the characters introduced here in your everyday life. Thus, it lived up to its title as “practical.”
With this book, you’ll learn around 600 basic Chinese characters, how they are used in a sentence and character pronunciation using pinyin.
But if you’re looking for complete background information on the tones and the Chinese culture, I suggest you skip this one and choose the first book on the list.
But what’s nice about this is that the notes on grammar are brief but clear. There are sample dialogues and exercises included, which will teach you a lot about the Chinese language.
Here are a few reasons why it’s worth checking out textbooks.
A good textbook…
Provides you with a framework for learning. If you’re trying to learn Chinese for the first time, you probably don’t know where to start. Chinese textbooks give us much-needed guidance that we may not have access to without a teacher. These help us start with the fundamentals and guide us to expound on that knowledge, allowing you to learn Chinese one step at a time.
Helps you be familiar with the characters. Chinese is one of the most beautiful languages in the world because of its unique set of characters. But this is also why a beginner might find it challenging to grasp everything. Most textbooks will teach you the importance of each stroke, like how a character’s meaning can change by removing part of it.
Teaches you the basics of pronunciation. One of the trickiest parts of learning Chinese is the word difference. Unlike other languages that use the English alphabet, it has a completely different writing system. The good news is basic Chinese books have a corresponding pinyin of the characters, so you’ll learn how to pronounce each character using English letters.
Enables you to appreciate the characters. With books, you’ll notice how each character is written, allowing you to learn to appreciate the wisdom behind the writing. Every character is properly derived from the real thing. For example, 口 (kŏu) is written like an open mouth and 人 (rén) looks like a walking stick person.
Follows your desired pace in learning. In contrast to having a tutor or enrolling in a program, books provide an avenue for learning at your desired pace and level. Some of us find it difficult to learn a new language while others are still unsure if they’re serious about this. So books are the best way to get started, as you don’t have to abide by a strict schedule or feel pressured.
Tips on Learning Through Chinese Textbooks
Now that we’ve set those fears aside, here are a few tips to keep in mind.
Follow the sequence. I’m sure some of you would want to skip the primary lessons and go straight to phrases that you can use in your business or travels. But don’t. You’ll find it harder to understand the characters. It’s best to start with the basics and follow the flow of the textbooks, as understanding the root words and the vocabulary first will help you better understand the other words.
Learn the ABCs of Chinese. Before you learn the Chinese characters, get to know the alphabet first. Learn the sounds and the intonations through pinyin or Zhuyin.
Do the exercises. Most textbooks have accompanying workbooks or exercises at the end of the chapters, so take advantage of them!
Practice. Once you’ve mastered the basics, use what you’ve learned in your daily life. This will help motivate you to learn more.
Consider a variety of books. Different textbooks offer different advantages, and you can sometimes benefit from using more than one. Or, use a textbook alongside more specialized learning books. This is made easier with electronic learning materials and platforms, like Chinese e-books.
Learn five words a day. Learning is never done overnight. You’ll remember the words better when you learn a few of them per day. And when five words become too easy, add a few more to your daily word goal!
Don’t stop at just textbooks. Textbooks provide you with a much-needed stepping stone toward your goal of mastering the language. But they’re only a part of your learning, and studying exclusively with them will leave your skills uneven.
The best way to learn with textbooks is to accompany them with real Chinese media. This way, the textbook will teach you the concepts, while the media will help you understand how to actually use them like a native speaker.
For instance, you can learn about a certain sentence construction in your textbook, then look for it in a Chinese novel. Or you can take those five new words you learned and see them used in context with FluentU’s library of over 1,000 authentic Chinese videos.
So there you have it. Remember these tips, keep a positive attitude and start reading these Chinese textbooks.
