Access Chinesegives a new perspective to teaching and learning Chinese by harmonizing 3 key elements of learning a second language creatively: 1.Intertwining language with culture 2.Balancing focus on forms and meaning 3. Developing literacy skills through both oral and written Chinese. This book treats culture as the glue that connects the units by following the story lines of a twin brother and sister learning Chinese in two contexts (China vs. US). Access Chineseprovides essential tools for communication throughout the story development while at the same time engaging learners in acquiring additional vocabulary and grammar by contextualizing these elements in further communicative tasks. Also, Access Chineseuses colloquial Chinese as a starting point for engaging the learner while also introducing the nuance of Chinese philosophy and deeply imbedded Chinese etiquettes and rituals in communication to bring about the curiosity and appreciation of the language and culture.

Introduction to Pinyin

Step 1

Chinese syllables

Zero initial syllables

Tones

Neutral Tone

Placement of tone marks

Step 2

Single finals

Labial initials b, p, m, f and Alveolar initials d, t, n, l

Step 3

Compound finals ai, ei, ao, ou, ua, uo

Dental sibilant initials z, c, s

Retroflex initials zh, ch, sh

Step 4

Compound finals ia, ie, iao, iu (iou), üe, üan

Palatal initials j, q, x and Velar initials g, k, h

Step 5

Front Nasal Finals an, en, ian, in, uan, un (uen), ün (üen)

Back Nasal Finals ang, eng, ong, iang, ing, iong, uang, ueng

Step 6

er

Tone change

Tone change for 3rd tone

Tone change for yī 一

Tone change for bù 不

Supplementary

Sentence pause

Sentence stress

Sentence intonation

Reciting

Self Assessment

Introduction to Hanzi

Introduction

Traditional characters

Script of Chinese characters

Structure of Chinese characters

Radicals

Chinese Character types

Characters and words

Strokes

Stroke order

Chinese calligraphy

Theme 1 Getting Acquainted with Each Other 相识篇

Unit 1 Meeting Each Other 见面寒暄

1. Episode 1: At the airport

2. Spotlight

3. Sentence Patterns: Pronoun是Name and Pronoun很Adjective

4. Episode 2: In the classroom

5. Chinese names

6. Numbers 0-10

7. Saying Hello

8. Cultural Interchange

9. Grammar Kit

Word order in Chinese sentences

Expressing judgment using the verb 是

Comfirming information using yes-no questions ending with 吗

Using the adverb 很 in sentences with an adjectival predicate

10. Grammar Practice

11. Pronunciation Tips

Chinese tones

Neutral tone

The changes of the 3rd tone

12. Writing Chinese Characters

13. Integrative Practice

Unit 1 Word List

Unit 2 Gifts & Courtesy 礼尚往来

1. Episode 1: At the welcome party

2. Numbers 10-100

3. Sentence Patterns: Using 也 and 都

4. Episode 2: At the teahouse

5. Spotlight

6. Likes and dislikes (喜欢 and 不喜欢)

7. Gifts and courtesy

8. Cultural Interchange

9. Grammar Kit

The proximal demonstrative pronoun 这

Asking what-questions with the interrogative pronoun 什么

The adverbs of range 也 and 都

10. Grammar Practice

11. Pronunciation Tips

Initials z, c, s and zh, ch, sh

Words with z, c, s and zh, ch, sh

Intonation of interrogative sentences

12. Writing Chinese Characters

13. Integrative Practice

Unit 2 Word List

Unit 3 Feel at Home Wherever You Are 四海为家

1. Episode 1: At the Admissions Office

2. Spotlight

3. Telling Time

4. Episode 2: At Jenny’s House

5. Word Power

6. Sentence Pattern (Subject+Verb+Object吗? / Subject+Verb不Verb+Object?)

7. Titles

8. Cultural Interchange

9. Grammar Kit

Telling Time

Asking which-questions with the interrogative pronoun 哪

Asking others to confirm information using Verb不Verb questions

10. Grammar Practice

11. Pronunciation Tips

How to pronounce r Pronouncing the titles of family members Pauses in a sentence

12. Writing Chinese Characters

13. Integrative Practice

Unit 3 Word List

Review unit 1

1. Pronunciation Kit

2. Vocabulary Kit

3. Understanding the meanings of words

4. Grammar Workshop

5. Practice in Context

6. Writing Project

Theme 2 Getting to Know Each Other 相知篇

Unit 4 In and Out of class 课内课外

1. Episode 1: On campus

2. My Daily Routine

3. Sentence Pattern: 去 + action /去 + place + action

4. Episode 2: Off campus

5. Sales Manager’s Schedule

6. Questions with and Interrogative Pronoun

7. Invitation

8. Cultural Interchange

9. Grammar Kit

Expressing information about an event or action: using time phrases as adverbial phrases

Giving a suggestion or a making a request using the particle 吧

Using question words

10. Grammar Practice

11. Pronunciation Tips

Initials j, q, x and zh, ch, sh

Word with initials j, q, x

Intonation of Wh-questions in Chinese

12. Writing Chinese Characters

13. Integrative Practice

Unit 4 Word List

Unit 5 Shopping and Bargaining 讨价还价

1. Episode 1: In the Classroom

2. Spotlight

3. Sentence Pattern: A比/B Adj / A没(有)B Adj / A和B一样(Adj)

4. Episode 2: At the Used Bicycle Shop

5. Colors

6. Word Power

7. Shopping

8. Cultural Interchange

9. Grammar Kit

Expressing quantity with measure words

Expressing comparison using the preposition 比

The different usages of 了

10. Grammar Practice

11. Pronunciation Tips

Tone changes of yī

The semi 3rd tone

Sentence stress

12. Writing Chinese Characters

13. Integrative Practice

Unit 5 Word List

Unit 6 Fine Food 天下美食

1. Episode 1: In a Chinese Restaurant

2. Spotlight

3. Sentence Pattern: 吃过

4. Episode 2: Outside the Restaurant

5. Good Vegetables for Good Health

6. Reading

7. Table Manners

8. Cultural Interchange

9. Grammar Kit

Expressing “have done” with the particle 过

Asking others to make a choice 是…还是…？

Sentence Final particle 了

10. Grammar Practice

11. Pronunciation Tips

Finals –n and –ng

Ér huà 儿化

Intonation of exclamatory sentences

12. Writing Chinese Characters

13. Integrative Practice

Review unit 2

1. Pronunciation Kit

2. Vocabulary Kit

3. Understanding the meanings of words

4. Best Activities and Places

5. Buy and Sell

6. Interview

7. Ordering Dishes

Overall Review of Access Chinese 1

Appendix Ⅰ Grammar kits of Access Chinese 1

Appendix ⅡWord list of Access Chinese 1

Appendix Ⅲ Audioscripts

Appendix Ⅳ Answer Keys