Author: DAVID YAO
Publisher: Legoo Mandarin
ISBN:
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 216
Book Description
The new HSK (Chinese Proficiency Test) is an internationally recognized standardized exam designed to assess and evaluate the Chinese language proficiency of non-native speakers. It measures their ability to effectively use Chinese in their daily, academic, and professional lives. The HSK consists of six levels as of the 2009 version. Among these levels, HSK 6 is considered the most challenging, requiring knowledge of approximately 5,000 vocabulary words according to the 2009 version. Our expertise in teaching Chinese to foreigners predates the establishment of the HSK. Over the years, we have compiled a vast database containing 250,000+ vocabulary words, accompanied by high-quality English translations, aimed at facilitating foreigners' understanding of the Chinese language. To enhance comprehension, we provide English translations for the main paragraphs. Additionally, we utilize footnotes to indicate vocabulary words classified according to the HSK levels. Whenever necessary, we offer vocabulary expansions based on root words. By utilizing our extensive research and innovative approach, you can rapidly expand your vocabulary and improve your reading and writing skills in a unique and efficient manner. Drawing from our 26 years of experience in teaching and curating materials, we proudly present a highly regarded resource known as the "LIFE SAVING" book, as praised by numerous students who have found it invaluable for their exams. Don't miss the opportunity to acquire this exceptional book and revolutionize your Chinese language learning journey.
HSK 6 Mastery: Advanced Exam Skills and Reading Strategies 汉语水平考试六级模拟考题
Author: DAVID YAO
Publisher: Legoo Mandarin
ISBN:
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 216
Book Description
The new HSK (Chinese Proficiency Test) is an internationally recognized standardized exam designed to assess and evaluate the Chinese language proficiency of non-native speakers. It measures their ability to effectively use Chinese in their daily, academic, and professional lives. The HSK consists of six levels as of the 2009 version. Among these levels, HSK 6 is considered the most challenging, requiring knowledge of approximately 5,000 vocabulary words according to the 2009 version. Our expertise in teaching Chinese to foreigners predates the establishment of the HSK. Over the years, we have compiled a vast database containing 250,000+ vocabulary words, accompanied by high-quality English translations, aimed at facilitating foreigners' understanding of the Chinese language. To enhance comprehension, we provide English translations for the main paragraphs. Additionally, we utilize footnotes to indicate vocabulary words classified according to the HSK levels. Whenever necessary, we offer vocabulary expansions based on root words. By utilizing our extensive research and innovative approach, you can rapidly expand your vocabulary and improve your reading and writing skills in a unique and efficient manner. Drawing from our 26 years of experience in teaching and curating materials, we proudly present a highly regarded resource known as the "LIFE SAVING" book, as praised by numerous students who have found it invaluable for their exams. Don't miss the opportunity to acquire this exceptional book and revolutionize your Chinese language learning journey.
Publisher: Legoo Mandarin
ISBN:
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 216
Book Description
The new HSK (Chinese Proficiency Test) is an internationally recognized standardized exam designed to assess and evaluate the Chinese language proficiency of non-native speakers. It measures their ability to effectively use Chinese in their daily, academic, and professional lives. The HSK consists of six levels as of the 2009 version. Among these levels, HSK 6 is considered the most challenging, requiring knowledge of approximately 5,000 vocabulary words according to the 2009 version. Our expertise in teaching Chinese to foreigners predates the establishment of the HSK. Over the years, we have compiled a vast database containing 250,000+ vocabulary words, accompanied by high-quality English translations, aimed at facilitating foreigners' understanding of the Chinese language. To enhance comprehension, we provide English translations for the main paragraphs. Additionally, we utilize footnotes to indicate vocabulary words classified according to the HSK levels. Whenever necessary, we offer vocabulary expansions based on root words. By utilizing our extensive research and innovative approach, you can rapidly expand your vocabulary and improve your reading and writing skills in a unique and efficient manner. Drawing from our 26 years of experience in teaching and curating materials, we proudly present a highly regarded resource known as the "LIFE SAVING" book, as praised by numerous students who have found it invaluable for their exams. Don't miss the opportunity to acquire this exceptional book and revolutionize your Chinese language learning journey.
