Chinese Language and Culture: An Intermediate Reader

This reader is designed for an intermediate-level Chinese course in which students not only develop proficiency in the Chinese language but also gain some knowledge of Chinese culture. It consists of twenty-two lessons, which are arranged according to their level of difficulty. Each lesson contains a core text and a reading text. The contents of the texts cover a wide variety of topics, including Chinese language structures and characters, Chinese customs, proverbs, holidays, social phenomena, religions, poetry and geography, as well as Chinese folklore. A list of questions for group discussion follows the text in each chapter to help students further explore issues related to Chinese culture and to their own lives. Grammar notes and exercises for relevant grammatical points are introduced after each core text to enhance students’ skills of reading, comprehension and writing. The grammar notes are all explained in English and illustrated through sample sentences in Chinese with English translations. The exercises are written in a simple and humorous style to maintain students’ interest. Learners of the Chinese language will find this reader a resourceful reference on Chinese culture and society as well as a useful textbook that helps them master the language better. Weijia Huang is a visiting lecturer at the Department of East Asian Studies at Brown University after teaching Chinese at Harvard University for seven years. Dr. Qun Ao has been teaching Chinese at Brandeis University since 1994. Both of them have written extensively on the use of the Chinese language as well as the teaching of the language to English speakers. Read more