Description

Michel Thomas – Advanced Mandarin ChineseADVANCED COURSE – 5 HOUR COURSEThe highly acclaimed follow-on to the Michel Thomas Method Foundation CourseAvailable in Arabic, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian and SpanishThe course comprises five hours of teaching on four CDs and an essential index; it uses the same live classroom situation and language teaching methodology to give you ourstanding results.What level of language will you achieve?By the end of the Advanced Course, you will be able to communicate in a wide variety of situations and form complex and sophisticated sentences. You will be able to use A-Level equivalent phrases and structures and have a natural grasp of the language and entire verb system.Who’s it for?The Advanced Course is primarily designed for anyone who has completed the Michel Thomas Method Foundation Course. It is also appropriate for those who have studied a language before but have forgotten much of it or do not have confidence in speaking.    * Learn to communicate in a wide variety of situations    * Use A-Level equivalent phrases and structures and gain a natural grasp of the language and entire verb systemSummary:Learn another language the way you learnt your ownYou learnt your own language naturally and enjoyably: now you can learn Mandarin in the same way.You’ll stick with it because you’ll love it· Use the unique method perfected over fifty years by the celebrated psychologist and linguist Michel Thomas.· This method works with your brain, helping you to build up your Mandarin in manageable, enjoyable steps by thinking out the answers for yourself.· You learn through listening and speaking – without the pressure of writing or memorising.· You pick up the language naturally and unforgettably.The NEW Mandarin Chinese Advanced Course    * Learn another language the way you learnt your own    *      Effective method – the Michel Thomas Method of language teaching works with the brain    * Motivating – live classroom situation with two students encourages you to learn with the students on the recording    * All-audio – the way you want to learn    *      Revolutionary kinaesthetic method for teaching Mandarin tones    *      Pronunciation is gently – but effectively – corrected    * Reference booklet – accompanying booklet lists key phrases in English and Mandarin (transliterated script)    *      Suite of progressive and complementary course components: Introductory, Foundation, Advanced, and Vocabulary    * Sales record – the hugely successful Michel Thomas Method is applied to Mandarin.Table of Contents:Emphasizing plurals: ‘xie’ – pluralizer. Used with ‘zhè’, ‘nà’, ‘na’, ‘yí’.Using a verb to specify what is being done as well as a general action: ‘chi’ + something pattern; cf. ‘kàn’ + something pattern. ‘chi fàn’ = ‘eat (food)’Indicating suggestion: ‘ba’. ‘We go Beijing, ba’ = ‘Let’s go to Beijing.’Filler words: ‘hao’, ‘duì’ indicate ‘OK’. Usually repeated: ‘hao, hao’ or ‘duì, duì’.Indicating quality: ‘hao’ +’verb = ‘good to’: ‘hao chi’ = ‘good to eat’ = ‘tastes good’; ‘hao kàn’ = ‘good looking’; ‘you yìsi’ = ‘have meaning’ = ‘interesting”è’ = ‘(to be) hungry’ (adjective verb)Time of day: ‘jin tian’ (‘today’), zuó tian (‘yesterday’), míng tian (‘tomorrow’); ‘wan’ = ‘evening’; ‘wan fàn’ = ‘supper, dinner’.‘when’ (i.e. ‘at what time’): ‘shénme shíhòu’The most basic way to describe something: add ‘de’ to describing phrase (cf. English ‘that / who / which’); ‘whose’ = ‘shéi de’Asking or expressing meaning: use ‘yi si’ = ‘meaning’’jiào’ = ‘is called”huà’ = ‘spoken language, speech’; ‘ diàn huà’ = ‘electrical speech’ = ‘telephone’. ‘I don’t understand you’ = ‘I don’t understand your speech’ = ‘ni de huà’.Self deprecation/ polite speechCommands: (1) use verb alone: ‘lài!’ ‘shuo!’ (2) negative command: put bù in front of any verb: ‘bú xiè’ = ‘don’t thank’; ‘bú kèqi’ = ‘don’t be polite’Asking questions (Chinese menu pattern, using both the positive and negative answer alternatives): verb ‘bù’ verb, ‘you méi you’Time of action is indicated by context.’how’ = ‘zenme’; ‘zenme yàng’ = ‘how is it going? what do you think of, how about…?”háishi ‘ = ‘or’ in a question’de’ omitted after nationalities and names of countries’kuài’ = ‘fast’; ‘màn’ = ‘slow”cì’ = ‘time’ (as in ‘occasion’)More polite talk: ‘duì bu qi’ = ‘excuse me’. Reply: ‘méi guanxi’ = ‘It doesn’t matter, never mind, don’t worry.’Expressing past actions.Negating past actions.’le’ in connection with physical actions in the past.Review”A genuine breakthrough in teaching Mandarin”(The Guardian )”A great way to learn; it’s fast and it lasts”. (The Daily Telegraph )”Five minutes into the first CD, you already feel like you’re winning.” (Time Out )”Michel Thomas is a precious find indeed.” (The Guardian )”Thomas makes it simple” (Sunday Times )”Michel’s methods will teach you effectively and easily” (Daily Star )”Hugely inspiring” (Red )”Ideal for any business traveller who needs to be able to get around confidently.” (Sunday Business )Moving along at a relaxed, slow pace, punctuated by amusing anecdotes and jokes from the teacher, the new words, phrases and language rules are gently introduced and reinforced through subtle repetition without ever being tedious. In fact, despite a distinct emphasis on non-work, the course proves very effective and enjoyable, and its format is ideal for learning anywhere you like. So, if you only want to learn to speak the language, this course is highly recommended.THE TEACHERDr Harold Goodman is a physician and surgeon, who had Michel Thomas as his teacher for nearly ten years. During this time Michel Thomas’s goal was not to teach Dr Goodman a specific language (though he did instruct him in two of the languages he taught) but to to train him to understand his method of teaching – which he then used to teach others, with great success. Dr Goodman teaches and practises in the United States.