CD

Published: 28/03/2008

Extent: 5 Hrs

Series: Michel Thomas Series

 

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Summary:

Learn another language the way you learnt your own

You learnt your own language naturally and enjoyably: now you can learn Mandarin in the same way.

You’ll stick with it because you’ll love it

· Use the unique method perfected over fifty years by the celebrated psychologist and linguist Michel Thomas.

· This method works with your brain, helping you to build up your Mandarin in manageable, enjoyable steps by thinking out the answers for yourself.

· You learn through listening and speaking – without the pressure of writing or memorising.

· You pick up the language naturally and unforgettably.

 

The NEW Mandarin Chinese Advanced Course

• Learn another language the way you learnt your own

• Effective method - the Michel Thomas Method of language teaching works with the brain

• Motivating - live classroom situation with two students encourages you to learn with the students on the recording
• All-audio - the way you want to learn
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  Revolutionary kinaesthetic method for teaching Mandarin tones

• Pronunciation is gently - but effectively - corrected

• Reference booklet - accompanying booklet lists key phrases in English and Mandarin (transliterated script)

• Suite of progressive and complementary course components: Introductory, Foundation, Advanced, and Vocabulary

• Sales record - the hugely successful Michel Thomas Method is applied to Mandarin.

Table of Contents:
Emphasizing plurals: ‘xie’ - pluralizer. Used with ‘zhè’, ‘nà’, ‘na’, ‘yí’.
Using a verb to specify what is being done as well as a general action: ‘chi’ + something pattern; cf. ‘kàn’ + something pattern. ‘chi fàn’ = ‘eat (food)’
Indicating suggestion: ‘ba'. 'We go Beijing, ba' = 'Let's go to Beijing.'
Filler words: 'hao', 'duì' indicate 'OK'. Usually repeated: 'hao, hao' or 'duì, duì'.
Indicating quality: 'hao' +'verb = 'good to': 'hao chi' = 'good to eat' = 'tastes good'; 'hao kàn' = 'good looking'; 'you yìsi' = 'have meaning' = 'interesting'
'è' = '(to be) hungry' (adjective verb)
Time of day: ‘jin tian’ (‘today’), zuó tian (‘yesterday’), míng tian (‘tomorrow’); ‘wan’ = ‘evening’; ‘wan fàn’ = ‘supper, dinner’.
‘when’ (i.e. ‘at what time’): ‘shénme shíhòu'
The most basic way to describe something: add 'de' to describing phrase (cf. English 'that / who / which'); 'whose' = 'shéi de'
Asking or expressing meaning: use ‘yi si’ = ‘meaning’
'jiào' = 'is called'
'huà' = 'spoken language, speech'; ' diàn huà' = 'electrical speech' = 'telephone'. 'I don't understand you' = 'I don't understand your speech' = 'ni de huà'.
Self deprecation/ polite speech
Commands: (1) use verb alone: 'lài!' 'shuo!' (2) negative command: put bù in front of any verb: 'bú xiè' = 'don’t thank'; 'bú kèqi' = 'don’t be polite'
Asking questions (Chinese menu pattern, using both the positive and negative answer alternatives): verb 'bù' verb, 'you méi you'
Time of action is indicated by context.
'how' = 'zenme'; 'zenme yàng' = 'how is it going? what do you think of, how about…?'
'háishi ' = 'or' in a question
'de' omitted after nationalities and names of countries
'kuài' = 'fast'; 'màn' = 'slow'
'cì' = 'time' (as in 'occasion')
More polite talk: 'duì bu qi' = 'excuse me'. Reply: 'méi guanxi' = 'It doesn’t matter, never mind, don’t worry.'
Expressing past actions.
Negating past actions.
'le' in connection with physical actions in the past.

About the Author(s):

Dr Harold Goodman is a physician and surgeon, who had Michel Thomas as his teacher for nearly ten years. During this time Michel Thomas's goal was not to teach Dr Goodman a specific language (though he did instruct him in two of the languages he taught) but to train him to understand his method of teaching - which he then used to teach others, with great success. Dr Goodman teaches and practises in the United States.

Readership:
Self-access course for adult improvers

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