HSK 5 Mastery: Advanced Exam Skills and Reading Strategies 汉语水平考试五级模拟考题
Author: DAVID YAO
Publisher: Legoo Mandarin
ISBN:
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 182
Book Description
Mastering HSK 5: Advanced-level Exam Prep and Effective Reading Strategies 汉语水平考试五级模拟考题 -Smart Approaches for Enhanced Skills with H51332 Test Analysis 考题精讲及阅读技巧 The Ultimate Guide to HSK 5 Exam Preparation: Improve Your Chinese Language Proficiency with our Unique Smart Approach Our comprehensive guide is designed for non-native Chinese speakers who want to excel in their daily, academic, and professional lives. With HSK 5 being the advanced level, our expert team has compiled a database of over 250,000 Chinese vocabulary words with the best possible English translations for a better understanding of the language. Our guide includes footnotes with HSK classifications and vocabulary expansions based on root words, to help you expand your vocabulary and gain fast reading and writing skills. We also provide English translations for the main paragraphs, making it easy for learners to understand and apply the material. Take advantage of our research and theory-backed approach to achieve your desired proficiency level in the HSK 5 exam. Get your hands on this unique book today and embark on a journey to master the Chinese language.
Publisher: Legoo Mandarin
ISBN:
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 182
Book Description
Mastering HSK 5: Advanced-level Exam Prep and Effective Reading Strategies 汉语水平考试五级模拟考题 -Smart Approaches for Enhanced Skills with H51332 Test Analysis 考题精讲及阅读技巧 The Ultimate Guide to HSK 5 Exam Preparation: Improve Your Chinese Language Proficiency with our Unique Smart Approach Our comprehensive guide is designed for non-native Chinese speakers who want to excel in their daily, academic, and professional lives. With HSK 5 being the advanced level, our expert team has compiled a database of over 250,000 Chinese vocabulary words with the best possible English translations for a better understanding of the language. Our guide includes footnotes with HSK classifications and vocabulary expansions based on root words, to help you expand your vocabulary and gain fast reading and writing skills. We also provide English translations for the main paragraphs, making it easy for learners to understand and apply the material. Take advantage of our research and theory-backed approach to achieve your desired proficiency level in the HSK 5 exam. Get your hands on this unique book today and embark on a journey to master the Chinese language.
Reading acquisition of chinese as a second/foreign language
Author: Linjun Zhang
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
ISBN: 2832529526
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 266
Book Description
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
ISBN: 2832529526
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 266
Book Description
Hacking Chinese
Author: Olle Linge
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781530334889
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 246
Book Description
Learning Chinese can be frustrating and difficult, partly because it's very different from European languages. Following a teacher, textbook or language course is not enough. They show you the characters, words and grammar you need to become proficient in Chinese, but they don't teach you how to learn them! Regardless of what program you're in (if any), you need to take responsibility for your own learning. If you don't, you will miss many important things that aren't included in the course you're taking. If you study on your own, you need to be even more aware of what you need to do, what you're doing at the moment and the difference between them. Here are some of the questions I have asked and have since been asked many times by students: How do I learn characters efficiently? How do I get the most out of my course or teacher? Which are the best learning tools and resources? How can I become fluent in Mandarin? How can I improve my pronunciation? How do I learn successfully on my own? How can I motivate myself to study more? How can I fit learning Chinese into a busy schedule? The answers I've found to these questions and many others form the core of this book. It took eight years of learning, researching, teaching and writing to figure these things out. Not everybody has the time to do that! I can't go back in time and help myself learn in a better way, but I can help you! This book is meant for normal students and independent language learners alike. While it covers all major areas of learning, you won't learn Chinese just by reading this book. It's like when someone on TV teaches you how to cook: you won't get to eat the delicious dish just by watching the program; you have to do the cooking yourself. That's true for this book as well. When you apply what you learn, it will boost your learning, making every hour you spend count for more, but you still have to do the learning yourself. This is what a few readers have said about the book: "The book had me nodding at a heap of things I'd learnt the hard way, wishing I knew them when I started, as well as highlighting areas that I'm currently missing in my study." - Geoff van der Meer, VP engineering "This publication is like a bible for anyone serious about Chinese proficiency. It's easy for anyone to read and written with scientific precision." - Zachary Danz, foreign teacher, children's theatre artist About me I started learning Chinese when I was 23 (that's more than eight years ago now) and have since studied in many different situations, including serious immersion programs abroad, high-intensity programs in Sweden, online courses, as well as on the side while working or studying other things. I have also successfully used my Chinese in a graduate program for teaching Chinese as a second language, taught entirely in Chinese mostly for native speakers (the Graduate Institute for Teaching Chinese as a Second Language at National Taiwan Normal University). All these parts have contributed to my website, Hacking Chinese, where I write regularly about how to learn Mandarin.
