Practical Chinese Reader 1. Elementary Course.

This is the new textbook prepared by the Beijing Languages Institute for use by foreign learners in a course of modern Chinese at universities or secondary schools. The beginning level consists of two volumes with 50 lessons and a vocabulary of 1.000 basic words. The situations provided in the reader center around two foreign students who study Chinese first in their own country (Book I) and then in China (Book II) Book Ill and IV of Practical Chinese Reader consist of 30 lessons with a vocabulary of some 2,000 words and expressions and are intended for foreign learners of modern Chinese at an intermediate stage. In order to enable the learners to gain a deep understanding of Chinese and to improve the ability to communicate in the language, the text of each lesson focuses on a subject of interest to the learners. The topics include history, education, economy, medicine, sports, literature and art, newspapers and broadcasting, marriage and family life, scenic spots and historical sites etc. In addition to the text and dialogue, each lesson has explanatory notes of words and phrases and also include various types of exercises.