Chinese for Dummies
by Wendy Abraham
|
List Price: ££16.99
Our Price: ££9.78
Your Save: £ ( % )
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
Manufacturer: John Wiley & Sons
|
Average Customer Rating:   
|
|
Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 495.1
EAN: 9780471788973
ISBN: 047178897X
Label: John Wiley & Sons
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 384
Publication Date: 2005-10-14
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Studio: John Wiley & Sons
|
|
|
|
|
|
Spotlight customer reviews:
|
Customer Rating:
Summary: A big disappointment
Comment: I am normally a fan of the dummies books, but this one really is of low quality. There are mistakes in the Pinyin transliterations of the Chinese. Now, one or two mistakes in a book is forgiveable, but the number of mistakes in this one is far too high, possibly leaving the reader thinking that they are mistaken rather than the book.
Whilst the CD recording is of a reasonable quality, the book itself is poorly written, and the more subtle points of Chinese grammar are skirted over rather than faced head on.
I do understand, of course, that this is not a textbook written for the academically minded, but I do not believe that that is an excuse for academically poor material.
A reasonable introduction, I guess, to the language, this book is little more than a fuller phrase book. Either get a phrase book, or if you're serious about learning Chinese, get a book that teaches you the characters too.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Someething good, something bad.
Comment: Chinese is a difficult language. After buying and toiling with several different textbooks, I discovered Chinese for Dummies, and had no problem in admitting I belong to the target group.
After a few weeks studying this book, Chinese is still a difficult language. Pronunciation rules for pinyin are explained in part I , in addition the sounds are demonstrated on an accompanying audio CD. Pinyin is in itself a phonetic transcription of Chinese characters. To further phonetically transcibe pinyin into â€English†seems superfluous. However, such phonetic transcription is done throughout the book, after every Chinese word or sentence, which makes reading difficult and adds to confusion A few examples: Qing tian zheige biao (Cheeng tyan jay guh byaow), Ni shuo Yingwen ma? (Nee shwaw eeng one mah). The English transciption in paretheses are just a source of irritation,as are several misprints.
On the positive side I find the choice of subjects for conversations, word lists, points of cultural rules and taboos. However, a claim that one can undergo major surgery without Western anaesthesia, only using acupuncture, is more than dubious.
I would consider the following three books better choices:
Ultimate Mandarin Chinese (Living Language)
Colloquial Chinese (Kan Qian)
Chinese in Three Months (Hugo)
|
|
|
- Ask about this education product "Chinese for Dummies" in the forum
- Give review on this education product "Chinese for Dummies" in the forum
- Search related information in the forum
|
|
|
|
|
| OOEN Referral Program Spotlight |
 | | Connecticut Culinary Institute
Become a successful chef or baker with a degree from the highly respected Connecticut Culinary Institute. Programs are offered in Advanced Culinary Arts or Professional Pastry and Baking. Students at the institute are provided with hands-on training in the fine arts of sautéing, grilling, baking, and creating pastries as well as instructed in garnishing, menu planning, business operations, safety, and kitchen etiquette. The institute also offers students paid externships with the region’s best restaurants. Flexible schedules enable students to attend classes during the day or evening. Extensive career placement services are also offered. | |  | |
 | | Dover Business College
Advance your business, healthcare, or technology career with practical training from Dover Business College. Our entire faculty is dedicated to your success. We work with you to help you choose the career that’s best for you, and help you land the right job with job placement assistance, interviewing and resume-building skills, and more. Take only the classes you need to succeed at your chosen career, and learn the practical skills employers demand. | | | |
 | | ECPI
A tech degree from ECPI means success in the real world. For over 36 years, ECPI has taught courses that focus on the skills employers need. Accredited programs such as Networking, Software Development, or Electronics are available. ECPI has locations in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and online classes. Complete your Tech degree in as little as 16 months. | | | |
|
What is OOEN Referral Program Spotlight?
OOEN provides comprehensive listing of online courses, degree programs, colleges and universities.
Also OOEN provides links to their information request pages; if you want to find out more about any course,
degree program, college or university, you can just fill out the form linked from OOEN and request information.
It is completely free for anyone to request information, and you can request information from as many colleges
and universities as you'd like. We list featured schools and their brief information
in this "OOEN Referral Program Spotlight" section of OOEN Store for Education,
in case that you are interested in taking a class or two or even pursuing degree program
through these featured schools.
|
|
|