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781530334889
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 246
Book Description
Learning Chinese can be frustrating and difficult, partly because it's very different from European languages. Following a teacher, textbook or language course is not enough. They show you the characters, words and grammar you need to become proficient in Chinese, but they don't teach you how to learn them! Regardless of what program you're in (if any), you need to take responsibility for your own learning. If you don't, you will miss many important things that aren't included in the course you're taking. If you study on your own, you need to be even more aware of what you need to do, what you're doing at the moment and the difference between them. Here are some of the questions I have asked and have since been asked many times by students: How do I learn characters efficiently? How do I get the most out of my course or teacher? Which are the best learning tools and resources? How can I become fluent in Mandarin? How can I improve my pronunciation? How do I learn successfully on my own? How can I motivate myself to study more? How can I fit learning Chinese into a busy schedule? The answers I've found to these questions and many others form the core of this book. It took eight years of learning, researching, teaching and writing to figure these things out. Not everybody has the time to do that! I can't go back in time and help myself learn in a better way, but I can help you! This book is meant for normal students and independent language learners alike. While it covers all major areas of learning, you won't learn Chinese just by reading this book. It's like when someone on TV teaches you how to cook: you won't get to eat the delicious dish just by watching the program; you have to do the cooking yourself. That's true for this book as well. When you apply what you learn, it will boost your learning, making every hour you spend count for more, but you still have to do the learning yourself. This is what a few readers have said about the book: "The book had me nodding at a heap of things I'd learnt the hard way, wishing I knew them when I started, as well as highlighting areas that I'm currently missing in my study." - Geoff van der Meer, VP engineering "This publication is like a bible for anyone serious about Chinese proficiency. It's easy for anyone to read and written with scientific precision." - Zachary Danz, foreign teacher, children's theatre artist About me I started learning Chinese when I was 23 (that's more than eight years ago now) and have since studied in many different situations, including serious immersion programs abroad, high-intensity programs in Sweden, online courses, as well as on the side while working or studying other things. I have also successfully used my Chinese in a graduate program for teaching Chinese as a second language, taught entirely in Chinese mostly for native speakers (the Graduate Institute for Teaching Chinese as a Second Language at National Taiwan Normal University). All these parts have contributed to my website, Hacking Chinese, where I write regularly about how to learn Mandarin.
Remembering Simplified Hanzi 1
Author: James W. Heisig
Publisher: University of Hawaii Press
ISBN: 0824875931
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 432
Book Description
At long last the approach that has helped thousands of learners memorize Japanese kanji has been adapted to help students with Chinese characters. Book 1 of Remembering Simplified Hanzi covers the writing and meaning of the 1,000 most commonly used characters in the simplified Chinese writing system, plus another 500 that are best learned at an early stage. (Book 2 adds another 1,500 characters for a total of 3,000.) Of critical importance to the approach found in these pages is the systematic arranging of characters in an order best suited to memorization. In the Chinese writing system, strokes and simple components are nested within relatively simple characters, which can, in turn, serve as parts of more complicated characters and so on. Taking advantage of this allows a logical ordering, making it possible for students to approach most new characters with prior knowledge that can greatly facilitate the learning process. Guidance and detailed instructions are provided along the way. Students are taught to employ "imaginative memory" to associate each character’s component parts, or "primitive elements," with one another and with a key word that has been carefully selected to represent an important meaning of the character. This is accomplished through the creation of a "story" that engagingly ties the primitive elements and key word together. In this way, the collections of dots, strokes, and components that make up the characters are associated in memorable fashion, dramatically shortening the time required for learning and helping to prevent characters from slipping out of memory.
