A key to Chinese Speech and Writing. Volume I

This introductory course not only serves as a textbook but also as a guide which, through a variety of routes (etymology, semantics, linguistics, graphics and culture), can help you think in Chinese. The aim of this course is to present the Chinese language as it is : a world of signs with their origin and the logic of their composition, represented by the most frequently used ones. The 400 characters featured in Volume I will enable you to recognize at least 70% of the characters used in books and newspapers.
A unique language like Chinese necessitates en original approah and teaching method. More than just a guide to reading and speaking Chinese, this course is above all a way embracing the culture and mentality of the Chinese people. A great adventure for the mind !