Volume I of Talking about Chinese Culture has all-total 10 lessons, which introduce some common Chinese cultural phenomenon such as the ways of greeting and etiquette, human relationship, modesty and courtesy, the concept of classes, as well as some typical characteristics of Chinese people such as implicitness, self-pride, focus on spiritual power, less care of benefit, implied meaning beyond words, etc. A variety of language practicing drills in each lesson provide trainings for acquiring Chinese words, grammar, sentences , expressing in monologue, and discussions with given cultural topics。 All of these help the Chinese language learners consolidate what they’ve learned, train their speaking abilities, and at the same time help the learners gain initial understanding of Chinese customs and cultural essence. A free recording MP3 is attached.

About the Author

Wu Xiaolu, graduated from the Department of Chinese, Nanjing Normal University in 1983, and got her MA in Chinese Language from the same university in 1988, then taught in the Department of Foreign Language (the now College of International Culture and Education). She went to US for study in 1992, and has taught in Union College and Vassar College. She has published A Training Course in Chinese Reading and some academic papers. Cheng Zhaohui, graduated from the Department of Chinese, Nanjing University in 1986, and got her MA in Chinese Language from the same university in 1989, then taught in the Department of Foreign Language (the now College of International Culture and Education) in Nanjing Normal University. In 1994, she began her PhD study in the Department of Linguistics of University of Florida under the supervision of Professor Qu Chengxi, with the research focus on second language acquisition and Chinese teaching pedagogy, and at the same time taught Chinese in the university. She got her PhD in 2000. Since 2005, she has been teaching in the Department of Foreign Languages of Georgia Perimeter College. She has published some academic papers on Chinese teaching and acquisition.