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201 Chinese Verbs

Printed From: FSI Language Courses
Category: Learning Languages
Forum Name: Chinese (Standard)
Forum Discription: Discussion about studying Standard Chinese using the FSI course.
URL: http://fsi-language-courses.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=558
Printed Date: 16 January 2009 at 2:41am


Topic: 201 Chinese Verbs
Posted By: mounthua
Subject: 201 Chinese Verbs
Date Posted: 23 February 2008 at 9:14am
Found a nice book today:

201 Chinese Verbs
By Nora Ching



  • Publisher:   OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
  • Number Of Pages:  288
  • Publication Date:   1977
  • ISBN-10 / ASIN:   B000YN98GA
  • ISBN-13 / EAN:  
  • Binding:   Paperback
http://rapidshare.com/files/93164024/201_ch_Verbs.rar

password: bhu89sq

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Replies:
Posted By: TheBigZaboon
Date Posted: 23 February 2008 at 9:26pm
There is also a version, probably the same one though, by Eugene and Nora Ching (brother and sister, I think, not husband and wife), in the Barron's Educational Series (Inc.). It was published in 1977, too.
 
It is part of a large series on the verb systems of various languages with titles like "201 XXX Verbs," or "500 YYY Verbs." It is unusual for books of that period in that it uses Pinyin for the romanization, so there should be no trouble for today's learners.
 
I bought my copy at Schoehof's around the mid '80's, so I don't know if it is still in print in that format. The details are as follows:
 
201 Chinese Verbs - Compounds and Phrases for Everyday Usage
by Eugene and Nora Ching (Ohio State University)
Publisher: Barron's Educational Inc.
ISBN: 0-8120-0674-7
Library of Congress catalogue Card No. 778811
 
Price (at that time) USD$10.95
 
I will add to this post the titles of two other books, one on vocabulary, and another on grammar, as soon as I can dig them out to get the ISBN numbers and the publishers' names. Both should be relatively inexpensive, and should also be in that 'outline' format (as opposed to a textbook format) that will make them an excellent supplement to the FSI course.
 
See ya soon.
 
TBZ
 
I'm back.
 
In the interim, I looked on Amazon to find out if this book is still available, and it seems there is a 2nd edition out. The reviewer seems to pan it, saying it is not for beginners. That is very true. but if you read the review, he admits how useful it is to students a bit farther along the learning curve. 
 
This book is a supplement to any course, especially a course like the FSI course. And it should prove very useful after you have progressed up to, say, the Society Module. After that is when it really comes into its own. If you have stuck with the FSI course all the way to the Society module, you should be actively making opportunities to use and practice what you fought so hard to acquire. This book will give you background on some of the verbs in the course, and widen the range of things you can talk about.
 
Earlier, I mentioned I would find the details on two other supplementary books that I feel are very, very useful to people using the FSI course. First, let me say, that it is my opinion that if you are going to use the FSI course, or any other comprehensive course (like the New Practical Chinese Reader series, or the Integrated Chinese series), it is better to stick with one, no matter which one you choose, rather than running all over the map, and spreading your efforts too thin. I happen to feel that the FSI course gives the best returns for your time and effort.
 
 Because there is so much in the FSI course, spread over so many volumes and modules, an overview, to be used only after you have finished, for example,  three or so modules, might help.
 
One that I have found to be useful is Schaum's Outline of Chinese Grammar, by Claudia Ross (ISBN: 0-07-137764-6). This is an inexpensive, early, workbook-style overview that does not have to be tackled all at once. You can go to this book when you hit a patch in the FSI explanations where it just isn't sinking in. (Like the "shi..de" construction somebody asked about in another post.) At that time use the Ross book for its explantions (bare-bones only) and its examples, practice using the exercises provided (answers at the back), and then go back to the FSI book. But the FSI system should get the lion's share of your attention and efforts.
 
By the way, Ross has a newer book out that is much more elaborate than this one, and from my point of view, not as accesssible to lower level learners, but a treasure after you've started to really use Chinese.
 
 
When you do start using your Chinese for the first time, and you get to the stage where the relatively limited vocabulary of the FSI course begins to leave you swimming alone, try Schaum's Outline of Chinese Vocabulary by Duanduan Li and Yanping Xie (ISBN: 0-07-137835-9).
 
This book give a huge amount of vocabulary by subject. (If you've ever wanted to know all the words used on a Chinese airplane, including words for the overhead luggage rack and the little inflatable breathing apparatus that pops out of the ceiling, this is the book for you.)  But it is not to be used to study from. Put your efforts in the FSI course itself, then use this to help you talk about anything, and let me stress, just about anything in ordinary daily life.
 
To sum up all the gas that went before, stick to the FSI course as your basic learning tool. Someday you'll be glad you did. But to supplement it, and to satisfy your curiosity and desire for just a little more explanation or practice, give these books a try. They are all cheap, and widely available. When used with the FSI course, you'll find there is enough to get you started on really using your Chinese in an all-Chinese environment.
 
TBZ



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