Publisher: University of Hawaii Press
ISBN: 0824875931
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 432
Book Description
At long last the approach that has helped thousands of learners memorize Japanese kanji has been adapted to help students with Chinese characters. Book 1 of Remembering Simplified Hanzi covers the writing and meaning of the 1,000 most commonly used characters in the simplified Chinese writing system, plus another 500 that are best learned at an early stage. (Book 2 adds another 1,500 characters for a total of 3,000.) Of critical importance to the approach found in these pages is the systematic arranging of characters in an order best suited to memorization. In the Chinese writing system, strokes and simple components are nested within relatively simple characters, which can, in turn, serve as parts of more complicated characters and so on. Taking advantage of this allows a logical ordering, making it possible for students to approach most new characters with prior knowledge that can greatly facilitate the learning process. Guidance and detailed instructions are provided along the way. Students are taught to employ "imaginative memory" to associate each character’s component parts, or "primitive elements," with one another and with a key word that has been carefully selected to represent an important meaning of the character. This is accomplished through the creation of a "story" that engagingly ties the primitive elements and key word together. In this way, the collections of dots, strokes, and components that make up the characters are associated in memorable fashion, dramatically shortening the time required for learning and helping to prevent characters from slipping out of memory.
Chinese as a Second Language Assessment
Author: Dongbo Zhang
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 9811040893
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 304
Book Description
This book brings together 13 original research papers that address emerging issues in the assessment of Chinese as a Second Language (CSL) in five major areas, including standards in CSL assessment; development of CSL tests; assessment of diverse knowledge and skills; computer-supported assessment; and CSL assessment in relation to instruction and teachers’ assessment competence. It goes beyond the psychometric testing of Chinese and provides cutting-edge examinations of the interfaces of assessment with sociology of language, acquisition, pedagogy, and modern technologies, as well as teacher education. Given its unique features and broad range of topics, the book offers an intriguing and valuable resource, not only for scholars and researchers but also teacher educators and assessment practitioners who are directly or indirectly involved in CSL assessment.
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 9811040893
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 304
Book Description
This book brings together 13 original research papers that address emerging issues in the assessment of Chinese as a Second Language (CSL) in five major areas, including standards in CSL assessment; development of CSL tests; assessment of diverse knowledge and skills; computer-supported assessment; and CSL assessment in relation to instruction and teachers’ assessment competence. It goes beyond the psychometric testing of Chinese and provides cutting-edge examinations of the interfaces of assessment with sociology of language, acquisition, pedagogy, and modern technologies, as well as teacher education. Given its unique features and broad range of topics, the book offers an intriguing and valuable resource, not only for scholars and researchers but also teacher educators and assessment practitioners who are directly or indirectly involved in CSL assessment.
LANGUAGE HACKING MANDARIN (Learn How to Speak Mandarin - Right Away)
Author: Benny Lewis
Publisher: Hachette UK
ISBN: 147367428X
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 233
Book Description
Crack the Code and Get Fluent Faster! "I had to learn [a new language] in a handful of days for a TV interview. I asked Benny for help and his advice was invaluable." - Tim Ferriss What if you could skip the years of study and jump right to speaking Mandarin? Sound Crazy? No, it's language hacking. It's about learning what's indispensable, skipping what's not - and using what you've learned to have real conversations in Mandarin - from day one! Unlike most traditional language courses that try to teach you the rules of a language, Language Hacking Mandarin, shows you how to learn and speak Mandarin immediately through proven memory techniques, unconventional shortcuts and conversation strategies perfect by one of the world's greatest language learners, Benny Lewis, aka the Irish Polyglot. The Method Language Hacking takes a modern approach to language learning, blending the power of online social collaboration and the 80/20 principle of learning (Benny's ten #languagehacks show you how to achieve more with less!). It focuses on the conversations and language that learners need to master right away, rather than presenting language in the order of difficulty like most courses. This means you can start having conversations immediately. Course Features Each of the 10 units culminates with a speaking mission that you can choose to share on the italki Language Hacking learner community (www.italki.com/languagehacking) where you can give and get feedback and extend your learning beyond the pages of the book. The audio for this course is available for free on library.teachyourself.com or from the Teach Yourself Library app. You don't need to go abroad to learn a language any more.
