Connections II : A Cognitive Approach to Intermediate Chinese

"Connections I and II" is the second-year sequence to accompany the enormously popular introductory texts "Interactions I and II" by Margaret Yan and Jennifer Li-chia Liu. This innovative system makes learning Chinese an interactive, cognitive process, rather than a matter of simple rote or drill. "Connections" is designed to offer intermediate learners of Chinese a complete set of learning tools to improve their language skills and enhance their understanding of Chinese culture and society. Lesson topics revolve around everyday themes and real-world communication among four central characters - a mainland Chinese, a Taiwanese, a Chinese American, and a non-Chinese American - familiar to students using Interactions. Each 10-chapter volume is accompanied by a workbook. Chapters include sections on vocabulary, text, mini-dialogue, characters, grammar, and culture notes, accompanied by engaging graphics. "Connections" also includes stories and songs, and makes use of a wide variety of texts, such as narrative, dialogue, journal entries, riddles, jokes, news headlines, and lyrics.