I am Meredith Shi

I am Meredith Shi. I am teaching Chinese at New Trier High School now. I started to teach Chinese to the speakers of other languages in 1990 in China. Here in the States, I taught at both universities and grade schools and secondary schools. The textbooks I used are Integrated Chinese and New Pracitcal Chinese Reader. The following is the pros& cons after using both of them in my teaching.
The Pros.
New Practical Chinese Reader
To introduce pinyin and dialogue at the same time
There are pictures & explanations for most of the basic characters
Culture notes in each chapter
Broad and plenty pattern drills
The key sentences and pattern drills are connected.
Broad vocabulary
Exercises include reading the phrases, pattern drills, speak about the pictures, communication exercises， reading comprehension and paraphrase it.
Online video for each chapter
More authentic scenes and expression of China
The workbook combines both character practice and other exercises in one.

Integrated Chinese
To introduce pinyin, basic characters and strokes before introduce the dialogues
The exercises match the dialogues in each lesson
Cultural notes connects to the content in each lesson
The pattern drills closely related to the dialogues
Pattern drills closely match the grammar patterns.
The vocabulary is more close the college life.
Workbook and character practicing book are easy to use to match the content.
English translation to each lesson
Plenty of online materials
The CD is divided by page number, easy to use and assign HW.
Separated workbook and Character Workbook with stroke orders and meaning.

The cons:

New Practical Chinese Reader
The translation of some vocabulary is not accurate enough
Audio materials are not easy to use
Grammar ex. and explanation are not through.
Less interesting contents and exercises
The book is designed for college students
The workbook is not friendly used to match each dialogue, but for reviewing the whole chapter.
No English translations for texts.
Integrated Chinese
The content and the layout of the book are not interesting enough.
Designed for college students
Cultural notes not enough
The basic characters do not have pictures.

November 24, 2006 1:03:00 PM CST