drmel Posted December 15, 2009 at 10:46 PM Report Share Posted December 15, 2009 at 10:46 PM Hi guys, I want to get back into studying Mandarin after a few years off but I am not sure what level I should consider myself and therefore what textbooks or courses would be appropriate. At my best (in mid 2004) I reached HSK level 7. I was studying in Beijing and using the second of the "Bridge" textbooks published by BLCU. I'm now back in Australia and haven't really used my Chinese since 2005. Any ideas about what textbooks might be appropriate? There is a local evening college that has Mandarin classes, but the highest textbook level they have is the New Practical Chinese Reader 3. I have never used the series before; would book 3 be a good level to start back at given the long absence or am I likely to be bored within ten minutes? Thanks in advance for your advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topple Posted December 16, 2009 at 01:21 AM Report Share Posted December 16, 2009 at 01:21 AM NPCR 3 is somewhere between the Elementary and Intermediate level. If you reached HSK level 7 then this is probably going to be more of a easy refresher for you. As always, you could take a look at the textbook yourself at the college bookstore and see if its appropriate for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdavid Posted December 16, 2009 at 03:19 AM Report Share Posted December 16, 2009 at 03:19 AM At my best (in mid 2004) I reached HSK level 7. There is a local evening college that has Mandarin classes, but the highest textbook level they have is the New Practical Chinese Reader 3. Level 7 is pretty good, so unless you've lost all of the Mandarin you knew, NPCR will be way too low. Can you drop into the book store and look through the different course books available? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stelingo Posted December 16, 2009 at 11:24 PM Report Share Posted December 16, 2009 at 11:24 PM Why not take a 'look inside' the book at amazon? http://www.amazon.com/New-Practical-Chinese-Reader-Textbook/dp/756191251X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261005792&sr=1-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrbt Posted December 26, 2009 at 03:58 AM Report Share Posted December 26, 2009 at 03:58 AM Princeton has a lot of advanced level books: http://press.princeton.edu/catalogs/series/plpmc.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drmel Posted February 2, 2010 at 04:29 AM Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2010 at 04:29 AM Thanks guys. I've found a school that has classes at the NPCR 5 and 6 level. I think I might try that out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Members PaulPimenta Posted December 6, 2010 at 12:44 PM New Members Report Share Posted December 6, 2010 at 12:44 PM I lived in China last year and have looked at a variety of books by Beijing Language and Culture University and Press, I've found that NPCR is definitely one of the best series' available for studying Mandarin, although I've heard that Book 5 doesn't focus as much on spoken Chinese. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rohityankee Posted January 21, 2011 at 06:10 PM Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 at 06:10 PM anyone of you have NPCR 5 and 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renzhe Posted January 21, 2011 at 06:17 PM Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 at 06:17 PM I have NPCR5, I didn't wait for the sixth volume, and didn't get it once it came out. NPCR5 is heavily based on essays and short stories, there is no dialogue, and the focus is on written language. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meng Lelan Posted January 21, 2011 at 10:11 PM Report Share Posted January 21, 2011 at 10:11 PM I have NPCR 6 which I got in Shanghai last summer. Like NPCR 5, it is also heavily based on stories, essays, poems, articles, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p0mmes_frites Posted January 29, 2011 at 03:55 PM Report Share Posted January 29, 2011 at 03:55 PM What should be our level if we are studying NPCR 5? I am in the beginning chapters of NPCR 5 and have completed all other NPCR levels up to 5. I wonder what is the level considered to be. I guess it is something upper-inter or beginning of advanced, but is it really so in reality? How were your skills when u finished book 5? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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