Princeton University Press Books in Princeton Language Program: Modern Chinese

Princeton Language Program: Modern Chinese

The Princeton Language Program: Modern Chinese is a comprehensive series of Chinese-language textbooks for students of all levels, from novice learners to advanced speakers. The series covers classical Chinese in addition to modern Chinese. Written by members of the Princeton University Department of East Asian Studies, these books have been tested in Princeton classrooms and in the renowned Princeton in Beijing Program. Focusing on contemporary China and geared to the interests of today's students, the books are designed both to improve language proficiency and enhance students' understanding of today's China.

Chinese Primer, the first textbook in the series, is designed for absolute beginners. It consists of three volumes--text, grammar notes, and a character practice workbook--and covers pronunciation and basic grammar structures. Many schools have adopted this textbook over the past twenty-five years. An additional elementary textbook, First Step, is currently being developed.

Oh! China is specially designed for advanced beginners, also known as heritage learners. Since most heritage learners already have good listening and speaking skills, this textbook, while still beginning with pronunciation, quickly moves to intermediate-level vocabulary and grammar structures. It also introduces issues related to the differences between Chinese and American culture, as well as contemporary Chinese social issues.

The series includes three intermediate-level textbooks: An Intermediate Reader of Modern Chinese, A Trip to China, and A New China. The first, Intermediate Reader, is U.S.-oriented, taking its themes from American college life, while A Trip to China and A New China are China--oriented, covering aspects of life in modern China.

The series has three textbooks at the third-year level: A Kaleidoscope of China, All Things Considered, and Newspaper Readings: The U.S.A. in The People's Daily. The newest textbook, A Kaleidoscope of China includes articles from popular Chinese newspapers and magazines depicting the latest changes occurring in China. All Things Considered is composed of dialogues and newspaper articles designed to be used in tandem to increase students' speaking and writing abilities, as well as their knowledge of modern Chinese society. Newspaper Readings presents a series of People's Daily articles from the 1990s, allowing students to understand how the United States was portrayed in the Chinese media at the time.

At the advanced level, the series features five textbooks: Anything Goes, China's Own Critics, Literature and Society, China's Peril and Promise, and Readings in Contemporary Chinese Cinema. The first, Anything Goes, includes newspaper articles and other primary sources, such as speeches and historical documents, and is designed to spark discussions of even the most controversial aspects of contemporary China. China's Own Critics is composed of essays by prominent Chinese thinkers about the problems faced by Chinese society. Literature and Society includes short stories and essays regarding the social sciences by famous Chinese authors. China's Peril and Promise exposes students to works of modern Chinese literature, as well as issues faced by Chinese intellectuals over the past century. Readings in Contemporary Chinese Cinema includes essays to be read alongside viewings of some of the great works of Chinese film of the past two decades.

Finally, Classical Chinese: A Basic Reader introduces students to the basic structures of classical Chinese grammar. Once students have mastered this text, they can progress to the supplementary readers: Introduction to Grammar, Readings in Poetry and Prose, Selections from Historical Texts, and Selections from Philosophical Texts.

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