Publisher: Hachette UK
ISBN: 147367428X
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 233
Book Description
Crack the Code and Get Fluent Faster! "I had to learn [a new language] in a handful of days for a TV interview. I asked Benny for help and his advice was invaluable." - Tim Ferriss What if you could skip the years of study and jump right to speaking Mandarin? Sound Crazy? No, it's language hacking. It's about learning what's indispensable, skipping what's not - and using what you've learned to have real conversations in Mandarin - from day one! Unlike most traditional language courses that try to teach you the rules of a language, Language Hacking Mandarin, shows you how to learn and speak Mandarin immediately through proven memory techniques, unconventional shortcuts and conversation strategies perfect by one of the world's greatest language learners, Benny Lewis, aka the Irish Polyglot. The Method Language Hacking takes a modern approach to language learning, blending the power of online social collaboration and the 80/20 principle of learning (Benny's ten #languagehacks show you how to achieve more with less!). It focuses on the conversations and language that learners need to master right away, rather than presenting language in the order of difficulty like most courses. This means you can start having conversations immediately. Course Features Each of the 10 units culminates with a speaking mission that you can choose to share on the italki Language Hacking learner community (www.italki.com/languagehacking) where you can give and get feedback and extend your learning beyond the pages of the book. The audio for this course is available for free on library.teachyourself.com or from the Teach Yourself Library app. You don't need to go abroad to learn a language any more.
Remembering the Kanji 2
Author: James W. Heisig
Publisher: University of Hawaii Press
ISBN: 9780824836696
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
Following the first volume of Remembering the Kanji, the present work provides students with helpful tools for learning the pronunciation of the kanji. Behind the notorious inconsistencies in the way the Japanese language has come to pronounce the characters it received from China lie several coherent patterns. Identifying these patterns and arranging them in logical order can reduce dramatically the amount of time spent in the brute memorization of sounds unrelated to written forms. Many of the “primitive elements,” or building blocks, used in the drawing of the characters also serve to indicate the “Chinese reading” that particular kanji use, chiefly in compound terms. By learning one of the kanji that uses such a “signal primitive,” one can learn the entire group at the same time. In this way, Remembering the Kanji 2 lays out the varieties of phonetic pattern and offers helpful hints for learning readings, that might otherwise appear completely random, in an efficient and rational way. Individual frames cross-reference the kanji to alternate readings and to the frame in volume 1 in which the meaning and writing of the kanji was first introduced. A parallel system of pronouncing the kanji, their “Japanese readings,” uses native Japanese words assigned to particular Chinese characters. Although these are more easily learned because of the association of the meaning to a single word, the author creates a kind of phonetic alphabet of single syllable words, each connected to a simple Japanese word, and shows how they can be combined to help memorize particularly troublesome vocabulary. The 4th edition has been updated to include the 196 new kanji approved by the government in 2010 as “general-use” kanji.
Publisher: University of Hawaii Press
ISBN: 9780824836696
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
Following the first volume of Remembering the Kanji, the present work provides students with helpful tools for learning the pronunciation of the kanji. Behind the notorious inconsistencies in the way the Japanese language has come to pronounce the characters it received from China lie several coherent patterns. Identifying these patterns and arranging them in logical order can reduce dramatically the amount of time spent in the brute memorization of sounds unrelated to written forms. Many of the “primitive elements,” or building blocks, used in the drawing of the characters also serve to indicate the “Chinese reading” that particular kanji use, chiefly in compound terms. By learning one of the kanji that uses such a “signal primitive,” one can learn the entire group at the same time. In this way, Remembering the Kanji 2 lays out the varieties of phonetic pattern and offers helpful hints for learning readings, that might otherwise appear completely random, in an efficient and rational way. Individual frames cross-reference the kanji to alternate readings and to the frame in volume 1 in which the meaning and writing of the kanji was first introduced. A parallel system of pronouncing the kanji, their “Japanese readings,” uses native Japanese words assigned to particular Chinese characters. Although these are more easily learned because of the association of the meaning to a single word, the author creates a kind of phonetic alphabet of single syllable words, each connected to a simple Japanese word, and shows how they can be combined to help memorize particularly troublesome vocabulary. The 4th edition has been updated to include the 196 new kanji approved by the government in 2010 as “general-use” kanji.
