Chinese Language Learning eBooks (English)

Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar: A Student's Guide to Correct Structures and Common Errors
Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide
Jimmy Du's Essential Chinese
Talking about Chinese culture. Vol I-II

Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar: A Student's Guide to Correct Structures and Common Errors
Here is a concise guide to supplement any course of study and help with homework, travel, and test preparation. Topics include word order, time, nouns, verbs, adjectives, word choices with verbs and adverbs, and letter writing. The simple format has one goal: quick mastery and growing confidence.Qin Xue Herzberg, a graduate of Beijing Normal University, has taught Chinese for decades and has been an upper-level Chinese professor at Calvin College for ten years.Larry Herzberg did his PhD work in Chinese and founded the Chinese language programs at Albion College and Calvin College.Qin and Larry live in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and are co-authors of the popular China Survival Guide as well as the recently released Chinese Proverbs and Popular Sayings.

Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide

Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar is an innovative reference guide to Mandarin Chinese, combining traditional and function-based grammar in a single volume.
Divided into two sections closely linked by extensive cross-references, it covers:
traditional grammatical categories such as phrase order, nouns, verbs and specifiers
language functions and notions such as communication strategies, giving and seeking information, expressing apologies, regrets and sympathies.
With all grammar points and functions richly illustrated with examples, and a strong emphasis on contemporary usage, the main features of this Grammar include examples in simplified characters, traditional characters, and romanization (Pinyin) as well as an emphasis on areas of particular difficulty for learners of Mandarin Chinese.This is the ideal reference grammar for learners of Mandarin Chinese at all levels, from elementary to advanced. No prior knowledge of grammatical terminology is assumed and a glossary of grammatical terms is provided. Featuring related exercises and activities, this Grammar is accompanied by the Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar Workbook.


Jimmy Du's Essential Chinese
As the first self-teaching course in Jimmy Du's Natural Language Works, Jimmy Du's Essential Chinese is an audio-companion book specially designed to help you master Mandarin Chinese in the shortest time possible. The promise is that you will simply "pick it up" if you just spend a little time following this course while relaxing at home, taking a walk, commuting to work or travelling. You don't have to sit in a classroom, consult the dictionary, study grammar or do any written exercises. This least-effort principle is based on the understanding that we human beings all have an innate aptitude for picking up any human language, native or foreign. All you have to do is keep listening to what you can immediately understand, imitate, and put to use. For the highest efficiency, we have provided easy-to-understand explanations and translations of everything in the text. The text contents are carefully selected so that they will not only serve as a basis for you to expand your vocabulary, but also help you learn the nature of the Chinese language and how it works.

Talking about Chinese culture. Vol I-II
Volume I of Talking about Chinese Culture has all-total 10 lessons, which introduce some common Chinese cultural phenomenon such as the ways of greeting and etiquette, human relationship, modesty and courtesy, the concept of classes, as well as some typical characteristics of Chinese people such as implicitness, self-pride, focus on spiritual power, less care of benefit, implied meaning beyond words, etc. A variety of language practicing drills in each lesson provide trainings for acquiring Chinese words, grammar, sentences , expressing in monologue, and discussions with given cultural topics。 All of these help the Chinese language learners consolidate what they’ve learned, train their speaking abilities, and at the same time help the learners gain initial understanding of Chinese customs and cultural essence.

Volume II of Talking about Chinese Culture has all-total 10 lessons. In coherence with Volume I, it introduces the taboo topics, gestures and body language in communication with Chinese, the concept of conformity and family, the merit of respecting the old, and some characteristics of Chinese people such as forbearing, good balancing and coordination, etc, as well as the change of contemporary society and the fast-pace life. A variety of language exercises provide trainings for acquiring Chinese words, grammar, sentences , expressing in monologue, and discussions with given cultural topics. All of these help the Chinese language learners consolidate what they’ve learned, train their speaking abilities, and at the same time help the learners gain initial understanding of Chinese customs and cultural essence.