This series offers a sequential four semester course for mastering Modern Mandarin Chinese. In the first semester Chinese by Numbers uses the number system to focus on grammar, especially nouns. The second semester, Chinese by the Book, concentrates on stative verbs and adjectives, followed by static verbs in the third semester, Chinese by Bygones. The fourth semester, Chinese to a T, covers units of speech used to predict, limit, and connect dependent/independent and conditional clauses. These texts are unique in their stress on basic grammatical principles rather than dialogue or vocabulary memorization.
Each session can be concluded in about an hour which allows students to focus on immediate learning goals. The explanations and examples are clear and easy to understand by students with little or no formal training in grammar. Simple, basic rules are put into practice immediately through communication. Vocabulary is kept to a minimum where possible, while grammatical principles and communication are stressed.
The late John Marney was Professor of Chinese, Oakland University. The books were edited for publication by his son Steven Marney.
