NEW PRACTICAL CHINESE READER
My Take
Probably the 2nd-most used Chinese textbook in the U.S., NPCR was developed for foreign students learning Chinese in a university environment in Beijing. The 2nd edition wasn't bad, but the 3rd has been so thoroughly updated and improved that I've decided to to try it out with my new first year high school students this year (be letting you know how that goes). If you study Chinese in China, there's a good chance you'll be using this for at least the first year or two.
Consisting of altogether six textbooks, workbooks, and companion readers, NPCR can cover a lot of ground for a long while, although most teachers will probably choose to move on to other materials after the first two or three volumes.
I've just begun to look at Volume 1, but here are my initial impressions:
Like IC, NPCR is logically organized into dialogues, grammar, application, and other useful categories. NPCR also begins with an extensive 'Introduction to Phonetics' section (first 40 pages of the textbook) which, in my opinion, is more interesting and clear than the similar section at the beginning of IC.
The dialogues are set in a foreign language institute in Beijing, probably modeled on Beijing Language and Culture Institute (Current name? It keeps changing names!). The content is pretty standard fare for a first year textbook, but seems to get into language as embedded in culture more quickly. For example, we're already into Chinese food by Lesson 2? How Chinese is that? (A foodie culture if there ever was one.) By Lesson 2 students are already introduced to the words 点心，米饭，面条，饺子， 包子. IC doesn't get into Chinese food until the second volume. In fact, in general, my impression is that the language of NPCR is more 'Chinese' and colloquial than much of the language in IC, so students are getting immersed in culture along with language right from the beginning, which is normal considering that the textbook was originally developed for foreign students studying Chinese in China.
Pros:
- Chinese culture and society is effectively embedded in the language, rather than being tacked on as a 'culture section' at the end of the chapter.
- Clear, easily accessible sections
- Colloquial language
Cons:
Can't think of any right now, but I'm sure I'll find something- check back!