The Will to Lead, the Skill to Teach
Author: Anthony Muhammad
Publisher: Solution Tree Press
ISBN: 1935542567
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 240
Book Description
School improvement begins with self-examination and honest dialogue about socialization, bias, discrimination, and cultural insensitivity. The authors acknowledge both the structural and sociological issues that contribute to low-performing schools and offer multiple tools and strategies to assess and improve classroom management, increase literacy, establish academic vocabulary, and contribute to a healthier school culture.
Publisher: Solution Tree Press
ISBN: 1935542567
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 240
Book Description
School improvement begins with self-examination and honest dialogue about socialization, bias, discrimination, and cultural insensitivity. The authors acknowledge both the structural and sociological issues that contribute to low-performing schools and offer multiple tools and strategies to assess and improve classroom management, increase literacy, establish academic vocabulary, and contribute to a healthier school culture.
Tuttle Learning Chinese Characters
Author: Alison Matthews
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
ISBN: 146290128X
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 388
Book Description
This user-friendly book is aimed at helping students of Mandarin Chinese learn and remember Chinese characters. At last--there is a truly effective and enjoyable way to learn Chinese characters! This book helps students to learn and remember both the meanings and the pronunciations of over 800 characters. This otherwise daunting task is made easier by the use of techniques based on the psychology of learning and memory. key principles include the use of visual imagery, the visualization of short "stories," and the systematic building up of more complicated characters from basic building blocks. Although Learning Chinese Characters is primarily a book for serious learners of Mandarin Chinese, it can be used by anyone with interest in Chinese characters, without any prior knowledge of Chinese. It can be used alongside (or after, or even before) a course in the Chinese language. All characters are simplified (as in mainland China), but traditional characters are also given, when available. Key features: Specially designed pictures and stories are used in a structured way to make the learning process more enjoyable and effective, reducing the need for rote learning to the absolute minimum. The emphasis throughout is on learning and remembering the meanings and pronunciations of the characters. Tips are also included on learning techniques and how to avoid common problems. Characters are introduced in a logical sequence, which also gives priority to learning the most common characters first. Modern, simplified characters are used, with pronunciations given in pinyin. Key information is given for each character, including radical, stroke-count, traditional form, compounds, and guidance on writing the character. This is a practical guide with a clear, concise and appealing layout, and it is well-indexed with easy lookup methods. The 800 Chinese characters and 1,033 compounds specified for the original HSK Level A proficiency test are covered.
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
ISBN: 146290128X
Category : Foreign Language Study
Languages : en
Pages : 388
Book Description
This user-friendly book is aimed at helping students of Mandarin Chinese learn and remember Chinese characters. At last--there is a truly effective and enjoyable way to learn Chinese characters! This book helps students to learn and remember both the meanings and the pronunciations of over 800 characters. This otherwise daunting task is made easier by the use of techniques based on the psychology of learning and memory. key principles include the use of visual imagery, the visualization of short "stories," and the systematic building up of more complicated characters from basic building blocks. Although Learning Chinese Characters is primarily a book for serious learners of Mandarin Chinese, it can be used by anyone with interest in Chinese characters, without any prior knowledge of Chinese. It can be used alongside (or after, or even before) a course in the Chinese language. All characters are simplified (as in mainland China), but traditional characters are also given, when available. Key features: Specially designed pictures and stories are used in a structured way to make the learning process more enjoyable and effective, reducing the need for rote learning to the absolute minimum. The emphasis throughout is on learning and remembering the meanings and pronunciations of the characters. Tips are also included on learning techniques and how to avoid common problems. Characters are introduced in a logical sequence, which also gives priority to learning the most common characters first. Modern, simplified characters are used, with pronunciations given in pinyin. Key information is given for each character, including radical, stroke-count, traditional form, compounds, and guidance on writing the character. This is a practical guide with a clear, concise and appealing layout, and it is well-indexed with easy lookup methods. The 800 Chinese characters and 1,033 compounds specified for the original HSK Level A proficiency test are covered.