Preface

The two decades which have witnessed China's transformation into an economic superpower have also seen a steady rise in the number of foreigners wanting to do business in China and therefore also to learn Mandarin. My career as a teacher of Mandarin saw a parallel development.

My career spans 48 years, beginning in 1964 when I graduated from a Chinese university. For the first 20 years I taught English at a number of universities in China, and for the remaining 28 years I have been teaching Mandarin and Chinese in Hong Kong. The majority of my students have been English speakers holding senior positions in various companies.

In the year 2000, I was asked to teach Mandarin in the American Consulate General Hong Kong. I deeply realized that foreign learners, no matter they are working in the Consulate or in the different companies, they want to learn Mandarin, but they did not have time to learn to read or write Chinese. So I faced a huge problem. There were no suitable textbooks for learners who did not have enough time to become literate in Chinese and who only needed enough Mandarin to be able to communicate orally.

It became my dream to write a suitable textbook for these learners. With the help and encouragement of “Wan Li Book Co Ltd.” my dream has come true. “Mandarin Chinese 101” is not perfect. I am sure that time and usage will reveal many shortcomings and oversights, but it is the first step. I am very happy that it has been published. At least foreign learners can use it to make a start with their Mandarin.

All suggestions from learners and teachers as to how the book can be improved will be gratefully received.

Lastly I wish to extend my grateful appreciation to my dear husband, James, who gave me so much help and encouragement. I also thank Ms. Kristina Aleksandra Janavicius for her proofreading of the English.