{"product_id":"first-step-an-elementary-reader-for-modern-chinese-9780691154206","title":"First Step: An Elementary Reader for Modern Chinese","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eFirst Step\u003c\/i\u003e is an elementary Chinese textbook for students with no previous background in the language. Focusing on the basics of modern Chinese phonetics and grammatical structure, the book uses everyday topics to help students establish a solid foundation in the Chinese language. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe textbook, which includes color illustrations, contains thirty lessons, each of which can be covered in a week's worth of classes. Each lesson features a lively dialogue or a short essay, representing a real-life situation, which is then followed by vocabulary lists and grammar notes. Explanatory notes on Chinese culture and customs are also provided. The companion workbook for \u003ci\u003eFirst Step\u003c\/i\u003e is sold separately and includes comprehensive exercises and character writing sheets with information on the stroke orders of newly introduced characters. Free online audio files, accessible on smartphones, tablets, and laptops, allow students to listen to \u003ci\u003eFirst Step\u003c\/i\u003e dialogues and practice their pronunciation at their leisure. This vital audio supplement gives students the chance to learn Chinese intonation with greater accuracy. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eFirst Step\u003c\/i\u003e provides students with the necessary tools to begin practical daily communication in Chinese.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEmphasis is on basic grammar structure and principles\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTextbook features both traditional and simplified characters, pinyin, and English translation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePerforated workbook (which is sold separately) facilitates easy handling of homework\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFree audio recordings of dialogues and other content available online\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAppropriate for college and high school students\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eChih-p'ing Chou\u003c\/b\u003e is professor of East Asian studies at Princeton University and director of the university's Chinese language and Princeton in Beijing programs. \u003cb\u003eJing Wang\u003c\/b\u003e is senior lecturer in Chinese at Princeton. \u003cb\u003eJun Lei\u003c\/b\u003e is a former lecturer in Chinese at Princeton.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Princeton University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50902218604818,"sku":"9780691154206","price":73.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_58a5aafa-296d-4daf-bf16-627ff6785cd1.jpg?v=1738449953","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/first-step-an-elementary-reader-for-modern-chinese-9780691154206","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}